2020 Tiara Sport 43 LS

Overview

As testers for this magazine, we live by the quantifiable, taking performance numbers aboard every boat we review. But for me, the defining moment for the Tiara Sport 43 LS came not in the data, but in the looks we got idling through the inlet in Holland, Michigan. Several people walking along the jetty stopped and stared, and I watched as one person’s jaw dropped and he mouthed, “Wow.”

The flagship of the Tiara Sport lineup, the 43 LS is everything a large luxury dayboat should be. It’s equipped to entertain abovedecks for days while pulling off overnight duty with style and comfort. And like all Tiara Sports, the 43 LS is overbuilt to withstand rugged Great Lakes boating, so it’s got the offshore chops to reach distant outposts.

Engines

This large 11-ton center console with a deep-V hull that tapers to 21 degrees at the transom treats most lake and bay chop as a minor annoyance, and handles heavier seas outside the inlet with aplomb. Even with its stout construction, the triple Yamaha 425 XTO outboards help this boat can get up and go, reaching 30 mph in under 9 seconds en route to a 53 mph top-end speed. It handles nimbly for its size, and the Yamaha Helm Master joystick system that comes standard with the triple Yamaha 425 XTO package makes docking no sweat. Our test boat came equipped with the optional Seakeeper SK6 gyro, which neutralizes the rock and roll.

Interior and Accessories

The boat has so many interior highlights that it’s hard to list them all. One that stands out is the aft manually rotating U lounge with a teak table that can face aft or forward. Then there’s the galley that sits under the hardtop between the helm and the U lounge. It features rear-facing seating as well as an array of amenities—expect people to gather around it like they would an island bar in a kitchen. The bow cockpit is another great area to hang, with three forward-facing backrests and wraparound bow seating. Throw in the forward and midship berths, plus the well-appointed head, and you can say the “wow” the 43 LS got is well-deserved.

How We Tested

• Engines: Triple 425 hp Yamaha XTO V-8 outboards
• Drive/Prop: Outboard/16 3/4″ x 19″ 3-blade XTO stainless steel
• Gear Ratio: 1.79:1 Fuel Load: 350 gal. Crew Weight: 660 lb.

High Points

• Summer galley behind the helm forms a gathering point for socialization, much like an island kitchen in a home.
• Bow seating is deep, safe and spacious.
• Phenomenal access to the ship’s systems in the cavernous mechanical space belowdecks.

Low Points

• Mega-outboard installations do tend to eat up available swim-platform space.
• We like our cabin counters fiddled.

Toughest Competitor

The Fountain 43 NX ($856,900 with quad Mercury Racing 400s) is a lighter boat capable of faster speeds, but without some of the Tiara’s creature comforts in the cockpit.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation