When it comes to Tiara Yachts, the talk around the dock is that its boats are “overbuilt,” meaning they are constructed to handle harsh conditions. This compliment is born out of the company’s Great Lakes heritage, where the tighter wave periods and unpredictable weather patterns can make things uncomfortable in a hurry. The Tiara 48 LE, the flagship of the builder’s outboard-powered sport lineup, lives up to that rugged reputation while leveling up the luxury amenities.

The cockpit is the most noteworthy area on the boat, with several great features for socializing. Start with the power-actuated rotating lounge module. With the push of a button, it will rotate a full 180 degrees. Its tracking system stops and locks it in place at any angle that’s desired. Facing forward, it creates a great conversation pit with the aft-facing lounges under the hardtop. Fold out the wings on the high-gloss teak table, and fire up the electric grill. Facing aft, the rotating lounge provides a great view off the transom while at anchor. Turned to port, it offers seating to enjoy the fold-out terrace, which provides water access away from the outboards while at rest. The integrated swim ladder makes for easy reboarding.

Let the socialization continue in the salon, which is bathed in sunlight, thanks to 360-degree windows. Retract the sunroof to create a more open feel. The glass door to the salon slides open, and the window to starboard electrically retracts into the bulkhead to create an open flow with the cockpit. Everything adds up for a boat that’s primed for entertainment.

The captain has a double-wide helm seat with built-in teak toe kicks. The Garmin Marine Navigation System displays are easy to read at the dash and are bolstered by companion multifunction displays in the settee to port, so someone can take on navigator duties without crowding the captain.

With regard to design, the deep-V sport hull that tapers to 21 degrees of deadrise at the transom handles rough water outside the inlet with aplomb. Adding the optional Seakeeper 6 gyrostabilizer takes the boat’s already excellent seakeeping to the next level.

Natural Light

Belowdecks, the master and guest staterooms are brightly lit and feel bigger than they should, thanks to the hullside windows. The master has an en suite head with a separate stand-up shower that has a built-in bench. The guest head also has a separate shower with a bench. In a nod to modern technology, Tiara built in wireless phone chargers on either side of the master berth.

Sporty Performance

Tiara powers the 48 LE with triple 600 hp Mercury V-12 Verado outboards. With six people aboard and 442 gallons of fuel, plus 50 gallons of water, the 48 LE hit 46.5 knots at wide-open throttle (6,450 rpm). It climbed onto plane in 7.4 seconds with minimal bow rise, so the captain never loses sight of the water during acceleration. The Mercury joystick system is integrated with a bow thruster to make docking and close-quarters handling far easier.

Closer Look

The starboard-side boarding area in the cockpit is a prime example of the steps (literally) that Tiara takes to enhance comfort and safety. Along with the boarding door built into the starboard gunwale, there’s a built-in step-down into the cockpit, with a handhold to ensure easy transfer from the dock to the boat.

Take the next step: tiarayachts.com

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Following on the heels of its successful 60 EX flagship launch, Michigan-based yacht builder Tiara Yachts is expanding the EX yacht series with the EX 54, slated to debut at the Miami International Boat Show in February.

One of the hallmarks of the series is its flexibility for owners to dial in how they want to live their on-the-water lifestyle.

Outside, Tiara offers a lounge module with U-shaped seating, an outdoor galley, solid-surface countertops, a drawer-style refrigerator and optional ice maker for owners’ who like to entertain.

The EX 54’s adventure module turns this area into a fishing-focused space with a sink with a cutting board, an optional livewell, five rod holders at the transom, an insulated cooler tub, tackle stowage with dividers and even an electric grill to cook the catch of the day.

There is also a glass patio module, which includes a laminated-glass bulkhead with a high-gloss teak countertop and adjustable ottomans that can be locked in place. They are made with Ultraleather and come with four color options: whitewater beige, lighthouse white, coast dolphin grey and sea cliff grey. There is also aft-facing seating with a table and a portable grill. The table and grill can be stowed when not in use. Additionally, this module has options for a bike rack and kayak stowage.

