Tiara Yachts 56 LS

When I first joined the cadre of professional marine journalists as a senior editor many years ago, I had the opportunity to attend my first dealer meeting

As a freshman scribe in the industry, I was armed with a strong background in all things boats, having received the first issue of my (now eighth and counting) Merchant Mariners Certificate, conversationally known as a Captain’s License, at the age of 21. I was given an outline of what to expect, and with my homework assignment completed, I met up with our Midwest representative and dove right in.

And that is how I first met Leon Slikkers and was introduced to Tiara Yachts.

Separating the two and the unwavering standards set by its founder cannot be denied. The same dedication to providing a quality product, standing by it, and deeply caring about those who purchase its boats, as well as those who design, engineer and build the boats, is the cornerstone of every Tiara. It exists in the very DNA of the company and its third generation of family boat builders. Taking one step aboard Hull No. 1 of the new Tiara 56 LS not only confirmed this, but set new standards in combining luxury with performance. Tiara’s LS Series — of which the 56 is the largest of the models ranging in size from 34, 38, 43 and 48 feet — was specifically designed for outboard power. One of the first things I noticed as I stepped aboard was the four impressive Mercury 600-hp V12 Verado outboards hanging off the aft end and the sleek and modern profile. And it only got better.

“We always had our end goal in sight; during our design process, we looked at hull design, length and beam, power, weight and how we could find the range we were looking for, as well as performance in the high 50s number,” says Alex Slikkers, Tiara’s product manager and, as you can surmise from the last name, grandson of the company’s founder. “We also knew we wanted the operation and reliability the Mercury 600s would deliver early on.”

Hosting us at the wheel and putting the 56 LS through her paces during our time on the water was Matt Savelle, Tiara Yachts’ corporate captain.

Evident innovation

From my vantage point — standing in the cockpit with its fore and aft seating areas, wetbar, dining table and electrically operated sunshade above, ready to be deployed at the touch of a button — it was easy to notice how this space would be perfect while at a favorite anchorage area.

Using the walkway to starboard to access the platform just forward of the four Mercury outboards, I discovered a pair of Kenyon electric grills beneath a lift-up lid, pop-up LED lights and lots of storage areas — one located next to the grills and the other below. There is even a small compressor found here when blowing up water toys is necessary. As with many of the spaces aboard the Tiara 56 LS, there is more than ample room between the quad Mercurys and the aft console.

There are steps to both port and starboard sides from the platform with well thought out purposes for each. The compartment under the port side houses fresh and raw water washdowns as well as a Reverso engine flushing system. To starboard is access to the shore power cord and Cablemaster controls. A telescoping boarding ladder is also located on the port side.

Moving up into the cockpit, this area is of particular interest as it can be configured in two ways. The first is what Tiara calls its Buffet Lounge Module, and the other, the Adventure Module. Both have the aft console fixed. The Buffet Lounge Module features an electrically operated, sliding bench seat that joins the aft bench to provide seating and dining for up to 10 around the optional highly varnished, large, hinged table, while the Adventure Module offers fishing amenities, including baitwells, a folding seat, transom rod holders and some added storage.

Extra seats tuck neatly away under the aft bench. With the table hinged in the up position, I found easy access to the large mechanical space below where there is plenty of room for the hands-on owner or technician to work on the house and starting batteries, the Cablemaster tub, the Cummins genset, the Seakeeper 10.5 gyro and other important components. All hoses and wires here are clearly labeled. Back topsides, and to either side, are the electrically operated terraces, each with a boarding door. The port side terrace offers a rather unique addition as a stainless steel ladder (located on top and easily deployed when the terraces are in the open position) allows those enjoying some water time to get in and out of the water with ease.

Amidships, the Tiara design team created a most distinctive space, and one that displays the innovative use of the 16-foot beam. The galley is located outside of the salon — yes, there is a salon on a center console. Merely pushing a button effortlessly slides the bench seat aft for dining, transforming the space into a bar area with a sturdy stainless steel grabrail just in case.

The salon doors can be configured to open all the way to port, blending both areas to the outside. Using the extra length of the 56 LS, the designers created a comfortable, wide-open and airy space inside for seating and additional dining. Large windows and an electrically operated sunroof, as well as sliding doors to either side up at the helm, further open up the salon to the outside. When in the down position, the hi-low table, with its corner seating and bench to port, can make use of filler cushions to create a large sunpad. And by activating a button, a hatch in the overhead reveals a fold-down television.

