2009 Tiara Yachts 3500 Sovran

By Matt Spencer
There’s something to be said about experience. So when you have over 50 years of fibreglass experience put into your boats, needless to say you’ve figured out how to get it right.

It was in 1955 when Leon Slikkers first started experimenting with fibreglass after many years of building wooden boats in his garage. It wasn’t long before Leon had fibreglass models in production for his Slickcraft lineup. Some years later he began building sailboats under the name S2 Yachts – they also became a hit. 

I bring this up because it is this rich company heritage that now goes into every Tiara Yacht. With boats ranging in length from 29 to over 50 feet, the entire Tiara Yachts lineup exemplifies the years of fibreglass experience that come with the Slikkers name. Building on this reputation of excellence, the company has become known for the overall quality fit and finish of their boats. I had the pleasure of spending time with a new Tiara 3500 Sovran. The moment I set foot on the swim platform, I knew I was going to be in for a treat. 

The moulded swim platform takes full advantage of the wide beam, measuring an inch under 13 feet. This leads to a very spacious aft trunk that can fit all your fenders, lines, brushes and anything else you may want to keep close at hand.

Stepping up into the aft cockpit through the windowed gate, you enter one of the three distinct living areas on the 3500 Sovran. A large double lounge area fills the aft deck to port, which includes a removable table and moulded step up to the wide side decks leading to the bow. This is a great spot to enjoy an al fresco meal or a couple of drinks in the sun.

Those who prefer to enjoy the outdoors from the shade simply need to continue forward up the starboard steps, past the entertainment centre with wet-bar, storage and fridge, and into the helm area. Protected under the hardtop to port of the helm station is an elevated L-shaped lounge with teak table. This airy seating area is perfect for two with room for a third if the need arises.    

Across from the lounge is the spacious double wide helm seat, where any captain and co-captain will be right at home. Visibility is incredible in this coupe styled yacht, which offers great sight lines for 360 degrees thanks to the large windows, elevated helm and open aft cockpit. Behind the large, 17-inch mahogany wheel – a definite stand-out feature – you’ll find the large Raymarine colour GPS/chartplotter/radar screen and dual digital Volvo IPS gauges.

The smallest boat available with the Volvo IPS system, the 3500 Sovran was actually designed around the drive pods. Since the engines take up far less space than the traditional inboards, Tiara was able to claim more space for several of the on-board living spaces, as well as for additional storage.

Stepping down the teak companionway stairs onto the full teak sole, the welcoming salon is bright and airy. To port, an elegant teak table with a Birdseye maple inlay sits aside a comfortable sofa.

Over in the galley, the extra deep Corian countertop offers plenty of surface area for meal preparation. It comes equipped with a centre-mounted sink and fridge, as well as a two-burner stove.

Moving forward, there is an island berth with steps up each side, privacy curtain and LCD TV. The hanging lockers to port and starboard are spacious with removable shelves for versatility. 

The aft media lounge, hidden neatly behind the companionway steps, features a 32-inch LCD TV and two facing sofa lounges that can be converted into a good-sized sleeper. This space works nicely as a second stateroom for kids or guests.

Touching back on the fabrication of Tiara Yachts, the cabin on the 3500 Sovran is one of three complete pieces used in the construction of the boat. The hull, the deck, and the cabin below are all separate pieces that are moulded and built beforehand, then laid in place for the final steps. When you combine that with the sound proofing in the coupe, you now have a very solid and stable boat. 

And what better way to test this out than in the three footers on Lake Ontario we had on test day? The 3500 Sovran ate up the waves and kept asking for more. As we powered our way through the heavy rollers, the bow raised high into the air and settled back in nicely instead of crashing down with a thud. It almost sliced with the deep V as it came back down. There was little to no noise in the cockpit and, with no shaking or jarring, you could feel this was a solidly made boat.   

The IPS 500s provided the pep they’ve gained the reputation for, as we saw a top speed of 38.3 mph at 4500 rpm. Mid-range cruise was a comfortable 26.3 mph at 3500 rpm. With the fuel economy provided by both the 3500’s hull and the IPS drives, your 250 gallons are sure to go a long way. 

Had we been granted more favourable conditions on test day, I’m sure the performance numbers would have been quite impressive. However, sometimes I feel testing boats in rough conditions inspires a little more confidence. Anyone can find out how their boat performs in perfect conditions. However, you don’t want to be second guessing your vessel when things get ugly. I’ll tell you now, there was no second guessing the hull and the construction of the 3500. Once we hit the first roller and landed securely back down, I knew the boat was built for anything and I actually began to enjoy the ride.

Leon Slikkers’ boats have come a long way from his garage – figuratively speaking, of course, since Tiara Yachts are still built in Holland, Mich., where the original Slickcraft was built. But from there the company has grown to one of the highest quality yacht builders on the water today. Built on great design that makes excellent use of space, Tiara Yachts and the 3500 Sovran sit proudly on a foundation that only decades of experience can offer.

POWER/PERFORMANCE
Test boat engine: Twin Volvo IPS 500
TOP SPEED (rpm/mph)
4500 / 38.3
TIME ON PLANE
5.1 seconds
CRUISING SPEED (rpm/mph)
2500 / 14.5 ; 3000 / 16.8 ; 3500 / 26.3