Tiara 4500 Sovran

It was a lousy day for a boat ride. After shutting down airports across the Midwest, the first major storm of the winter season swept eastward, bringing high winds and freezing temperatures to the South Carolina coast. Tendrils of icy spray topped the steely gray waters of Charleston Harbor, and it was easy to imagine the angry seas that waited outside the harbor mouth.

Though it was not the sort of morning one would choose for a pleasure trip with family and friends, the blustery conditions presented a fine opportunity to test the mettle of the latest addition to the Tiara Yachts fleet. Hull number one of the company's 4500 Sovran waited at the docks of the Bristol Marina, home to Coastal Carolina Yacht Sales. "Well," I remark to Tiara sales rep John Armbruster, who spent half the night battling flight delays down from Michigan, "it's the wrong day, at least we picked the right boat."

It's been 12 years since Tiara popularized the concept of the hardtop express coup design with the launch of its Sovran series. The various Sovran models launched since have set new standards for express-style cruisers and led the industry in the move toward full helm enclosures. As the latest addition to this line, the 4500 follows in the wake of the most successful model in the fleet, the 4300.

The 4500 isn't just a repackaged 4300; it is a new product that incorporates a number of subtle but significant upgrades formulated from lessons learned in the manufacturing process and from extensive feedback garnered from owners and dealers. From a distance, one could easily mistake the two models, but the refinements were revealed as we came aboard. As expected, the fit and finish of the 4500 were superb ? a result of the factory's commitment to meticulous mold preparation and maintenance. After each hull is finished, molds are hand-polished with up to five individual coats of wax. This may seem like overkill to some, but the smoother the mold surface, the better the resulting gelcoat finish.

In recent years, Tiara has made increasing use of computer-controlled resin infusion construction. This process ensures each part receives the exact mixture and volume of resin to ensure the strongest, lightest lamination possible. The new 4500 is one of the company's first models to be built entirely by this method, and as a result, it tips the scales a bit lighter than the smaller 4300 when similarly equipped.

The first enhancement I noted after boarding the 4500 was the view from the helm. Gone is the three-piece windshield of its predecessor. Instead, a single, slim mullion sits on centerline, bifurcating a pair of expansive glass panels that extend to the gunwales; the side windows are also significantly larger than on the 4300. The 4500 also incorporates a full-width sunroof, which is offered as a standard feature. A pair of 16,000 BTU air handlers can bathe the helm deck in air conditioning or heat, and owners have the option of adding a rear enclosure to fully weatherproof the upper deck. On most occasions, cracking the sunroof can provide ample natural ventilation. I was told the builder also plans to add a recessed vent system to the top of the windshield ? a sort of integrated dorade vent.

Visibility from the double-wide bench seat is quite good on all points. This is in part due to the larger windshields and extended side windows, but also a function of the power-assist helm seat, which can be configured to accommodate drivers short and tall. The retooled dashboard is wider than on the 4300, allowing ample room to mount twin touch-screen displays.

The aft section also benefits from several upgrades. While the transom storage trunk on the 4300 was spacious, the locker on the 400 offers more than twice the volume and can swallow a set of large fenders with plenty of space left over for lines and water toys. The transom also features a fold-down, aft-facing bench seat, and the platform can be ordered as a fixed unit or with a hydraulic lift.

Going below, the first thing I failed to do was search for the light switch. Tiara designers added a pair of opaque skylights to the dashboard, which bathes the salon in diffuse natural light, giving an enhanced sense of spaciousness. The sense of increased space is not entirely an illusion, as the salon is actually a bit roomier than on the 4300, due in part to a reconfiguration of the cabinetry. One specific advantage of this redesign is the ability to incorporate a washer/dryer combo at either the factory level or at the dealership without needing to modify the cabinets and dinette, as was the case on the 4300.

Like all current models in the Sovran fleet, the 4500 is fitted with Volvo IPS propulsion, in this case, 435 hp series 600 diesels. Even after several years of performance testing on similar models, I'm still impressed by the performance and fuel-efficiency these systems deliver.

After firing up the power plants on the 4500, I had another reason to be impressed. In contrast to the throaty rumble of a vintage sport-fisherman at idle or the dull roar of a powerful 1990s-era express cruiser at speed, the 4500 was remarkably quiet, not only at the dock, but also when running. At 30 mph, we were able to carry on a relaxed conversation while barely raising our voices against the muted throb of the engines.

Armbruster told me noise suppression and vibration isolation were major priorities on the 4500. Engine and mechanical mounts were redesigned, sound shields reconfigured, small sound-conducting voids were eliminated and a new headliner quiets the cabin. Of course, engines aren't the only source of noise aboard a moving boat, and one can credit Tiara's solid tab-and- slot method of interior construction with minimizing the squeaks and rattles that some boats suffer when shouldering through chop at a good clip.

Once into the open expanses of the harbor, we throttled up and enjoyed a thoroughly civilized ride in some markedly inhospitable conditions. Feeling bold, we even poked our head out of the inlet and rode several miles out into confused 5-footers, just to prove we could. Handling and performance was everything I would expect from the latest in a long line of boats known for excelling in these areas.

After returning to the dock, I thought how even though it was a truly lousy day for a boat ride, our boat ride was anything buy lousy. You can't change the weather, but a boat like the 4500 Sovran allows you to enjoy your time on the water on days that are just a bit hotter, colder, wetter or wilder ? while at the same time maintaining an enviable degree of luxury and style.