It was a cold, mid-November, I-should-have-stayed-in-bed morning when my plane took off from New York's Kennedy airport amid mist and fog. I was on my way to Fort Lauderdale to do a "turnaround" of Hull No. 1 of Tiara Yacht's 4200 Open, which meant I'd test the boat all day and head back to New York that evening. I was feeling grumpy about the winter and thought this trip would only remind me of what I'd be missing for the next several months. Little did I know that the 4200 would leave me with some breezy, palm-tree calm to help me endure another season in the tundra.

Arriving in Fort Lauderdale, I stepped off the plane and immediately felt the warmth of the 85-degree air and enjoyed the view of bright blue sky. The cold, gray morning behind me, I felt the grouch within melt in the same way that infamous Grinch had his change of heart. I was in warm weather and going for a boat ride. It looked like it was going to be a good day after all.

I met up with Tiara's marketing manager, Rob Everse, at the Marriott Marina, and he wasted no time starting the optional twin 700-hp Caterpillar C-12 diesel inboards (535-hp Cummins QSM11s are standard). On startup I saw no smoke, and I'm sure the patrons having their breakfast on the dock just a few feet way appreciated the cleanliness of these electronically controlled powerplants as well.

With a bulkhead lying ahead and larger boats surrounding the 4200 (complete with anchors hanging out), our end slip was a bit tight. However, Everse, a skilled helmsman, demonstrated the maneuverability of the 4200 in close quarters. Pushing the standard Teleflex hydraulic controls forward, the 27x37 four-blade Michigan wheels bit the brackish water, and the 4200 exited the slip with purpose. A simple adjustment of the starboard shifter to reverse and port to forward, and the 4200 spun out of her berth effortlessly. I'm accustomed to the ease of finger-flipping electronic controls, so I'd recommend the optional Glendinning electronic controls, which run $13,750. This may seem pricey, but the benefits are worthwhile.

The ocean was flat like a checkerboard, so I can't attest to the 4200's seakeeping in a swell or a chop, but I can say that she made a top speed of 39.9 mph at 2300 rpm. I was impressed by her speed, and at WOT the Cats ate a respectable 70 gph, giving the 4200 Open a 232-NM range. At 2000 rpm, the 4200 easily made a 34-mph cruise while burning 48 gph and providing a 288-NM range.

The 4200's sweet speed comes courtesy of big power and light weight, but don't think for a second that Tiara skimps on construction to achieve speed. She has a hand-laid solid fiberglass hull bottom, and from the chine up she's balsa-cored for reduced weight and added stiffness. Composite stringers are integrated into the hull for even more strength. This combination keeps the Tiara 4200 Open lightweight at 28,000 pounds (dry).