Tom Slikkers grew up around new boats, starting at 13 working for his father, Leon, the founder of S2 Yachts. Today Slikkers is CEO of the company, whose portfolio includes the Tiara Yachts brand.
He says the response to the new Tiara 48 LS is exceptional. After decades in the industry and numerous successful launches, Slikkers has rarely seen such enthusiastic reception for a vessel this size. He credits the combination of design, features, performance and the new power package for the strong reaction: “The way the whole thing was packaged together has been impressive,” he says.
The Tiara 48 LS is part of a wave of Midwest-built models that define a new category of family cruising boats: hybrids that blend dayboat functionality with true overnight accommodations. These designs are larger and more luxurious than earlier examples, and many are built to accept powerful outboard packages. The Tiara, for example, was created to pair with Mercury Marine’s new 600-hp Verado outboards—an option that appears on other flagship models like the Formula 500 SSC.
These hybrid cruisers are essentially the SUVs of the boating world: versatile platforms that serve multiple needs. A single craft can deliver high-speed performance, comfortable climate-controlled cabins for kids or weekend stays, expansive entertaining decks, and the comforts of a stateroom for longer trips.
John Adams, the exclusive designer for Formula Boats, describes the trend as a consolidation of features that appeal to many boating lifestyles without compromising any single use. “We put together everything we’ve been successful with,” he says, “creating a boat that can serve a wide range of owners.”
Tiara 48 LS
Slikkers likens the Tiara 48 LS to the evolution of the automobile into the SUV: not everyone needs every capability, but buyers value versatility. Had the 48 LS been introduced decades ago, he argues, customers would not have immediately grasped its appeal. Boating habits have shifted—from extended cruises to more frequent day outings—and Tiara adapted by moving living spaces like the galley onto the main deck in earlier Coupe models.
Outboard propulsion accelerated that change. When Mercury launched the 600-hp Verado with a steerable gearcase, Tiara designed the 48 LS specifically around that package. “This boat was built for the 600 Mercury,” Slikkers explains. The hull and transom incorporate subtle extensions to accommodate the fixed-gearcase engines cleanly and seamlessly.
Because many owners will use the 48 LS primarily for dayboating, Tiara added thoughtful protection from the elements without converting the craft into a full cabin cruiser. The design includes sliding doors on both sides and a push-button retracting enclosure surrounding the climate-controlled helm, balancing shelter and the open-air experience. “We wanted to provide reasonable protection without turning the boat into a coupe,” Slikkers says. “It’s still a dayboat people want to enjoy in good weather.”
Formula 500 SSC
Designer John Adams brings decades of experience to Formula, a company whose engineering and manufacturing capabilities have evolved dramatically since the 1970s. Modern design teams now include specialists such as aeronautical engineers, enabling features once impossible to produce.
The Formula 500 SSC is the culmination of many design iterations: a versatile flagship that combines enclosed comforts and high-performance capability. Adams points out that consumer preferences shifted after economic downturns and recent world events, with owners favoring activities that prioritize family time and memorable experiences. “People focus on family more and want a trophy boat after what they’ve been through,” he says.
The 500 SSC delivers a package aimed at that desire. It features an enclosed coupe-top salon, a lounge bar aft, a full bow lounge, a queen-berth master stateroom, and powerful Mercury 600-hp Verados. Formula combined the best elements of cruising, sport, and offshore boats—luxury cabin comforts and air conditioning alongside stepped-hull performance and V-12 outboard power. The result is a boat that accommodates large gatherings while offering refinement below decks.
Adams notes timing matters: consumers see similar hybrid designs at the dock and want the flexibility these boats offer. His aim is to keep Formula slightly ahead of the market with new concepts that expand versatility without straying from the brand’s strengths. While a 60-foot model may not be next, he says Formula will continue exploring new configurations that give owners flexibility and customization.
Cruisers 42 GLS
Cruisers Yachts has roots stretching back to the early 20th century and evolved alongside materials and technology from wood to fiberglass. Its current design approach reflects that heritage while focusing on contemporary family use.
The 42 GLS traces its lineage to the Cruisers 338, introduced nearly a decade earlier. That model blended an open bow and cockpit with living amenities like a main-deck galley and overnight accommodations. The 42 GLS expands that concept with an exterior-first design philosophy: since owners live on the cockpit and deck, the boat’s layout grows from the outside in.
Features emphasize livable cockpit space: foldout beach doors on both sides extend the beam to 18 feet, 10 inches, creating expansive entertaining area. The cockpit includes a versatile bar with rotating seats, a full wet bar and icemaker, generous storage, U-shaped seating and a built-in barbecue. On initial photo shoots the 42 GLS comfortably held 16 people without feeling crowded, demonstrating the design’s social focus.
To reinforce the feeling of a home away from home, owners can option TVs in the cockpit and salon, with a standard TV in the stateroom. Practical amenities include dedicated bottle storage, abundant pantry-like stowage, and a conductive phone-charging pad at the helm—small comforts borrowed from modern kitchens to enhance the onboard experience.
Usage patterns vary by region. In Florida the 42 GLS often functions as a dayboat, while owners on the Great Lakes and in the Northeast use it for extended weekends. The Covid-19 pandemic also accelerated demand: buyers seeking safe, socially distanced family time found these versatile cruisers especially appealing. “Boating is one of the great socially distanced activities,” says Cruisers’ marketing director, noting that market timing and cultural trends aligned to boost interest in this category.
This article was originally published in the June 2021 issue.