In any layout, there are three staterooms accommodating six guests with two heads. The owners’ stateroom is full-beam and amidships with a queen pedestal berth and en suite head. The space has ocean views via hull-side windows. Other room amenities include 18,000-Btu Webasto air conditioning, a 50-inch Smart HDTV TV, cedar-lined hanging locker, full-length backlit mirror, a settee and stowage.

The VIP stateroom has a queen berth with skylight as well as a 32-inch Smart HDTV. This space also has hull-side windows to take in water views. The third guest stateroom has bunk berths for the kids.

Supporting this family-friendly cruising craft is a fiberglass hull with closed-cell foam in the hull bottom and sides for strength without added weight. The deck is also built with closed-cell foam. A full fiberglass grid system set into the hull bottom adds rigidity and additional strength.

Other notable options for the Tiara Yachts EX 54 are a hydraulic swim platform, a Seakeeper 9 gyrostabilizer, a second joystick in the cockpit deck wing, an extra Garmin 22-inch display, FLIR night vision, a washer/driver and a cockpit TV, to name a few.

Power for the Tiara EX 54 is twin Volvo Penta IPS2 950 diesels.

The Tiara Yachts EX 54 is slated to debut at the Miami International Boat Show at Herald Plaza on Dock D.

Take the next step: tiarayachts.com

Quick Specifications:

• Length Overall: 54’3″
• Maximum Beam: 15’11”
• Draft: 3’8″
• Fuel Capacity: 650 Gal
• Freshwater Capacity: 135 Gal.

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The Great Lakes are known for going from flat calm to “sporty” conditions in the blink of an eye. Getting caught in rough conditions, with big waves and tight wave periods between you and safe harbor, is something that, when you go through it, makes you understand why the Michigan-based builder Tiara “overbuilds” its boats. Tiara is known for building ruggedly seaworthy boats that are also steeped in luxurious amenities. The new 48 LE, the flagship of its outboard-powered sport lineup, is just the latest in its lineup to prove that Tiara has earned this reputation.

The place to start when reviewing this boat has to be the aft cockpit, with several great features that will surely make it a prime spot for socializing. Your eyes, and the rest of your body, will be immediately drawn to the power-actuated rotating lounge module. With the push of a button you can rotate it a full 180-degrees. But its unique tracking system lets you stop it and lock it in place at any angle you desire. Facing forward, it creates a great conversation pit with the aft-facing lounges under the hardtop. Fold out the wings on the high-gloss teak table and fire up the electric grill. Facing aft, it provides a great view off the transom while lounging at anchor. Turned to port, it offers seating to enjoy the foldout terrace, another great feature that provides water access away from the outboards while at rest. The integrated swim ladder makes for easy reboarding.

Let the socialization continue in the salon under the hardtop, which is bathed in sunlight thanks to the 360-degree windows. Retract the sunroof to create a more open feel. The glass door to the salon slides open and the window to starboard electrically retracts into the bulkhead to create and open flow with the cockpit. Everything adds up to create a boat that’s primed for entertainment. Belowdecks, both the master and guest suites are brightly lit and feel bigger than they should thanks to the expansive windows built into the hullsides. The master stateroom has its own head with separate stand-up shower that has a built-in bench. Even the guest head has a separate shower with a bench.

At the helm, the captain will no doubt have as much fun, if not more, than the crew behind him at the double-wide helm seat with built-in teak toe kicks. The Garmin Marine Navigation System displays are easy to read at the dash and are bolstered by companion MFDs in the settee to port, so someone can take on navigator duties without crowding the captain. The deep-V sport hull that tapers to 21-degrees of deadrise at the transom handles rough water outside the inlet with aplomb. Adding the optional Seakeeper 6 gyro stabilizer takes the boat’s already-excellent seakeeping to the next level.

