Featured Project: 26 Regulator Refresh
April 20, 2023 5 min read
When John Mahoney bought his 1998 Regulator 26 back in the fall of 2013, he knew it needed a little help. Structurally and mechanically, the boat was in great shape, but after a decade and a half of use, it needed a cosmetic and functional refresh. Living in the Northeast, Mahoney used the long winter to get the boat ready to fish by the spring of 2014.
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Mahoney's Makeover
Topping the list of projects was to address the dark, dated look that the boat’s original black trim elements created.
Mahoney’s first priority was repainting the engines and engine bracket white, which was fairly straightforward. While the engines were mechanically sound, among Mahoney’s first priorities was shooting them white for a fresh look. He also painted the below-waterline portion of the engine bracket and the hull bottom with white bottom paint.
Bigger Challenge
The bigger challenge would be addressing all of the doors, cabinets and tackle station that were black, which may have looked nice in 1998, but hadn’t aged well.
John’s plan was to swap out all of the black trim elements with white ones to give the boat a brighter, cleaner look.
The highly visible tackle station was functional, but the black cabinet doors and trim, like the side-entry console door and dash panel a were dated looking and weathered, giving the entire boat a tired look.
Upgrading Functionality
In addition to improving aesthetics, Mahoney also wanted to upgrade the boat’s functionality with small touches, such as adding a cover for the anchor locker and upgrading the flush-mounted electronics. Both of these projects would require some customized fabrication to address, since the new electronics were different dimensions than the old ones.
Like many owners, Mahoney initially hoped to find a source for direct replacements for the doors, cabinets and tackle station that he wanted to replace, but soon discovered that wasn’t an option. Like many boat builders, Regulator changed the design of these components many times over the years, so, 15 years after the boat was built, there was no drop-in OEM solution. Eventually, Mahoney turned to Boat Outfitters for help replicating the old parts, and was connected with a project manager.
The entire tackle station and all access doors in the leaning post and transom were replaced with white for a new, clean look.
Working with Boat Outfitters
Over the next few weeks, Mahoney and his project manager discussed the project and his goals for the boat. In spite of the fact that John — and his boat — were in the Northeast, and his Boat Outfitters project manager was in Florida, they were able to work through the designs over phone and email.
In most cases, his project manager could work with basic measurements and photos, but when a perfect fit was necessary John shipped components such as frames and small doors so they could be replicated in white.
When the new parts arrived, they came with holes drilled and countersunk, ready for installation.
For a more refined appearance and extra storage, the two separate tackle cabinets in the leaning post (see above) were replaced with a single two-door unit with two bulk storage drawers.
Restoring Classics
John’s experience is not uncommon for boat owners who are restoring classic vessels. While often not as simple as swapping out old parts for new, a custom solution will generally lead to a better outcome. A little imagination, good measurements and great communication can make these projects simple and rewarding. A white acrylic dash panel replaced the old recessed electronics mounting area, and a folding, lift-out console door improved access and utility.
Part Availability
Today, Boat Outfitters’ parent company, Teak Isle, manufactures OEM parts for Regulator, enabling Boat Outfitters to make exact replacements for boat owners essentially on demand. But in 1998, Regulator used a different supplier, necessitating the custom design process Mahoney experienced.
The large, black side-entry console door was replaced with a white, acrylic door with low-profile powder-coated aluminum frame and offset vents to improve ventilation while resisting water intrusion.
A new vented door was also designed for the forward anchor locker.
Availability for Older Regulators
The good news for other owners of older Regulators is that Mahoney and Boat Outfitters basically did the legwork back in 2014. Now, because the designs for Mahoney’s boat were saved on file, they can be made and delivered in a matter of a week or two.
The overhead electronics box got a refresh as well, with a new white acrylic mounting panel and door to to replace the old black panel and door.
After repainting the engines and bracket and swapping out all of the black doors and frames with white ones, the boat looks brighter and more modern, while retaining its classic lines. Through the same process, Boat Outfitters is building a one-of-a-kind “library” of replacement parts and components for a huge variety of boat makes and models.
Every time the company makes a replacement for a part not already on file, the details are saved for future us. Many of those parts do not appear yet on our website, but please don’t hesitate to call the company if you’re looking for something specific.
