Tiara 2900 Open

The Tiara 2900 is marketed as a dual purpose cruising and fishing boat although, with its large open cockpit and limited cabin space, I think the design tends to favor the fisherman. The style of 2900 is commonly referred to as an open bridgedeck or express cruiser. It features cabin accommodations forward followed by the helm positioned over the engines and an open after cockpit for fishing, entertaining or relaxing. The hull of the Tiara 2900 is constructed with a gel-coated surface followed by a layer of fiberglass mat and vinylester resin to prevent osmotic blistering. The bottom is laid up with a solid fiberglass laminate. The hull sides and decks utilize a balsa wood core between fiberglass laminates for weight reduction and stiffness. The deck and hull are joined with adhesive and stainless steel screws.
To their credit the builders have used bulkheads that are watertight between the hull and cabin soles to divide the boat into three separate compartments. Transverse and longitudinal stiffeners and motor mounts are laminated plywood encased in fiberglass. Even a small amount of water can quickly damage and weaken this system.
The Tiara 2900's cockpit is over 6' long, nearly 10' wide and 29" deep. It provides plenty of space for anglers. The bridge deck is raised approximately 6" from the cockpit deck and features two back seats as standard equipment with the helm on the starboard side. The helm is very well laid out with plenty of room for added equipment.
One of the more sportfisherman-like features of the 2900 is a starboard transom door for landing that big fish in the cockpit. The door is well done and opens inboard, as it should.
The Tiara 2900 is almost evenly divided between cabin space and open cockpit. A fisherman will likely consider the accommodations downright luxurious while a cruiser will find them a little short on privacy. This probably means it's just about right for its dual-purpose intent.
There is a single cabin with a berth forward set at an angle slightly off centerline. The dinette is along the starboard side and also converts to a berth. The berth lengths are adequate but both are about 44" wide at their narrowest point. Along the port side is a small galley fitted with a single burner stove, microwave oven, stainless steel sink and a front-loading refrigerator. The head is aft along the port side with 20-gallon holding tank.