Impressive innovation

While the quad Mercurys aft are eye-catching enough, I could not get my eyes off the remarkable size and layout of the elegantly designed helm and its state-of-the-art electronics. Three large Garmin screens span the helm console, and the fully integrated system with touchscreen technology gives the driver complete control over the operating systems in an easy-to-view format.

While formidable at first glance, Capt. Savelle ran me through its functions, which proved to be quite intuitive for anyone familiar with the basic operations of touchscreen technology. I also noticed how everything was within easy reach, including the joystick, bow thruster and other controls. Again, taking full advantage of the 16-foot beam, the bolstered helm seats four.

Tiara has billed its 56 LS as a center console dayboat, but with a pair of elegantly appointed staterooms — each with its own private head — she can do double-duty as a cruiser. Access to the staterooms from the helm is to port. Instinctively reaching out while going down the semi-circular stairs, I found a sturdy grabrail just where it should be.

Once below, and given the ample headroom here, it was easy to approach the forepeak owners’ quarters offering an island berth, storage space and a Garmin screen mounted on the starboard bulkhead giving control of the chart, radar and other functions. To port is the head for this stateroom, which presents an electric toilet and walk-in shower. The aft cabin, located under the salon and helm, provides suitable entrance headroom, which decreases as you head aft. It also has a centerline berth with the ability to separate the beds if necessary. A digital light switch is mounted on the bulkhead, and, as almost everywhere aboard, there is suitable storage space. The private head here also has a walk-in shower and an electric toilet.

Rounding out the walkaround is a visit to the bow, which can be accessed from either side, with the wide starboard walkway a preferred way to get fore and aft (the port side has a step up, which could present a problem for those who do not have their sea legs). The bow is yet another space Tiara designed for optimizing the enjoyment of being aboard. On the way forward, there is a sturdy stainless steel grabrail that runs all the way up to the bow seating area. The space is more than able to seat all your guests on a large bench spanning the bow with footrests that can be easily raised or lowered to a particular position. Up here is a pair of hi-low tables, with another bench seat fully forward. The tables hinge in the middle, allowing for access to the oversized anchor locker with plenty of space for dock line storage, a pair of 5-gallon buckets, fresh and raw water rinse, and an electrical hook-up for shore power.

Performance innoVation

Our day out on the water saw mostly calm conditions with a slight chop and cool temps. As we began to ease our way out of the tight dock, the Mercury’s were barely humming, and I was able to converse with Capt. Savelle in normal tones. I also noted how well the 56 LS responded to the helm and then the joystick in directing the boat in close-quarters situations.

By the time we were out of the no-wake zone, it was time to put her through her paces. Our out-of-the-hole shot saw us go from idle to 30 mph in about 10 seconds. We had about 730 gallons of fuel, 70 gallons of water, and four people onboard with light gear. At our WOT speed at about 6100 RPM, we clocked in at almost 57 mph (49.5 knots). At 4000 RPM, she reached a speed of 32.8 mph (28.5 knots), with an estimated range of 326 statute/283 nautical miles. And at 3500 RPM, she turned in a 26.9 mph (23.3-knot) rate of speed, giving us an expected 420 statute/365 nautical mile range. Of course, these values, taken by GPS, can change with existing conditions such as wind, current and other factors.

She handled all of Capt. Savelle’s maneuvers with ease, including hard over and S-turns, as well as dealing with several large wakes from passing vessels. I came away from my time aboard with a more than satisfied experience and was quite pleased as he finessed the big boat back into our tight-fitting dock space, against wind and a pesky incoming current, without any difficulty.

Conclusion

To bring this project to fruition, the Tiara design and engineering teams took feedback from 48-foot owners, as well as from focus groups and its own internal “wish-lists,” and created a full-size, walk-through mock-up of what would become the 56 LS.

“We had to first make this a reality, to see and feel how the boat would actually be, including those physical spaces, before we even thought of creating the mold for Hull No. 1,” says Slikkers. “In that way, we would know just what worked and what did not, and how to make it what we wanted in real time. The entire process took about two years.”

There are a lot of moving parts aboard the Tiara 56 LS, and the care and planning that went into making everything mesh together is apparent. With its innovative use of space, proper seating, abundant storage, great performance, a long list of standard and optional equipment that will make each boat a personal statement of ownership, coupled with the stellar reputation the Tiara brand has in the industry, the 56 LS is sure to set a high bar in this sector.

If you are in the market for a boat like the Tiara 56 LS, make sure she is on your short list for a visit and sea trial. Your time will be well spent.