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I turned my back to the optional teak helm, and with an unobstructed view of the cockpit, I pictured my angler—complete with his gold Penn VSX16 loaded up with green high-vis line—reeling for his life as I backed the Tiara 4800 Convertible down after an imaginary hot white marlin. I pushed the Glendinning controls into reverse until there was a full-on ocean-meets-transom moment. The standard transom door and top-locking gate showed no signs of leakage, and while some water did splash up and over, the cockpit stayed mostly dry. She danced backwards and spun around, displaying fleet-footed finesse and grace. While all this was a mere simulation on a warm mid-February Miami morning, the 4800’s handling and aggressiveness made me see her piscatorial possibilities.
If I were going to seriously fish the 4800, I’d remove the optional ($3,980) 30-inch-deep swim platform, as it’s a fishing-line hazard and counteracts the boat’s line-preserving Bennett recessed trim tabs. (All Tiaras over 43 feet have recessed tabs.) That said, the builder’s commitment to fishing was clearly evident in the cockpit, which comes standard with two in-deck macerated fishboxes that can easily hold a few rod-breaking bigeye tuna. On centerline, there’s a 2'x2' aluminum backing plate for a fighting chair laminated into the balsa-cored deck. Live-bait aficionados will likely go for the optional ($3,880) 80-gallon livewell. It has a powerful pump, which can be accessed from the lazarette and can evacuate those 80 gallons of seawater in just five minutes. Tiara says its research has shown that a livewell’s high turnover rate is the most efficient way to keep live bait, well, alive, and this one’s interior contours prevent baits from banging into the walls, getting damaged, and dying off. (When goggle eyes are running $120 a dozen on tournament day you want every one of them to have constant water and room to swim.)
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My boat was also fitted out with a bait-prep station to starboard, complete with a cutting board, lure tubes, and leader holders. To accommodate it, the ladder leading to the flying bridge was curved. Gentlemen fishermen (or those with bad knees) can eliminate the station and install a molded-in bridge stairway, a $4,200 option that also costs you some cockpit square-footage. Other fishy options include Rupp outriggers, a six-rod rocket launcher on the flying bridge, port and starboard under-gunwale rod stowage, and teaser reels.
This boat was not only rigged to chase pelagics, she was powered to get you to them fast, thanks to optional 1,015-hp Caterpillar C18s, which come at an upcharge of about $58,000 over the standard 885-hp Cat C18s. (Yes, it’s the same model designation.) The extra horsepower produced a cruise speed of 35.6 mph at 2000 rpm while the Cats burned 68 gph and provided 0.52 mpg. Based on her 1,000-gallon fuel capacity, the 4800 has a cruise-speed range of 471 statute miles. At 2350 rpm (WOT), my 4800 hit an average top hop of 41.4 mph, a speed that will cost you 100 gph, but still offers a relatively efficient 0.41 mpg and 373-statute-mile range. I also recorded a 1000-rpm speed of 12.6 mph, so if slow trolling live or dead bait is your thing, I suggest getting the optional trolling valves ($9,920).
Regarding her fuel capacity, those 1,000 gallons come from two athwartships tanks, one under the cockpit, the other just forward of the engine room. The aft tank feeds the port motor while the forward tanks runs the starboard diesel and the standard 13.5-kW Onan genset. (An auxiliary 5-kW Onan genset with soundshield is available as an option. It’ll run you about $17,160.) This independent setup provides a margin of safety: What are the chances of a problem in both fuel systems? But keep in mind the forward tank will burn fuel more quickly thanks to the genset.
Besides having fish-chasing agility, the Tiara 4800 was also impressive in flat-out runs and turns. This is due in part to standard power-assisted Teleflex SeaStar steering. After a little wheel time, I’d venture to say she’d be a pleasure to run out to the canyons and ply the 1,000-fathom line for “the man in the blue suit” (blue marlin). And while you’re at the helm, your guests can easily watch baits from the cockpit mezzanine, the flying bridge, or even from the saloon via the optional cockpit camera ($1,310) hooked up to that Sharp TV.
The flat-calm conditions on test day certainly contributed to my test boat’s efficiency, but so did her easily planing, modified-V form and a hull that is as solid as it is quick. The 4800 is built with a hand-laid, solid-fiberglass bottom and balsa-cored hull sides, which ensure rigidity and strength without adding excessive weight. And less weight means more efficiency.
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