Tiara has designed the 48 LE to be perfectly-paired with a trio of 600-hp Mercury V12 Verado outboards. With this power package, this 16-ton boat climbs onto plane in just 7.4 seconds and hits 30 mph in a sprightly 10.5 seconds. What’s more, the boat does not squat while coming out of the hole, so the captain never loses sight of the water from the helm. We hit a top end of 52.5 on our test day on Lake Michigan—Tiara noted slightly higher speeds in its own Sea Trials. We did take note at how smooth this 48-footer handled turns at speed, like a much small and lighter boat. Tiara also notes that in its own trials, the 48 LE passed the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) Quick Turn Test at wide-open throttle.

Still window shopping? It’s hard to directly compare boats at this level since they have so unique and customizable features, but do take a look at the Cruisers Yachts 50 GLS ($2,485,000 with triple Mercury 600s) which also has unfolding gunwales in the cockpit to enhance space and water access at anchor. Also take a look at the Intrepid 51 Panacea ($2,307,512 with quadruple Mercury 600s), which has living space belowdecks but is more of a center console layout.

But definitely keep your eyes on the Tiara 48 LE. It will turn heads at the dock, keep the crew comfortable and entertained, and handle some of the sportiest conditions you’ll see outside the inlet.

How We Tested

• Test Engine: Triple 600-hp Mercury Verado V12 outboard motors.
• Propellers: Verado12 24.5” duoprops
• Gear Ratio: 1.75:1
• Fuel Load: 442 gal.
• Water on Board: 100 gal.
• Passenger Weight: 950 lb.

High Points

• The Mercury joystick system is integrated with a bow thruster to make docking and close-quarters handling a far easier task.
• Along with the boarding door built into the starboard gunwale, there’s a built-in stepdown into the cockpit, with a handhold to ensure easy transfer from the dock to the boat.
• The power-actuated rotating lounge in the cockpit can be locked in place in almost any position in the cockpit, helping you maximize the entertainment possibilities.

Low Points

• Triple 600-hp Mercury Verados consume a whopping 148 gallons per hour at WOT.
• Compared to inboards or sterndrives, outboards take up a lot of space on the transom platform.

Extra Point

The main cabin berth has wireless phone chargers built into either side so the owners never have to be too far away from their smartphones.

Pricing and Specs

Speed, Efficiency, Operation

Tiara Yachts – tiarayachts.com, 616-392-7163, Holland, MI

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When Tiara Yachts created a new flagship for its fleet, it went big: The Tiara EX 60 is a full 10 feet longer than any other Tiara. More importantly, this 60-footer maintains the high level of construction, fit and finish and performance expected from the Michigan builder.

The broad strokes here are a three-stateroom yacht with a full-beam master and surprising performance—for moving 26 tons—from the twin 1,000 hp Volvo Penta IPS1350 diesels linked by jackshafts to IPS pod drives, giving a reported hammer-down speed of about 40 knots and a fuel-sipping 52-gallon-per-hour cruise at about 25 knots.

This is also a yacht for connecting with the water, with a single-deck living space stretching from the hydraulic swim platform all the way to the windshield. The cockpit, partially shaded by the hardtop overhang, and partially by an extendable awning, is where buyers can add modules that can be mixed and matched. The alfresco seating module has back-to-back couches with a folding table, while the aft lounge module adds another two-way settee aft. Other choices include an aft grill, a fridge and a sink, while the breakfast-bar version includes an aft-facing counter with three ottoman seats. Anglers can select packages including rod holders and bait-prep stations. Whatever the combinations, a pair of settees are tucked into the forward corners, protected from the sun and wind.

Also, in all configurations, the transom platform lowers to become a beach or to launch an 11-foot Williams Sportjet 345 (on hidden chocks). Both sides of the cockpit butterfly outward to create water-level terraces that extend the beam to more than 20 feet.

The salon is as bright as the outdoors, with windows from overhead to settee level, an electric sunroof and sliding doors that open fully. A raised settee to port has two removable bar stools and faces the long galley with twin Isotherm fridges, a Kenyon induction two-burner cooktop and stowage space that more than makes up for the lack of hanging cabinetry, which would block views.

