Tiara Yachts is an American builder that values adventure as a core part of its DNA. I have traveled on several of their fishing and diving boats. Designed for entertaining, these styles are short and sporty, adding freshness to your hair.
But at last year’s Miami International Boat Show, Tiara announced its intention to turn its eponymous “yacht” into something really big with the launch of the flagship EX60, its first true yacht. The fit and finish, already a point of pride for the Michigan builder, was on another level, and the versatile design was true to Tiara’s innovative past.
Next up is the new EX54, which debuted at the Miami show last month. With a short length of six feet, the boat is a complete innovation in sailing equipment and the attention to detail enhances Tiara’s ambitions for the next generation. I had the opportunity to get into it and see the similarities with the EX60.
The EX54’s cabin will likely keep many owners away from similarly sized competitors due to its customization capabilities. It comes in three configurations, including a social version with two sofas facing each other, an adventure configuration that removes the rear sofa to make room for scuba gear and dive gear, or with an ottoman. Includes a “Glass Patio” design.
The Miami boat had a double settee, as well as a half seat a few steps forward and aft, giving the boat the feel of a large motor yacht, in keeping with the trend to maximize open space currently prevalent around the world. Had happened. , The superyacht mezzanine seating area features a fold-down teak bar with Australian tinted roll-up windows. I found it a little strange that the bar was not in the middle of the ship near the galley to make service easier.
The EX54’s cabin features two of the Tiara’s signature features: high-quality wood trim and an emphasis on ergonomics. The teak on the main deck had rich grain and comfortable joinery. Handles were also common, but they were carefully integrated into structures such as dining tables and countertops so as not to detract from the aesthetic appeal of the yacht.
Tiara has clearly designed this boat for the cruising route, a point set by the companion sitting on the port side opposite the two-person helm, creating four forward-facing seats in the salon. If the boat is in deep water this is the configuration you will want to be in. The Miami has an optional Seakeeper 9 system that softens the boat’s twist and roll when at anchor and when traveling slowly in big waves.
Further indications of onboard comfort can be found amidships with the main beam amidships, which is surprisingly roomy for a boat of this size, and this feature extends to the bow, where the shower was 6’8″ long and There was abundant shoulder room for almost everyone to sit comfortably, under NBA status.
The boat is powered by twin Volvo Penta IPS2 950 engines mated to a glass Garmin cockpit. The joystick control provides the driver with excellent low-speed maneuverability and high-speed control as well as low noise levels. In speed testing, the boat reached a top speed of 38.7 mph with a smooth cruise of 30.6 mph, giving a range of 334 miles.
The end result is a yacht with Tiara’s signature adventure and seaworthiness in a more luxurious package. This combination should be attractive to both Tiara owners looking to move up and owners of foreign-built yachts who may soon ride the rising tide of American build quality.
