44 Coupe
The Tiara 3500 Express is a 35-foot express cruiser yacht that was produced by award-winning Michigan-based shipyard Tiara Yachts between 1998 and 2004. Boasting a curvaceous vintage style, this entirely open-air model offers sporty speeds, luxurious al fresco deck space and the opportunity to kit this yacht out as an offshore fishing vessel. An enduringly popular option on the used and charter markets to this day, the 3500 Express also comes with spacious lower-deck cabins and fuel-efficient engines that make it ideal for long-range cruising.
Though there is room for a double sunpad surrounded by steel guardrails out on the foredeck, the social heart of this yacht is very much the cockpit, a sunken space enclosed by high bulwarks where you can relax, entertain and even fish. Should you want to chase some prize catches aboard then you can fit this space out with fish boxes, outriggers, rod holders and a fighting chair, while a transom gate and steps down to a full-beam bathing platform with wash-down hoses make hauling and gutting fish a breeze. A transom garage can store sporting gear or fishing tackle, while the platform itself is sturdy enough to host a dinghy. Should you wish to stick to entertaining then the aft-cockpit can also be fitted with a transom sofa and a mezzanine sofa in Ultraleather as well as a wet-bar console with chilled storage and an outdoor Kenyon grill, while there is space enough back here for a dining table and a set of chairs.
Heading beyond the radar arch and towards the helm you will discover bench-style forward helm seating facing a starboard dashboard with Teleflex hydraulic steering, a Ritchie compass, Bennett trim tabs, Morse controls, a Garmin display screen and VHF radio, all hidden behind a sloping windscreen with the option to erect a Bimini top.
A teak and holly sole, oval portholes, recessed mood lighting, creamy leather accents and chunky steel fixtures give the entire lower deck a refined and comfortable feel with plenty of light. There are two separate layouts on offer down here, with an open galley joined by an L-shaped sofa and a dining booth creating a vast lobby with a smaller main-head at the expense of the VIP cabin. Remove the dining booth, however, and you open up space for a double island bed to the bow with a pair of full-height, cedar-lined closets and a large bathroom with an enclosed shower. The galley down here features a two-zone electric hob, a fridge-freezer unit, a combination microwave, hard work surfaces, a built-in coffee maker and plenty of ash-lined cabinetry, while the sofa can be converted into an extra bed for two.
This is a yacht built for the chase, and there are three separate engine options each capable of outpacing the pack. Twin 355MHP Crusader 502 XL gasoline engines, two 407MHP Cummins M2 inboards or a pair of 422MHP CAT 3208TA diesels produce top speeds of up to 34 knots. At cruising speeds of 24 knots, you will enjoy a cruising range of 286 nautical miles, while an innately seaworthy modified V-hull with a shallow keel, prop pockets and an 18-degree transom deadrise offers a smooth and dry ride.
