Brand Foundation: Tiara 2900 Coronet

The boatbuilder listened to its customers, paid attention to fundamentals, and stuck to the intent of its new model. The resulting dayboat resonates as a classic Tiara.

When Capt. Chris Kelly first tested the Tiara 2900 Coronet for Power & Motoryacht in the June 1997 issue, the review led with a heavy body blow: The federal luxury tax instituted a few years prior had more effect than the singular revenue generation intended. The tax was levied on the amount spent on purchases above $100,000, and as a result boatbuilders were striving to capture the market of boat buyers looking to spend below that magical figure. So beyond the revenues, the tax policy also yielded design influences. Isn’t government grand?

The happy result, at least for Tiara, was that the 2900 Coronet was born. This boat could be outfitted to fish or carry a cruising couple away for extended weekends. The spacious cockpit had rugged, removable L-shaped settees in each transom corner, mounted to pins in the cockpit sole. These obviously stood in the way of attempts to catch fish, as did the swim platform. Conversely, the cockpit offered soft coaming pads, rodholders, and a centerline transom door to round out the fishing amenities. Regardless of the direction the options took as a whole, be they intended for cruising or fishing, this cockpit offered the feeling that both cruisers and anglers were after, that they were right on the water’s surface. 

In contrast with the back-to-nature feel of the cockpit was the bridgedeck, a lofty perch (at least for a 29-footer)from which captain and crew could feel like masters of all they surveyed. A charcoal-gray helm pod reduced glare, while an L-shaped settee was to starboard, abaft the high, covered chart table to port. There was also a wet bar to starboard, abaft the helm seat. A bimini kept the sun off the crew, when deployed. And here owner and guests could bask in the passing moments offered by a day on the water.

A centerline companionway leads to the interior. A vee-berth and basic galley featuring a sink, microwave, and half fridge lay to starboard and the head compartment was to port. The shower was located at home or, more likely on the swim platform.

But that was the point, wasn’t it? This was a bit of roughing it, and the design was true to the needs of her owners. The berth was used principally to let the owners extend the day’s festivities perhaps longer than they should—to avoid rushing back to the dock. And so the Tiara 2900 Coronet fulfilled the needs of her diverse masters, be they cruisers, fishermen, or tax-sensitive citizens with a sense of fun and adventure.

Read our boat test of the Tiara 3900 Coronet here ➤

Click here for Tiara’s contact information and index of articles ➤

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Specifications

  • Builder: Tiara
  • Model: Tiara 2900 Coronet
  • Year: 1997–2007
  • LOA: 31’7″
  • Draft: 2’8″
  • Beam: 11’4″
  • Displacement: 10,000 lb.
  • Fuel Capacity: 200 gal.
  • Water Capacity: 30 gal.
  • Optional Power: 2/230-hp Volvo Penta KAMD-42 diesel inboards; 2/320-hp Crusader454XL gasoline inboards

This article originally appeared in the July 2013 issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine.