When it comes to Tiara Yachts, the talk around the dock is that its boats are “overbuilt,” meaning they are constructed to handle harsh conditions. This compliment is born out of the company’s Great Lakes heritage, where the tighter wave periods and unpredictable weather patterns can make things uncomfortable in a hurry. The Tiara 48 LE, the flagship of the builder’s outboard-powered sport lineup, lives up to that rugged reputation while leveling up the luxury amenities.
The cockpit is the most noteworthy area on the boat, with several great features for socializing. Start with the power-actuated rotating lounge module. With the push of a button, it will rotate a full 180 degrees. Its tracking system stops and locks it in place at any angle that’s desired. Facing forward, it creates a great conversation pit with the aft-facing lounges under the hardtop. Fold out the wings on the high-gloss teak table, and fire up the electric grill. Facing aft, the rotating lounge provides a great view off the transom while at anchor. Turned to port, it offers seating to enjoy the fold-out terrace, which provides water access away from the outboards while at rest. The integrated swim ladder makes for easy reboarding.
Let the socialization continue in the salon, which is bathed in sunlight, thanks to 360-degree windows. Retract the sunroof to create a more open feel. The glass door to the salon slides open, and the window to starboard electrically retracts into the bulkhead to create an open flow with the cockpit. Everything adds up for a boat that’s primed for entertainment.
The captain has a double-wide helm seat with built-in teak toe kicks. The Garmin Marine Navigation System displays are easy to read at the dash and are bolstered by companion multifunction displays in the settee to port, so someone can take on navigator duties without crowding the captain.
With regard to design, the deep-V sport hull that tapers to 21 degrees of deadrise at the transom handles rough water outside the inlet with aplomb. Adding the optional Seakeeper 6 gyrostabilizer takes the boat’s already excellent seakeeping to the next level.
Natural Light
Belowdecks, the master and guest staterooms are brightly lit and feel bigger than they should, thanks to the hullside windows. The master has an en suite head with a separate stand-up shower that has a built-in bench. The guest head also has a separate shower with a bench. In a nod to modern technology, Tiara built in wireless phone chargers on either side of the master berth.
Sporty Performance
Tiara powers the 48 LE with triple 600 hp Mercury V-12 Verado outboards. With six people aboard and 442 gallons of fuel, plus 50 gallons of water, the 48 LE hit 46.5 knots at wide-open throttle (6,450 rpm). It climbed onto plane in 7.4 seconds with minimal bow rise, so the captain never loses sight of the water during acceleration. The Mercury joystick system is integrated with a bow thruster to make docking and close-quarters handling far easier.
Closer Look
The starboard-side boarding area in the cockpit is a prime example of the steps (literally) that Tiara takes to enhance comfort and safety. Along with the boarding door built into the starboard gunwale, there’s a built-in step-down into the cockpit, with a handhold to ensure easy transfer from the dock to the boat.
Take the next step: tiarayachts.com
