Tideline 35: Carolina-Inspired Power Catamaran by Ullberg Yacht Design

Power catamarans have long been prized for their smooth ride, stability in big water and efficient performance. Yet many traditional designs have carried a look some boaters find ungainly or unrefined, which has limited their broader appeal. Tideline Boats aims to change that with the Tideline 35, a new 35-foot power cat that blends classic Carolina styling with modern multihull benefits.

The Tideline 35 was penned by Robert Ullberg of Ullberg Yacht Design, a designer known for sportfishing yachts such as the Garlington 72. Ullberg drew inspiration from traditional North Carolina fishboats, incorporating a flared bow and a broken sheer to give the multihull more pleasing proportions and a recognizable, refined profile. Rhodes Yacht Design handled the interior, creating an arrangement intended to meet the needs of serious anglers while still feeling comfortable and well-appointed.

Co-owners George Stronach and Michael Collins, both lifelong boaters with firsthand experience on catamarans, intentionally revisited Carolina boatbuilding cues to improve aesthetics without compromising performance. “We thought there has got to be a way to build a better-looking cat,” Collins says, and one visible result is the Tideline’s rounded bow, which departs from the squared-off bow common to many power cats.

At 35 feet overall, the Tideline hits a size sweet spot: large enough to provide the features and robust offshore capability needed for dedicated fishing trips, yet compact and efficient enough to perform well on a twin-engine package. Stronach notes that the platform supports hard-core offshore use while remaining manageable and performance-oriented for everyday operation.

The layout is purpose-driven for fishing and offshore comfort. The console includes insulated stowage and dedicated live well capacity, space for a head, a two-seat helm station and a forward cushioned lounge with underseat storage. In the cockpit, twin live wells are positioned in the corners to maximize working deck area, and a centerline walkthrough leads to the swim platform and outboards for easy access. The foredeck includes two integral fishboxes and two raised stowage lockers at the bow, providing organized storage for gear and catch.

Construction uses a cored hull and deck with infused vinylester resin, a modern laminating approach that helps achieve a good balance of strength, stiffness and weight control while resisting osmotic blisters. Tideline’s construction choices reflect an emphasis on durability and seagoing capability appropriate to offshore fishing and coastal cruising.

The Tideline 35 will be offered with twin Yamaha F350 outboard motors. With that power package, Tideline estimates the boat will likely reach about 60 mph at top end, while cruising comfortably in the mid-40 mph range — figures that underline the platform’s emphasis on performance as well as seaworthiness.

Tideline has sold two Tideline 35s to date. The company expects the first to be completed in late winter or early spring. Pricing with the twin F350s falls in the $250,000 to $275,000 range, reflecting the boat’s combination of specialized fishing features, refined styling and modern construction techniques.

By merging traditional Carolina lines with the intrinsic advantages of a catamaran—reduced roll, shallow draft and efficient hull forms—Tideline aims to broaden the appeal of power multihulls to anglers and owners who want both offshore capability and better-looking boats. The Tideline 35 offers a focused fishing layout, modern materials and a distinctive profile intended to change opinions about what a power catamaran can look and feel like on the water.

This article originally appeared in the October 2016 issue.