2023 Tiara 34 LS

Boat Reviews

Boat Review by: Rick Layzell

The Tiara legacy of crafting exceptionally well-built yachts has been deservedly recognized by proud Tiara owners and the industry professionals all around the world. Having previously tested the 43 LE, 43 LS, and the C 44 Coupe, we were thrilled to be granted the opportunity to spend some time aboard the 34 LS. I expected the smaller sibling of the 43 LS would simply be, well…smaller, while still built with that same degree of care and attention to detail as her bigger siblings. And once again, Tiara did not disappoint.

Let’s first understand her stature. The 34 LS rests dockside at 34’ 9” (10.59 m) length overall and she carries an 11’ 0” (3.35 m) beam. Her draft with the motors in the down position is a modest 3’ 1” (0.94 m), she has a dry weight of 13,500 lbs (6,123 kg) and she can handle up to 800 HP on her transom. Our test boat was equipped with a pair of Mercury 300 XL V8’s with joystick controls at the helm. My immediate first impressions were twofold – she looks bigger than 34’ and she offers a wide-open feeling in all bow to stern seating areas.

With her hull side painted black featuring a red boot line and matching engine trim, the 34 LS is simply stunning. The exterior colour choices were tastefully pulled into the interior with carbon colour accenting the white vinyl’s with some of the most beautiful stitching you’ll find anywhere, and synthetic teak decking in a soft grey tone dressing up the flooring.

The full berth features an Innerspring mattress with storage below, 6,000 BTU A/C system with reverse heat and LED lighting. Access is through a wide doorway left of the helm and steps and flooring down below are crafted in solid teak. The private head compartment includes a VacuFlush toilet, solid surface countertop with sink and pullout faucet for the shower, vanity mirror, storage, waste receptacle, and exhaust fan.

A common theme from Tiara is ‘social zones.’ These are spaces where guests can hang out in comfort and style. The bow social zone on the 34 LS features a generously sized U-shaped lounger with armrests, remote access for the Fusion sound system, USB charging ports, stainless steel beverage holders, and a pair of pedestal bases for the forward refreshments table. Forward of this you’ll find a well-crafted anchor locker hosting an integrally mounted thru-stem anchor system and a windlass that can be operated from the helm or the handheld remote that is housed in the anchor locker. Of note is that access to the bow social zone is done on the starboard side, and a one-piece stainless handrail sits above deck for safety when needed.

On the port side of the helm, Tiara built in a step that serves to simplify egress in and out of the boat – in high dock situations this safe and accessible step is a brilliant idea. There are handrails on the fiberglass top here for additional security while boarding as well.

The helm itself is our second social zone. Here you’ll find three individual seats with armrests and flip-up bolsters, a Yeti cooler tucks neatly under the starboard side seat while the port side seat has a flip-down footrest and sits overtop of a 12/120V fridge. The center positioned captain’s seat is electronically actuated to move fore and aft. We were treated to a pair of 12” Garmin displays which allowed us to have navigational maps on one and engine systems control on the other. Like all electronics, the Garmin system offers endless combinations and variables at your fingertips. The helm is enhanced with teak insets, push button switches, the binnacle and joystick controls, and a handsome 3-spoke steering wheel.

A molded fiberglass hardtop stretches the full beam width of the 34LS and features a generously sized sunroof with screen allowing daylight into the helm social zone. The top itself features an integrated visor tucked neatly above the tempered curved windshield. During testing I was pleased to find zero blind spots thanks to this design.

The aft social zone is where the Tiara designers truly overdelivered. There are multiple side mounting points for the high gloss teak table and the pair of luxurious seats will comfortably seat up to six adults. Activate the overhead Makefast powered sunshade to create a more intimate dining or relaxing experience. And if relaxing is what’s in store, the electronically actuated rear seat moves forward at the push of a button while the backrest flips down with ease to create a large sun pad or a spot for chilling under the sunshade. This layout significantly opens the transom area for an afternoon of swimming or playing in the water with endless room for kids and friends to move around freely.

The standard Fusion sound system on the 34LS includes JL audio digital amplification, two 6.5” Coaxial speakers in each of the bow, hardtop forward and hardtop aft positions ensuring that each of the social zones is treated to quality sounds.

From a performance perspective the 34 LS continued to hit high marks. She’s rated for up to 800 HP and with twin 300’s on her transom my expectations were modest. I’m happy to say that she blew me away. Consistent hole shots in under six seconds were great, although admittedly hole shots on a 34’ machine are not my priority. What is my priority is where she cruises and where she tops out. Cruising speeds were readily found at 26.9 & 32.9 mph at 3650 & 4420 RPM, respectively. A polite reminder to all captains that it is your job to determine acceptable cruising speeds based on passengers, gear, weather, wind, and water conditions. Top speed is the one that shocked me – a 13,500 lb boat with half a tank of fuel (she carries up to 757 L / 200 US gallons) and two of us on board on a calm day on the water and the 34 LS topped out at 47.3 mph at 5990 RPM. Knowing that we were 100 HP below her maximum rating I had hoped we would find 45 mph.

The Tiara 34 LS – which stands for Luxury Sport – is an exceptional watercraft in every way from bow to stern. There is zero doubt that she proudly shares the same engineering and craftsmanship DNA as her larger siblings, and she is incredibly fun to drive. The joystick piloting made docking a breeze and truly demystifies any challenging moments at the dock. This is a boat that, with a modest amount of introductory time, any captain can confidently manage. Her social zones are meant for families and friends of all ages to share memories together. All this combined makes the 34 LS an exceptional watercraft from Tiara Yachts.

2023 Tiara 34 LS Photo Gallery

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