[Texas Flyer]

I've spent months and months looking at yachtworld in search of the perfect Tiara for use on the Gulf Coast. I'd be interested in your thoughts given the following:
1. Max price 250,000
2. Year Range 1996-2005
3. Will spend maybe a night a month on it max but use it for day excursions around the Galveston Bay/Gulf area.
4. Not much of a fisherman and do not want a tower.

You folks know much more about these boats than I do. I was under contract in the Fall on a 41 Open with Detroit DDEC 625 HP motors but the survey showed hull dampness and port engine issues. Price was around 130K at the time.

Thanks

[ReelMagic]

I currently own a 2003 38 Open with twin Cummin's 6CTA's (450HP). Non common rail and have been more than please with the boats performance since purchase in 2007..... Have traveled extensively from our home port on Long Island east to Gloucester, Boston, Nantucket, Block Island etc. South down to the Chesapeake several times and up the Hudson through the Lake Champlain to Montreal. Each several times.... It's primarily my wife and me so the cabin is big enough for multi week trips (max was 32 days). Performance and fuel consumption is reasonable, 28 GPH at 24.5 knots.... Great in all sea states up to 4-5ft.....Wife focused on Head/Shower size when we were looking. Queen size bed is OK and door helps if you get up early as I do.... Galley is OK but we generally Bar-B-Q or make reservations.....Fishing is limited to insure fishing w/grand kids.... Hugh cockpit is a plus. ICE machine is a must... M2C

[jclark003]

All three Open boats (38, 41, 43) are great boats and depending on your personal situation will serve you well. IMO I would steer towards Cummins or Cat for power. Having owned boats with Detroit's they are great running engines but tend to have a short rebuild interval and parts prices have been on the rise.

All boats being equal condition wise I would think the Cummins powered 38 will have a lower operating cost but depending on year possibly higher entry cost as it is a newer model. From what I could tell later model 41's and 43's (1999-2002) were made available with Cummins QSM-11 and Cat 3196 respectively, both pushing over 600HP and also came with similar bright white gel coat as found on the 38. Both boats were also offered with 435HP 3208 Cat's. The 41 and 43 will probably give you somewhat of a better ride in rough seas and a little more room but will also cost more to operate (at least the bigger HP models will).

IMO buying is based more on personal preference and availability. I was in your price range and started out going after a 38, which I find better looking with the molded windscreen and reverse transom, looked at all three models and ended up in a later model 43 with 3196 Cat's. Just the way things worked out for me.

By comparison to the above 38 post my 3196 43 burns about 40GPh at 27K. relative MPG does not change much by slowing down and decreases once you get down around 21-22K as the boat starts digging a hole. I start slowing down to about 22-24K when a head sea starts to get around 5' (on the great lakes) and still maintain a decent ride.

IMO if you can find a great lakes/freshwater boat you will end up better off even after transporting it down and paying a little more. Sounds like you already know this but whatever you pick out get a good surveyor and most assuredly a certified manufacture engine guy to check mechanicals, including past maintenance records (especially turbo's and aftercoolers). Don't be afraid to walk away from a boat that is over-propped (can't exceed by 50 RPM or so rated WOT RPM at full fuel load) or can't produce maintenance records.

Good luck finding your next ride. I came over from another top-end manufacturer and love being a Tiara owner. If you need any help or have any specific questions feel free to post of send PM.

[egstasea]

If you are not much of a fisherman, you should add the 4000 Express with Cummins 450's in the mix.  There is one in the classified here that I have second hand knowledge of as a nice clean boat.  There are 14 of them on Yacht World and 5 of those appear to be fresh water.  They all fit in your budget. 

I have a 2002 an it is a great layout with two decent cabins and easy to drive.

[Texas Flyer]

I really appreciate all three of your replies. Extremely helpful on all fronts. I'll report any progress!

[Texas Flyer]

Update: It has been a while and I have not pulled the trigger to date. I decided that there (correct me if I am wrong here as you are the experts) are substantial upgrades on power/technology when you start to get into the mid 2003-2007 year Opens (I really like the idea of a 4200 with QSM11's). I'll have to budget for the drastic increase in price from 2002 model 41's to the mid 2000's 42 Opens but my thought was this engine option availability would be worth it both in the operation of the boat and in the potential for re-sale.
That brings me to yet another question for this group. The Sovran. Love the cabin on these mid 2000's models. Why are they less expensive than the Open models of the same year? Are the pod drives a maintenance nightmare? I still prefer the overall look of the Open but it is getting hard to not notice the abundance of Sovrans on the market with the entertaining space/cabin/galley space that my wife finds appealing. Any thoughts on the differences (besides the obvious fishing advantage the Open presents) between these and the notion that waiting for a 4200 Open to fall into the budget vs buying a earlier (1999/2000/20001) model with older technology (and lower HP) Cats?

[bigboatben]

[Texas Flyer]

Thanks Ben. That's great information. I need to get in touch with a reputable boat yard to price annual haul-out and service in the Clear Lake area in order to get a number in hand for cost comparison purposes. My first choice would be a 2004-2006 4200 Open. I'm just seeing a lot more Sovrans with IPS falling into my search results on yacht world. Probably should find a tiara dealer/expert here and ask some questions as well.