Just forward, the skipper has a double-wide Stidd helm seat with a joystick on the armrest. It’s abaft a black dash with twin 22-inch Garmin monitors and a row of clearly marked buttons for systems. The sliding door here lets the skipper step onto the side deck to help with lines or get a better view when docking, since the throttle and thruster controls are next to the door. Just opposite the helm is a double companion seat. The optional Garmin multifunction display can be switched from navigation to ship’s systems via the touchscreen. For portside maneuvering, the skipper has engine and thruster controls tucked into a side locker of the cockpit.

While the salon and cockpit are about fun, the lower-level accommodations whisper serenity. The full-beam master is amidships for minimal motion and provides walkaround space on each side of the queen-size berth. The starboard nightstand has a slide-out workstation. There’s also a love seat, a flip-up vanity, a built-in bureau, a full-height hanging locker, and a washer and dryer. The en suite head has a full-stall shower. Like the VIP head that doubles as a day head, the master’s head has vessel sinks and Euro-style faucets.

The VIP stateroom is forward with an island queen berth (mostly walk-around). There’s direct access to the head, which has a stall shower. Between the two staterooms is a guest space with slide-together twin berths. Tiara created carved-wood headboards that not only warm the staterooms but also create an inviting textured effect. The decor, including the headboards, was orchestrated by Mary Flores Interiors of Seattle, and it includes everything from throw pillows to bed coverlets.

The systems, from diesel mains to jackshafts to Volvo Penta’s IPS pods, take up half the boat under the deck, and I was surprised that access was not just for the skinny. A diamond-plate walkway between the two Volvo Penta D13s provided good serviceability, and the EX 60 I got aboard was fitted with a Seakeeper 9, a Volvo Interceptor trim system and a 13.5 kW Onan genset. The bilge was fully gelcoated for easy cleaning, and sound- and vibration-deadening material was everywhere, resulting in just 72 decibels in the salon while the boat was running flat-out. That’s about conversation level, and most of the noise that registered was bow wave and wake astern.

The EX 60 also has a sunning, sitting and dining area on the bow. Reaching it is safer and easier with the faux-teak decking from Teakdecking Systems. This material is easy to maintain and provides a nonslip surface. Tiara uses it on all decks as well as in the salon interior. Surrounding the deck are impeccably welded rails that are “bling,” along with deck cleats and chocks. The Lewmar anchor windlass is hidden in a locker with stowage for fenders and dock lines, and the anchor hawse is through the stem with a protective stainless-steel plate.

As the new flagship of the Tiara Yachts fleet, the EX 60 carries forward the traditions of impressive construction, thoughtful design features and surprising performance. And it’s a lot of fun too.  

Origin Story

Tiara Yachts traces its lineage to SlickCraft, the first company of Tiara founder Leon Slikkers. The company started building wooden runabouts in 1955 and fiberglass vessels by 1960. Leon, joined by sons David and Robert, launched Tiara Powerboats in 1976. In 2012, his youngest son Tom, took over as president and CEO. In 2021, after a 75-year career, Leon retired.

Meet the Fleet

In addition to the EX 60, Tiara has four Luxury Sport Series models, ranging from the 34LS to the 48LS. The Luxury Crossover Series has the 34LX, and the 43LE and 48LE are in the Luxury Express Series. Lastly, there is the three-model Coupe Series with the C39, C44 and C49.

Volvo Penta Interceptors

Part of the Volvo Penta Electronic Vessel Control system on the Tiara EX 60, the Interceptors are trim controls with vertical sliding blades. With the Active Ride feature, these blades diminish pitch and roll by up to 60 percent while keeping the boat more upright in sharp turns. The result is increased cruising comfort at all speeds and better fuel efficiency.

Take the next step: tiarayachts.com

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When it comes to introducing a new line of yachts, the goal is usually to bring something fresh to the table. Tiara Yachts’ new EX series is spearheaded by the EX 60, which, from stern to bow, is outfitted to host social gatherings and entertain while also being a capable family cruiser.

