Sportfishermen are designed to take you offshore, out where the big ones are, and bring you safely home. The Tiara 43 Open (Tiara has brought back that model designation for 2019) will do all that and more. With an economical cruising speed around 30 mph, her twin Volvo diesels and deep vee hull (17.5-degree deadrise at the transom) will get you out to the canyons in short order.
Speaking of diesels, our test boat was equipped with the optional twin Volvo D11 725-hp engine package which includes the Garmin full-glass-helm electronics package including bow thruster, joy stick, and trolling valves. The engines each drive a 2.5-inch Aquamet stainless-steel shaft with a bronze strut, water-cooled shaft log with a PSS dripless shaft seal, and a Nibral propeller. The single 600-gallon aluminum fuel tank has an in-line fuel vent and check valve and fuel shut-off valves on top of the tank for easy access. Access is also good to the Racor fuel filters and the raw water filters on both engines and the generator. A nice standard feature for a boat designed to go offshore are the three automatic/manual 2000-gallon per hour bilge pumps with helm station monitors. Also good for the peace of mind is the standard HFC-227ea agent automatic/manual fire extinguisher system in the engine room.
In typical Tiara fashion, the 43 comes with so many standard features it is hard to list them all. For example, the standard Garmin electronics package includes two GPSMAP 7616 touchscreen displays, a 17X high sensitivity GPS, a VHF 210 AIS radio, a 1kw B260 transducer, a GHP 10 autopilot, and a GMR xHD 2 pedestal with a GMR 404 open array radar. All this is supported by Tiara’s custom12V/24V DC and 120V/240V electrical system and an 80-amp battery charger as well as high output alternators and a 9KW Onan generator with sound shield.
When you first board the Tiara 43 the first thing you notice is the size of the cockpit. It is large (95 square feet), uncluttered, and self-draining with side scupper drains, exactly what you need for boating big fish. A 24-inch square aluminum plate in the center is standard with the boat and serves as the base for an optional Release Marine BS 6-2 Battle Saddle fighting chair. The cockpit floor has five hatches for fish boxes, bait wells, and storage. An optional 50-gallon transom bait well is also available. A hot and cold water freshwater shower and a molded in-transom door and gate, as well as fresh and saltwater wash-down outlets complete with hoses come standard. Our boat had the optional swim platform and optional Tournament hardtop, which includes side enclosures, LED spreader lights, underside lighting and rocket launchers, and rod holders. A pair of optional Rupp 30-foot outriggers completes the serious fishing-machine look.
The standard deck hardware on the 43 would be hard to improve. There is a bronze hawse pipe on each quarter, four 10-inch and four 12-inch stainless steel cleats, a molded in-bow pulpit with a stainless bow roller, and a one-inch 316L stainless pulpit and bow rail. The flush anchor-rode locker drains overboard and houses a rope/chain electric windlass controlled by a foot pedal or a remote switch at the helm. The boat comes with a 40-foot chain rode, a 200-foot rope rode, and a 35-pound Delta anchor. The side decks are adequate, and the composite windshield frame includes hand rails on the sides.
The upper cockpit includes an aft-facing mezzanine seat with storage underneath, a portside wet bar, and rotating helm and mate’s seats. With the addition of the optional table and a forward facing seat portside aft, this area becomes a lounge for entertaining. The centerline companionway gives access to the salon, kept comfortable by a marine Air Systems 10,000 BTU air conditioner/heater. The L-shaped galley to starboard features Corian counters, a stainless sink, a two-burner cooktop, microwave/convection oven, and Vitrifrigio dual-refrigerated drawers. Also to starboard is the all-fiberglass head, with shower, with dual entry from the salon and master stateroom. The master sports an adjustable-pedestal queen-size bed. A bi-fold door offers full privacy. On the port side, aft of the master is a small, but adequate guest cabin with over and under single bunks and a lot of storage space. Aft of the guest is a U-shaped dinette that converts to a double bunk.
My host for the sea trial, Grady Byus, from North Point Yacht Sales used the joystick to ease us out of a tight slip at Bert Jabin’s Yacht Yard. The 43 responds instantly to the joystick and is easy to control in tight spots. We idled down Back Creek in low-speed mode, which deploys the trolling valves in the transmissions and allows a speed of only a couple of knots. Once out of the creek we accelerated slowly to cruising speed. As the boat came up on plane, with zero trim tabs, there was some bow rise, but visibility forward remained clear and unobstructed. As we cruised into the light chop the noise level was pleasantly low, both at the helm and below, with normal conversation possible. When I asked for a wide-open-throttle run, Grady mentioned that the D11s are big engines and take a moment to spool up. We started to accelerate. When the turbos kicked in, she jumped up on plane and we were instantly doing 36 mph plus. The deep-vee hull tracks smoothly and responds to control inputs precisely and predictably.
In short, I think that Tiara has created a very successful dual-purpose boat in the 43 Open. She works well as a fishing machine and as a comfortable cruiser for six.
By Captain Rick Franke
Tiara 43 Open Specifications
L.O.A.: 45 ft. 11 in.
Beam: 15 ft. 4 in.
Power: Twin Volvo D11 725 HP Diesels
Draft: 4 ft. 2 in.
Weight: 30,000 lbs.
Fuel Capacity: 600 gal.
Water Capacity: 130 gal.
Holding Tank Capacity: 50 gal.
Deadrise at Transom: 17.5 deg.
Range: 400 mi.
Price as Tested: $1,100,000
Tiara Dealers
Annapolis, MD (410) 280-2038
Portsmouth, VA (888) 267-3063
Back in July, North Point Yacht Sales was named an authorized dealership for Tiara yachts and Tiara Sport for the Chesapeake Bay region. Click to learn more, and click to our boat review on the Tiara 38 Sport LS for more from this brand.