The Tiara EX60 represents a big step up for the builder, and not just in LOA.
In my mind, Michigan’s Tiara Yachts has always been something of a quintessential American boatbuilder which you’ll note during this Tiara EX60 Review. Its models are typically highly versatile, family-friendly, and have an endearing air of Midwestern humility about them. Tiaras range in size from 34 to 49 feet in length, and though the word “yacht” is in the builder’s name, the emphasis has always very much been on building boats. That is, until now. With its new flagship the EX60, Tiara not only makes a sizable 11-foot leap up the ladder in LOA but also brings to the table a level of fit and finish and other creature comforts that are befitting a real-deal yacht.
Discover the Tiara EX60: A Review of This New Era of Luxury Yachting
The Tiara EX60 I boarded at the Miami boat show had made the trip on its own hull down the Mississippi River and all the way to the Magic City. I was fortunate enough to meet the captain and first mate, a husband and wife team, when I made my visit. They were positively glowing about the boat in a way that far exceeded whatever Tiara was paying them. It was clear that their enthusiasm for this vessel was genuine. They were particularly happy with the portside settee that mirrors the starboard helm. It has its own Garmin screen and Flir readout that took some pressure off the captain as he navigated the oft-foggy and flotsam-and-jetsam-packed Mississippi. They also enthused about the standard Dyson vacuum cleaner and charger that Tiara packed aboard, which helped them keep the yacht spic and span for her big debut. And they raved about the vessel’s 15-inch-wide side decks, which when paired with a door to starboard of the helm, and an electrically opening window to port, made docking exceptionally easy for a two-person team.
A Standout Feature
One trait that immediately grabbed my attention on the EX60 is her level of fit and finish. Tiara has always done a fine job in this regard, but this boat is unequivocally a step up. The builder teamed with Seattle-based interior designer Mary Flores, a megayacht veteran, who imbued the EX60 with her beachy vibe focusing on warm colors and varying textures. All of this model’s soft goods are customizable, a break from the typical three or four options Tiara usually offers.
Space To Stretch Out
The EX60 is a full 16 feet, 11 inches wide, meaning the boat has plenty of space to hold all manner of cool features. The show begins on the hydraulic swim platform, which acts like a transformer, lowering and raising in and out of the water aiding both in tender launching and making this space usable as a beach club. A Kenyon grill in the transom is a very nice touch in regard to the latter. There are also built-in chocks to ensure your little boat rests safe and sound.
Reviewing The Tiara EX60’s Cockpit – Satisfied Is An Understatement
The Tiara EX60’s cockpit, however, may have been my favorite thing about her. It’s a mezzanine setup, which I always appreciate for its versatility. The lower portion on the boat in Miami had a folding teak dining table with bench seating fore and aft. An “Adventure Package” option is also available with a more open layout and fishy accouterments like extra rod holders. Both versions have foldout terraces to port and starboard that make this an excellent space for entertaining. The upper portion for both versions has a high-gloss teak table at the aft bulwark with three modular seats that stow neatly beneath it. This is a top-tier spot to hang out while underway or on the hook, enjoying something cold to drink.
Interior Space
The salon is flush to the mezzanine deck and separated by a sliding glass door with an electrically actuated window to starboard. An expansive aft galley to starboard serves both interior and exterior areas with equal aplomb. Twin Kenyon cooktops, a sink, and a good deal of prep space will keep the designated chef happy. A 55-inch pop-up television tucked to starboard of the counter faces a settee with a high-gloss teak table on the portside. One small detail that I really liked about this table—and which I think is indicative of Tiara’s focus on safety and its customer base—was the cut-out handhold it had that runs along the boat’s centerline. Tiara is at its core a family boat company, and extra handholds, as well as the many rounded edges seen throughout the boat, show the builder’s safety-first DNA. Another thing about the salon, it’s nearly completely encircled by windows and glass, and all at a height that’s easy to see out of while sitting down. It’s a design trait that expertly complements Flores’ laid-back, West Coast aesthetic.
Belowdecks
Reviewing Tiara EX60’s belowdecks features will put a smile on anyone’s face. A full-beam amidships master with excellent natural light and clever stowage tucked into every imaginable crevice. A fold-out work-from-home station next to the queen-size berth is a smart and useful detail, as is the standard safe that fits snugly in the expansive stowage compartment beneath the berth. The EX60 is a three-stateroom vessel, with a forepeak VIP and a guest at amidships to port. It’s a fairly standard layout for a boat of this size and type, but what isn’t standard are the myriad “yachty” touches seen on this, the most intimate of decks. The headboards over the beds have wavy patterns done in teak reminiscent of ones I’ve seen on 100-footers. The berths have inductive phone chargers to either side, so you never run out of juice. And the mirrors in the heads have ring lighting that makes you look precisely 17 percent better-looking, for a nice little self-esteem boost before heading out for the evening.
Another place this yacht certainly has a boost is in her performance. The captain described the EX60 as a Ferrari, and a 42-knot top end with a 35-knot cruise says why. Throttle down to 25 knots and she sips 52 gallons per hour. The boat has twin 1,000-hp Volvo Penta IPS 1350s, making her not only a joy at fast speeds, but a cinch at slow speeds. A Seakeeper 9 teams with Volvo Interceptor trim flaps to keep this boat steady both on the go and at a standstill.
Tiara EX60 Review: A Comprehensive Look at the Flagship Yacht
One last thing about this Tiara: She is exceptionally quiet. That aforementioned sliding glass door that separates the salon and mezzanine reminded me of the scene in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective when Jim Carrey opens and closes a glass balcony door while screaming at the top of his lungs to prove a point to his doubtful colleagues. When the Tiara’s door is open, conversation flows easily between outdoors and in. But when it’s shut, the salon becomes all but whisper-quiet—though I doubt anyone will be whispering about the EX60. She’s a real coup for Tiara, and she’s about to have the whole world talking.
-by Kevin Koenig