Take the boat’s synthetic-teak cockpit, for example. It has extendable side decks to port and starboard that increase the 16-foot-11-inch beam to 20 feet, 6 inches. A few steps forward, owners can have seating or a breakfast bar paired with an aft lounge, or they can opt for Tiara’s “aft adventure module,” which includes a wet bar, a grill, a refrigerator, a sink, a cutting board, five transom rod holders and other angling amenities. Forward of there are more guest amenities, including an L-shaped starboard-side settee and a portside chaise longue, each with insulated cooler boxes underneath. The seating flanks the on-centerline sliding glass doors to the yacht’s interior.

Design elements intended to make hosting guests easy continue with the EX 60’s galley and straight-line quartz countertops to starboard. Here, there is a stainless-steel sink, a microwave, a convection oven, a two-burner Kenyon induction cooktop, two dual-drawer refrigerators (or freezers) and a mounted 55-inch TV that vanishes when not in use. Directly opposite, to port, C-shaped seating surrounds a high-gloss solid-teak dinette.

Take one step up, and the Garmin-laden helm is to starboard. It’s equipped with a Stidd 1200W helm seat that can electrically adjust fore and aft, and has an armrest with a built-in joystick and a Garmin GRID remote. Side-deck access is through an electrically actuated sliding pilothouse door. An additional Stidd helm seat is to port, so guests can enjoy the forward views of the horizon.

The EX 60 is a three-stateroom, two-head affair that includes a full-beam amidships master, a forepeak VIP and a starboard-side twin-berth guest stateroom that can convert to a double-berth setup.

Access to the master is via a private entrance that first leads to the portside head. Within the stateroom, there is a queen-size pedestal berth with stowage beneath, flanked by glass-top nightstands. To starboard, owners can opt for a two-seat settee with single-drawer stowage on either side or dedicate the space entirely to dressers; to port, there is a cedar-backed hanging locker and standard dresser-drawer stowage for holding yet more clothes. A full-length backlit mirror is at the entrance.

Tiara Yachts offers one power option for the EX 60: twin Volvo Penta IPS1350s.

Fast Facts

1. The master stateroom has a 50-inch TV with a Bose Soundbar. 
2. The main deck’s interior has four JL Audio speakers and an 8-inch subwoofer. 
3. The EX 60 has 10 stainless-steel pop-up cleats, each of them 13 inches.

Take the next step: tiarayachts.com

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Join Patrick Sciacca and Tom Slikkers, the CEO of Tiara Yachts, aboard the Tiara EX60 at the Miami International Boat Show. Amongst a shift in the lifestyle of boating, Tiara designed this new yacht with their customers in mind. This yacht embodies flexible luxury and endless adventure. Watch now.

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Tiara Yachts has added a new flagship model to its Luxury Express series: the 48 LE, which joins the 43 LE in the lineup.

Tiara Yachts says the 48 LE is expected to debut this autumn with triple 600 hp Mercury V-12 Verado outboard engines. The electronics package will include a Garmin navigation system.

Key features are expected to include a full glass enclosure for longer cruising itineraries, a portside foldout terrace to expand aft relaxation space at anchor, convertible seating in the galley, and an interior layout that includes two queen-size berths and two heads.

“We’ve learned a great deal from our experiences with the 43 LE and are excited to provide the next evolution of this great series,” Tom Slikkers, CEO and president of Tiara Yachts, stated in a press release. “Every detail has been met with thoughtful consideration with this extension of the LE line, and we look forward to supplying our customers with more memorable moments on the water.”

Key specs for the Tiara 48 LE: Length overall is 48 feet, 4 inches; beam is 14 feet, 2 inches; and draft is 3 feet, 10 inches, according to the builder.

Where to learn more: click over to tiarayachts.com

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When it premiered in 2007, the Tiara Yachts 5800 Sovran was the largest yacht the shipyard ever built. The yacht has an aerodynamically raked deckhouse, down-swept aft windows, and triple 435 hp Volvo Penta IPS600 diesels that produce a 30-knot cruising speed. The forepeak VIP stateroom has an en suite head with a separate shower stall; this head also serves as the day head. Amidships is the master, with a queen island berth and a vanity to starboard.

