Read the specs on Tiara's 3100 Open, and you find that she isn't 31 feet long — it's actually just shy of 34 feet. I'm so used to the lies about boat length that, when I walked down the dock in front of The Crow's Nest (the Newport Beach Tiara dealership), I didn't spot the 3100 at first. I was looking for a smaller boat.

tiara 3100 open

The 3100 Open is definitely big, from the 12-foot beam to the living space below decks.



Over the decades, Tiara has earned a reputation for building superb express cruisers and the company's experience with this style shows in every detail. The 3100 was new for the 1993 line, and it also marked a shift in design for Tiara, since later models followed the trends set by the 3100. The 3100 sports a hull design that boosts the transom deadrise  to 18 degrees, giving this a much softer ride as a result of the deeper V-shape.

A few fishermen may not want the optional swim platform, but it sure makes boarding easy for the rest of us, especially with the standard two-piece transom door into the cockpit. The cockpit is a full 12 feet long, so it's big enough for sunning an entire family or boating a Hemingway-sized fish. There's a big stowage bin under the cockpit sole that also provides good access to the rudder posts and steering gear. Padded bolsters encircle the cockpit coaming, and everywhere you look (or step) is diamond non-slip texture.

A step up from the cockpit is the bridge level, with helm and companion back-to-back seats with stowage compartments underneath. Our test boat had the optional curved companion lounge that wraps around and has a clever filler piece to complete the entertainment area. It's the most popular seating arrangement, although a wide variety of options include wet bars or bait and tackle centers. Against the transom was an optional fold-down bench seat for extra lounging space.

The helm is another example of Tiara's thoughtful design and engineering know-how. The entire console hinges back easily to reveal all the hidden wiring and cables, which makes the installation of electronics or the inevitable maintenance work a cinch. Speaking of electronics, the instrument panel is one of the best layouts I've seen, since it not only has an array of VDO Blue Line gauges, but a spacious area where all the navigation and communication equipment can be flush-mounted. In front of the companion seat is a chart compartment with a hinged plexiglass lid that seals snugly to keep papers dry.

The companionway door slides into a pocket, and three steps lead to the spacious cabin. Our test boat had the optional teak and holly sole (carpet is standard), and the aura is cool and elegant. One of the changes for the 3100 is the removal of the bulkhead which separated the forward cabin, and the result is an open and bright cabin (6 feet 4 inch headroom) from the companionway to the bow.

Forward, a double berth is offset to starboard (and rather oddly shaped but spacious), while a seat and a large hanging locker are to port. Beneath the berth are three storage bins and one even has an air-lift to take the oomph from digging your gear out. An optional television can be hidden above the hanging locker and then pulled out for viewing from either the berth or the cabin. Privacy for the forward cabin is achieved by a heavy curtain that closes off the entire area.

A convertible dinette is just aft to starboard, with a teak table that is sturdy enough to sit on, as Tiara specialist Jeff Helsing did while pointing out the features of our Tiara. Try that on most dinettes and you'll end up with your feet pointed upwards.

Along the port side is a formica and teak trimmed galley counter that has a deep, stainless-stell sink, Princess two-burner electric cooktop, microwave oven, Norcold AC/DC refrigerator/freezer, and plenty of stowage space in lockers and drawers. If you want to check quality, slide open the drawers or peer into the lockers. Not only are the drawers flawlessly crafted of wood, but they have dovetail joints for strength, while the lockers are fully finished inside.

Aft is the enclosed head, with a one-piece molded fiberglass liner that makes for easy cleaning. A shower is standard, as is pressure hot water, and our test boat had the optional Par electric head.

From a construction standpoint, it's tough to fault the Tiara. The hull is solid fiberglass, and the hull-deck joint is mechanically fastened every six to eight inches, using a polyurethane membrane between the two pieces to provide a watertight seal. All the deck hardware is through-bolted into solid backing plates and, for extra strength, the bow pulpit is molded as part of the deck and hull structure rather than being added later. By the way, the cockpit and the deck are each a single piece, which not only adds to the strength but also makes for a better looking and more watertight structure. Type 316 stainless steel is used for the one-piece welded bow rail as well as grabrails, and the aluminum windshield is aircraft-grade aluminum with a power-opening window for ventilation.

Access to the engine compartment is easy: press a switch and a screw-jack tilts the entire bridgedeck including the helm seats. Our test boat had the standard Crusader 454XL 7.4-liter 320-horsepower gas V-8s, which are popular on the West Coast where running distances don't dictate the need for the added range of diesels. Diesel options you may see include a pair of KAMD-42 230-horsepower Volvos, Cummins 315-horsepower 9-M2 Diamond Series, or Cat 3116TA (300 horsepower) diesels.

Engineroom access is superb, and there's even a removable bilge grating so you're never standing on the hull. There's good access to the outboard sides of even the big block Crusader V-8s, and there's plenty of room for the 7 kW generator (or 5 kW diesel). The engine compartment is sealed off, so there will never be any engine or bilge smell leaking into the cabin.

Underway, the 3100 is a delight. The Hynautic hydraulic steering is light and precise, the Morse throttles and shifters are mounted in just the right places, and the deep vee keeps the boat from wandering at low speeds.

Push the throttles forward, and the Tiara comes up smoothly with little bow rise and, almost before you know it, you're planing. With a full load of fuel and two people aboard, the 3100 tops out at 37.2 mph (32.3 knots) at 4,400 rpm, and optimum cruising speed at 3,000 rpm is a comfortable 24.8 mph at just over one mile per gallon.

Trim tabs are standard (they're even recessed into the hull), but you don't need to use them to get the boat onto plane or keep her there. In fact, the trim tabs on the 3100 are just that: use them to trim the boat for crew weight or for windage, but you don't need them as a performance crutch.

My first ride on a 3100 was on a muggy Miami day with rain showers and gusty winds turning the Gulf Stream into rows of white-crested lumps, but the Tiara handled it all with aplomb. There was no pounding even after dropping into a trough, and the hard chines threw the spray out away from the cockpit. This is a boat that's like a big security blanket: you know it's tough enough to take the worst.

Of course, all this quality and style has an effect on the price. In automotive terms, the Tiara is comparable to a BMW or a Mercedes-Benz. If you just want a Chevrolet, then pick up one of the cheapie boats. If you want the kind of quality that's going to last for years and instills a pride of ownership, then Tiara is for you.

See Tiara 3100 Open listings.

Boat Specifications
LOA33'10"
Beam12'
Draft2'2"
Displ. (dry)11,500 lb.
Max Hp700
Fuel Cap.246
Water Cap.38
Height7'10"
Height w/radar arch8'7"

Performance

 
RPMMPHKnotsGPHRange
7504.23.72.8309
10006.15.33.4369
15008.67.55.2286
200010.79.311.8187
250016.614.416.0214
300024.821.622.6227
350030.126.233.0187
400034.429.940.6175
440037.232.352.0148

Editor's note: this article was updated in August of 2017.