This is quite possibly the most popular boat I’ll have on this channel. The 2001 Tiara 3500 Open was lent to me by BBO Boat Rentals and is also being offered by Newport Yachts — two great family-owned businesses in Newport Beach. BBO is actually where I learned to sling boats when I was first getting started, so it felt right coming back to review one of theirs. This sport fishing boat appears more frequently in our waters than probably any other model, and after walking through every inch of it, I understand why.
Bigger Than You Think
The best part about this Tiara is its size, and I’m showing you that right up front. It’s advertised as a 3500, but the actual length is 35 feet 8 inches — and according to boats.com, if you include the swim step and bow pulpit, the overall length stretches to 42 feet. That’s impressive. Pair that with a 13.8-foot beam and you’ve got a boat that feels much bigger than its model name suggests. For comparison, my 29-footer has an 11-foot beam — this Tiara has about 34 percent more square footage with only 18 percent more length. Nothing on this boat feels flimsy. The traditional bow shape gives it clean lines, and the vents carved into the sides along with the arch design make it a really pretty vessel.
The Cockpit and Exterior
The swim step is sizable with a ladder and a cutout entry to the rear cockpit, slightly off-center to starboard. The Open version differs from the Express with higher rails, bolsters around the outside, and a few changes that push it more toward a fishing layout. At the stern there’s a garage that can fit an outboard motor and potentially a tender, plus fresh and salt water inlets, a raw water hose and pump, shore power cables, a boat hook, and a freshwater hose with both hot and cold. The bow has an anchor locker with foot-controlled windlass buttons and a seamlessly designed bow pulpit with navigation lights. Up top you’ll see the radar, hatches for ventilation, horn, VHF antenna, and the stern and anchor lights.
The Helm
Moving forward from the cockpit, the helm area has a sink to starboard with a cutting board and cup holders, plus semi-wraparound seating to port with a removable seat. A sliding door leads into the salon, and there’s a chart and storage compartment nearby. At the helm itself, you’ve got old-school separate gear and throttle controls — which I personally prefer over electronic throttles that can get too touchy. The dash has a Garmin chartplotter, Simrad autopilot, Standard Horizon VHF, all your switches on buttons with corresponding breakers right there, the Fire Boy suppression system, engine air preheat, and AC and stereo controls. The windshield is hydraulically actuated so you can lift it up for fresh air, and there are wipers for rough weather.
Below Deck
Three stairs take you down into the salon with plenty of headroom — I can stand up straight, which is a big deal on a 35-footer since I can’t do that on my 30-foot boat. To starboard there’s a dinette area with your AC and DC controls on the wall. Forward you’ll find a V-berth cabin with closet space on the starboard side, additional storage to port, and a sizable hatch overhead — about 18 inches — that lets in plenty of sunlight. The galley sits on the port side with a sink, stovetop, porthole, microwave, a small TV, and a fridge and freezer system below. The head is surprisingly spacious with its own porthole and a wet shower setup where everything is built to drain.
The Engine Room and the Christian Test
This is where I cheated — and if you know Tiaras, you probably saw it coming. There’s a standard hatch in the center of the boat, but instead of squeezing through that, I went back to the rear cockpit, flipped a switch labeled “lift,” and the entire helm station rises on hydraulic struts to give you full, unobstructed access to the engine room. Twin Cummins 6BT diesels sit centered to the beam on straight shafts running out the back, producing 370 horsepower each for a combined 740. There’s a generator in the middle painted red, batteries on each side, the Fire Boy system, chargers, and fuel water separators. Christian Test passes easily — you can reach everything you need.
Specs and Star Ratings
Quick specs: 2001 Tiara 3500, twin Cummins 6BT diesels at 370 horsepower each, 740 total. Cruises at about 20 knots with a top speed around 25 knots. The fuel tank holds 350 gallons of diesel and the freshwater tank holds 120 gallons.
These ratings are out of 10 with five being average — not high school grading. The lowest score was Performance at 6 — it’s not incredibly fast, but when you have a boat this well-built and heavy, speed takes a back seat to comfort and quality. The high points were Quality and Value, both at 8. Quality because everyone who steps on a Tiara can feel it — nothing bends, nothing’s flimsy. Value because pretty much anyone who wants a Tiara can get their hands on one — diesel models go for the low hundreds, gas models in the 70s to 90s, and some even in the 60s. That brings the total to 36 stars. The full category breakdown is available at jakesea.com.
Tiaras are some of my favorite boats, and they’re popular for good reason. If you want to see the full walkthrough with every detail, check out the video below. Smooth sailing.
