It’s common for boatbuilders to create a new model in a size and style that resides squarely between two popular yachts, cutting and pasting, as it were, with design features of each sistership. Tiara Yachts‘ C49 Coupe is different. It falls between the C44 and C53 sizewise and pricewise, but it has a host of unique features.
From the C49‘s swim platform, there is single-point cockpit access. The solo entry leaves space in the cockpit for an L-shaped settee — a pebbled, leatherlike luxury the boat’s fleet mates lack. With a varnished table set atop a chromed-stainless-steel removable pedestal, the settee is as well-suited for morning coffee on the hook as it is for crew to socialize while the yacht’s wake stretches back to the horizon.
Entering the single-level salon through a slider, I found the decor striking. Gray is the new beige, and there are a variety of surfaces in a variety of textures, from wood grain to slick, enhancing one another. The cherry sole and trim offer a touch of warmth and a nautical feel.
Video: Experience the Tiara Yachts’ 49 Coupe
Looking for teak on teak, with teak trim? You won’t find it aboard the C49. You also won’t find the C49’s double-wide helm seat aboard other C-series coupes. During my trick at the helm, I found that seat to be a comfortable addition that allows the captain and mate to enjoy the journey side by side. The helm module — housing dual multifunction displays, switches and more — seemed to float. It had Tiara’s hallmark “pencil holder” design, allowing the skipper to keep sundry items secure and at hand.
Accommodations for as many as six are belowdecks. There are two heads, with one in the en suite, full-beam master stateroom. With hull-side windows providing light, this space feels big — and it is. The use of Volvo Penta IPS power plants allows for 3 feet more cabin space than a straight-shaft diesel inboard would, according to Tiara’s design team.
The twin 600 hp IPS800s powering the C49 delivered 31 knots at wide-open throttle, and cruised comfortably at 26 knots, burning 52 gph. The yacht’s fuel economy never fell below 0.5 mpg anywhere in the cruising range.
Tiara has evolved with the C49, a yacht that will be a nice surprise even to longtime fans of the brand.