As of October 2022, two Tiara 5800 Sovrans were available, ranging from $610,000 to $625,000.

From the Archive

“For the next six hours, the Tiara Sovran 5800 was our magic carpet ride, smoothing out the light chop of Lake Erie. Aboard Crown Jewel (Hull No. 1), we knew all too well that the overtaking weather system could strengthen and catch us in open water. We also knew that we had a 30-knot cruising speed available to us, a tactical advantage over slower designs.” 

— Yachting, October 2008

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Come aboard to experience the infinite possibilities and inspired luxury of the EX 60 by Tiara Yachts. Watch the virtual tour now!

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Darrell Lowrance

Darrell Lowrance—who became an internationally recognized angler, boater and co-inventor of the world’s first recreational electronic fish finder—originated his path in the cockpit of his airplane. Legend has it that he was flying over Oklahoma’s Grand Lake O’ the Cherokees when he noticed that he could see fish in the clear waters. This experience inspired him to consider whether sonar, which had been employed to hunt submarines in wartime, might be leveraged to locate fish.

Lowrance joined forces with his father, Carl, and his brother, Arlen. In 1957, the trio introduced the first recreational sonar. It was dubbed the Fish Lo-K-Tor. On the docks, it was simply called the “little green box.” It could determine water depth and detect suspended objects in the water column.

By 1984, Lowrance Electronics had sold more than a million little green boxes. Other breakthroughs followed, including the first high-speed sonars, graph recorders and integrated sonar/GPS devices.

Darrell Lowrance served as president and CEO of Lowrance Electronics from 1964 to 2006, when Altor purchased the company and consolidated into Navico. Prior to this acquisition, Lowrance Electronics employed some 1,250 workers at its Tulsa, Oklahoma, headquarters and its factory in Ensenada, Mexico, where the company produced more than 90 products and accessories.

Lowrance retired in 2007. He and his wife, Kathleen, relocated to their homes in Plano, Texas, and Port Orange, Florida. Lowrance received the American Sportfishing Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2007, and he was inducted into the Bass Fishing Hall of Fame in 2013. He died in 2019. “The world has lost a great man and a true visionary,” the CEO of Navico said.

Daniel Harper

In 2011, most people were just warming up to the idea that a few screen taps could elicit real-world changes (read: Nest thermostats). Daniel Harper, however, was ahead of the coming connected-boat curve. His experience as a professional captain had shown him that small onboard issues, if left unchecked, could snowball into emergencies. Examples include overflowing bilges and low battery levels, as well as onboard security and geofencing concerns.

Harper founded Siren Marine in 2011. The business introduced boaters and the marine industry to how an onboard network of sensors connected to a cellular modem could serve as a monitoring, tracking and control system. Siren Marine products began to notify boat owners about onboard issues or concerns via a wireless device and the Siren Marine app.

As the Internet of Things expanded, many boat owners began to leverage Siren Marine products to, for example, turn on HVAC systems, create masthead tricolors, and access other connected devices from afar. At the same time, Siren Marine’s monitoring and tracking products—including the Siren 3 Pro system released in 2020—provide owners with peace of mind about thefts and intrusions. The SirenSat offshore antenna allows owners to track their yachts via satellite communications when the vessel travels outside of cellular range.

Harper, who resided in Newport, Rhode Island, was a longtime sailor and regularly delivered Corban, his Swan 42, to and from the Caribbean, often singlehanded. Harper died in 2021, when the Siren Marine team acknowledged him as “a man who forged the future of the marine industry.” 

Freedom Boat Club

In 1975, John Bogle founded the Vanguard Group and created the first index fund for individual investors. It meant that even small- and medium-size investors could access funds with less risk than individual stocks, and with less cost than actively managed funds.

Freedom Boat Club—established in 1989—did something similar with boat ownership.

