Tiara Yachts just joined a small, elite group of builders specialising in large centre consoles—very large centre consoles above 54 feet. When HCB launched its monster 65-foot in 2018, with five 627hp custom outboards, it started a new trend. Others soon followed: Midnight Express followed with its 60 Pied-A-Mer, the Cigarette Tirranna 59, Nor-Tech 560 Sport, Scout 539 LXF, and Valhalla V-55.
These boats turned out to be a revolution, rather than an evolution, for the centre-console segment, which just a decade ago leaned towards humble, utilitarian designs in the 20- to 30-foot range, almost exclusively used by offshore fisherman. The explosion of outboard-power, in ever-larger horsepower sizes, gave designers, and a new segment of non-fishing boaters, the realisation that centre consoles make excellent dayboats. And that’s exactly where the sub-50-foot market has headed in the last decade.
These larger models have become status symbols, partly for their impressive speeds, but also for the luxurious details—at least insofar as sportfish boat makers view luxury—across the boats. But many don’t quite understand the definition of luxury on a boat, at least not the same level that brands from Italy understand and implement it, which explains the significant increase in imports over the last ten years.
Tiara is one of the few US boat brands that gets luxury is more than expensive looking gadgets, but about the whole package.
Its new 56 LS, standing for luxury sport, strikes a nice balance between the two words in its name, without going to extremes on either end. “We want to have the performance, but offer a true luxury experience,” Tom Slikkers, Tiara CEO told Robb Report, bristling a bit when his new boat is compared to competitors. “We see luxury as not just being able to get from point a to point b in record time, but enjoying the whole day aboard. Our competitors aren’t necessarily thinking that way.”
The LS flagship is the fastest boat Tiara has ever designed, with four 600hp Mercury Verado outboards hanging off the transom. It can reach a top end of 57mph. That’s slower than most of its competitors, but is fine with Tiara owners. “We did voice of the customer surveys with clients, specifically the ones pushing for this, and they’re happy with that speed,” says Slikkers. “They’re even more happy with a day yacht that offers a free flow of space, so you can move around quite easily.”
The 56 LS also has some distinctive features from its smaller 48LS and 43LS siblings. “We realised it was time for the next generation,” says Andrew Bartlett, Tiara’s director of design. “We wanted to keep the DNA of our centre console design, but provide more enclosure behind the helm station, so owners can seal it during bad weather.”
A disappearing bulkhead, a feature taken from its EX60 inboard model, proved a viable solution. “That let us keep the boat’s main characteristic of openness in good weather, but provides protection so owners don’t have to go below-decks in bad,” adds Bartlett.
The aft cockpit has a modular design that allows movement of the seating, inclusion of the dining table and connection to the outdoor galley for different social occasions. Both rear sides fold down to expand the cockpit size by about a third.
The cabin is a two-stateroom design, with two heads and a shower. The foredeck also has a settee and table, more in line with a cruiser than a centre console. Fit and finish throughout promises to be as luxurious as Tiara’s other models.
The new 56 LS may not be able to claim the title for speed or size—Scout is building a new 67-foot centre console for release later this year—but it could well be the most luxurious center console on the water when it debuts at the Miami International Boat Show next February.
