Tiara 48 LS (2021-)

Specifications

Length Overall	48' 4" 14.73 m
Beam	14'2'' 4.32 m
Dry Weight	25,000 lbs. 11,340 kg
Fuel Capacity	660 gallons 2,498 L
Water Capacity	100 gallons 378 L

Engine Options

Std. Power	3 x 600-hp Mercury Verado V12

Captain's Report

Editor’s Report by Eric Colby

The largest outboard-powered model from Tiara Yachts, the 48 LS was designed and built for Mercury Marine’s new 600-hp V12 Verado outboard. She’s a luxurious day boat with an open plan on deck and belowdecks, she sleeps four and has a private head. Throughout, the yacht has the attention to detail and the fine appointments people have come to expect on a Tiara.

Designed to Entertain

The 48 LS is designed with asymmetrical side decks. The port side is raised to provide better headroom for the cabin and is best when used boarding from a high dock. To starboard, there’s protected passage from the cockpit to the bow where there’s nearly circular seating for up to 8 people and a table that can be lowered.

Working our way aft, electrically activated sliding doors on each side access the helm. A roller bulkhead just abaft the four helm seats that’s also electrically powered encloses the helm for four-season cruising capability. Each of the four captain’s chairs adjusts individually and there are folding fiberglass footrests plus two-level angled steps on the console. The dash has three Garmin GPSMap multifunction displays, a Mercury VesselView monitor, a Garmin VHF radio and a Garmin autopilot, dual USB charging outlets and a glovebox and rail to starboard. The boat comes standard with Lenco auto-retracting electric trim tabs and a 5 kW Lewmar bow thruster. For entertainment, the boat has A Fusion Apollo Three Zone system with 10 JL Audio speakers and three stereo remotes, one in the cockpit, one in the bow and one in the cabin. Overhead, the hardtop has opening hatches and is built on a custom, angled frame that blends well with the 48 LS’ lines.

Abaft the helm is a U-shaped galley that’s also protected by the hardtop. It’s fully equipped with a grille, sink refrigerator, ice maker and plenty of counter space for food preparation. This area would also be a good place for guests to stand and still be able to look forward when the helm is full.

Farther aft, a rear-facing lounge and a table on dual posts with folding sections forms the primary entertaining area on the 48 LS. The after-most seat on the boat is Tiara’s bench on a module that rotates and locks in forward and aft-facing positions. It has two individual backrests that can also be set to face forward or aft. Overhead, a Makefast Sunshade can be extended to provide full cockpit coverage. A TV folds down from the hardtop as well.

Stainless-steel framed acrylic gates close off the passage to the swim platform. There’s space to pass in front of the outboards and the platform has a four-step boarding ladder to starboard. There’s also hot and cold freshwater shower.

The Accommodations Deck

A sliding hatch in the helm console provides entry to the 48 LS’ cabin. There’s an island queen berth in the bow with the private head at the foot. Inside, there’s a separate shower stall. Aft, the mid-cabin has two single berths that can be slid together to form a larger area that can accommodate two adults. Opposite the head is a small galley with a counter and microwave oven

Propulsion

Power for the 48 LS is triple 600-hp Mercury Marine V12 Verado outboards. The naturally aspirated 7.6-liter engine has a two-speed automatic transom turning dual counter-rotating stainless-steel propellers and only the lower unit moves when the steering wheel is turned. This gives the motor 45 degrees of turning radius in each direction when used with the Mercury Joystick Piloting system and let Tiara mount the engines on 27” (68.58 cm) centers.

The Numbers

We didn’t get a chance to run numbers on the 48 LS, but Mercury did. The boat has an LOA of 48’4” (14.73 m) with a 14’2” (4.32 m). She has a dry weight of 25,500 lbs. (11,340 kg) and carries 660 gallons of gasoline (2,498 liters), 30 gallons (114 liters) of diesel and 100 gallons (378 liters) of freshwater.

As tested, Mercury had a weight of 32,200 lbs. (14,605.74 kg) and the engines were equipped with 31” (78.74 cm) counter-rotating propellers on the outside engines and 27.5” (69.85 cm) on the center Verado V12. The engine company’s test team reached a top speed of 60.1 mph at 6402 rpm. Best cruise came at 4000 rpm, where the boat ran 34.6 mph and consumed 58 gph, which translated into .6 mpg and a range of 394 statute miles with 10 percent of the boat’s fuel capacity held in reserve.

Retail price of the Tiara Yachts 48 LS with triple 600-hp Mercury V12 Verado outboards is $1,322,900.