The idea is that instead of an individual shouldering the costs of a boat on his own, Freedom Boat Club members receive access to a fleet of locally appropriate boats at their franchise-owned locations. The club sells different membership plans, some of which include reciprocal agreements at other locations (there are more than 300 locations in the United States, Canada, Spain, the UK and France). The boats are used only by club members. Membership is open to anyone, and many memberships involve entire families.

Freedom Boat Club was sold to an investment group as the business began to flourish, and then John Giglio and Robert Daly, who had been involved on the investment side, purchased it in 2011. Giglio bought out Daly in 2012 and, as president, grew the club to more than 20,000 members before selling it in 2019 to Brunswick Corp., the parent company of Boston Whaler, Sea Ray, Mercury Marine and other leading marine brands.

Today, Freedom Boat Club is focusing on expansion in the Northeast United States, including New York and Connecticut.

Mark Richards 

Minimum drag, maximum lift. That’s how the GB Marine Group, led by Mark Richards, describes its V-Warp hull, which the company employs on Grand Banks, Palm Beach and Eastbay models. Richards founded Palm Beach Motor Yachts in 1995, and he first employed a V-Warp hull, which was inspired by US Navy and NASA research, on the 1998 Palm Beach 38.

The concept of minimum drag, maximum lift didn’t just come from the US government. Richards was born in 1967 in Australia, a nation whose history proudly includes the annual Rolex Sydney Hobart Yacht Race. This legendary rough-and-tumble race takes the fleet down Australia’s east coast, across Bass Strait and up the River Derwent. Simple flying this isn’t: In 1998, five yachts sank and six sailors died.

In 2005, Australian businessman Bob Oatley launched Wild Oats XI, a 100-footer that Reichel/Pugh designed for minimum drag and maximum lift to dominate the race. Richards, the winning helmsman of the 2003 Admiral’s Cup, was named skipper.

The yacht won line honors (it was the first horse to the barn) nine times under Richards’ command. In 2012, it became the only yacht to win a second Sydney-Hobart treble: line honors, a corrected-time victory and a new course record.

In 2014, Grand Banks (the forerunner to GB Marine Group) acquired Palm Beach Motor Yachts. Richards was named CEO, and V-Warp hulls started appearing on Grand Banks and Eastbay builds. During testing last year, the new flagship Grand Banks 85 reportedly saw a range of 1,000 nautical miles at a fast cruising speed of 21 knots.

Richards said at the time: “We had one primary objective above all when we started the 85: to deliver the most fuel-efficient, high-speed, long-range cruiser of this size in the world.”

Leon Slikkers

In 1946, 18-year-old Leon Slikkers reported for his first day as a carpenter at the Chris-Craft factory in Holland, Michigan. Roughly a decade later, he sold his home to raise $5,000 and create the Slickcraft Boat Co. Slikkers also began testing composite and fiberglass construction processes. He sold the business to AMF in 1969 and remained president for five years.

While the sale agreement included a noncompete clause, its fine print didn’t mention sailboats. So, in 1974, Slikkers founded S2 Yachts. His factory employed forward-leaning practices, such as climate-controlled production facilities and the fitting out of interior sections while the hull was still in the mold, allowing for additional curing time.

When Slikkers was free of the noncompete clause, S2 introduced two brands: Tiara in 1976, building midsize sportboats, and Pursuit in 1978, producing rugged sport-fishing rides.

S2 built its last sloop in 1989 and sold Pursuit to Malibu Boats in 2018. Today, the company is called Tiara Yachts. It builds inboards from 39 to 53 feet and outboards from 34 to 48 feet.

In September, the company announced that Slikkers was retiring at age 93. S2 is now run by second- and third-generation members of the Slikkers family, who continue to build yachts in Holland, Michigan.

Thinking Green 

Boyan Slat is a 27-year-old Dutch inventor and entrepreneur. At age 18, he devised a system that harnessed ocean currents to collect plastics. In 2013, Slat dropped out of an aerospace engineering program to found the Ocean Cleanup, a nonprofit that aims to rid the world’s oceans of 90 percent of floating plastics by 2040. The nonprofit uses tech-laden “vehicles” that gather debris, which is brought ashore and recycled.

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