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Access from dockside to the lower cockpit is convenient from port or starboard and made safe by the large swim platform with retractable swim ladder. The transom door here houses all of the standard PFDs, fenders, lines, and safety gear you'll need to cruise.

Engine access is just forward of the transom door: the cockpit floor lifts on an electric ram. Stepping down into the engine compartment, I found adequate room for my 5'7" frame between the optional twin 480-hp Volvo Penta TAMD 74P EDC diesel inboards. Access to the inboard sides of the engines is good, but saddle-type fuel tanks and exhaust hoses made for less-than-easy outboard access. The optional 7.3-kW Kohler genset is to port, just aft of the port engine, and getting between the two and over the exhaust to access its fuel filter--a regular maintenance item--is difficult. I'd like to see either the fuel filters or the genset moved forward.

One place where space is not an issue is the 4260's saloon. I found the area downright airy, with enough room to dance if you still have that Kenwood stereo kickin'. The saloon's spacious feeling is due in part to its round shape, which is accentuated by the curved settee and elliptical table to port. Of course, the 6'6" headroom doesn't hurt either. To starboard, the galley goes all the way to the outboard side of the boat, maximizing available space, and is home to a standard Princess, two-burner electric cooktop, Origo microwave, Black & Decker coffee maker, and undercounter Nova Kool refrigerator and freezer.

The saloon is bright, thanks to lots of recessed lighting, and three hatches provide natural light that opens up the room even more. The light also shows off the high-gloss cherry interior--Regal imports the cherry from Italy. Plenty of cabinets for stores and gear are located on both sides of the saloon.

Two staterooms--a midcabin and master forward--provide capable accommodations. The forward master has a queen-size berth and en suite head with SeaLand MSD. Two sliding drawers underneath the berth measure 221⁄2"Lx231⁄2"Wx7"D, and offer plenty of space for the clothes that don't fit in the cedar hanging locker. If you're just too comfortable to get out of bed, you can amuse yourself with a book from the recessed shelf that surrounds the berth or watch the standard Phillips TV/VCR to starboard. The midcabin is equally roomy with twin berths, a small settee, and en suite head. The best part of this arrangement is real privacy. No mere curtain separates your berth from your guests' berth, which is sometimes the case on express-type boats in this size range. Here, you have a door, a saloon, and another door between staterooms.

 But all this space and intelligent arrangement wouldn't mean a thing if it weren't supported with a solid foundation. The 4260's comes from hand-laid fiberglass with biaxial mat, which is laminated with AME 5000 and AME 1000 resins. While the hull is still in the mold, Regal glasses in the stringers, bulkheads, and subfloors to help maintain hull shape. Regal is so confident in its hull that the 4260 comes with a limited lifetime structural warranty.

With a deep-V hull form offering 20-degrees of deadrise aft, our 4260 was a bit sluggish out of the hole. I noted a four-second lag between the port and starboard turbos kicking into high gear, and Capo subsequently told me a few days after the test that a bad ECM on the port engine had been found to be the culprit. She did make a respectable top speed of 39.4 mph, offering a 173-NM range with a full 305-gallon fuel tank. The afternoon's two- to three-foot chop showed the 4260 to be a respectable performer, as the boat stayed dry, except for some wind-driven spray, and I didn't note excessive roll, whether underway or while drifting.

Our Regal's SeaStar Teleflex hydraulic steering reacted well without being oversensitive, and the Volvo Penta electronic controls were equally smooth, although they required a soft, precise touch. While running the 4260 at half tab and WOT, I noted that the boat rides a little bow-high which meant my view from the helm was a bit obscured. I raised the aforementioned electrically adjustable helm seat, and tabbing the bow down a little more cured this problem.

The Commodore 4260 offers performance, styling, and accommodations. With a base price of $329,720, she's a well-thought-out boat that will appeal to the cruiser looking for a little more boat without a lot more money. Moreover, the 4260 is a solid entrant into a growing market for this builder. And if she enjoys the same success as her predecessors, can a 50-footer be far behind?

Regal Marine Industries Phone: (407) 851-4360. Fax: (407) 857-1256. www.regalboats.com.

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