Detailed Evaluation & Buyer Recommendation
Tiara Yachts 3800 Open 2009 vs Tiara Yachts 4800 Convertible 2011 — Same Brand, Different Boat
Matching a modified vee Tiara Yachts 3800 Open 2009 against a deep vee Tiara Yachts 4800 Convertible 2011 means you're likely deciding between two genuinely different on-water experiences. Hull type shapes everything from ride quality and fuel burn to dock handling and resale trajectory.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Tiara Yachts 4800 Convertible 2011 measures 51,4 feet overall (2011), giving it roughly 13,4 additional feet of deck space compared to the Tiara Yachts 3800 Open 2009 at 38,0 feet (2009). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Tiara Yachts 4800 Convertible 2011 tips the scales at 45 012 lbs — 44 786 lbs less than the Tiara Yachts 3800 Open 2009 at 226 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
The power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 885 hp, the Tiara Yachts 4800 Convertible 2011 has a 395-hp advantage over the Tiara Yachts 3800 Open 2009's 490-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Tiara Yachts 3800 Open 2009 carries 411 gallons versus 1 gallons in the Tiara Yachts 4800 Convertible 2011. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Tiara Yachts 4800 Convertible 2011 is rated for 15 passengers, while the Tiara Yachts 3800 Open 2009 caps at 12. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Tiara Yachts 4800 Convertible 2011 could be the deciding factor.
Bottom line: Choose the Tiara Yachts 4800 Convertible 2011 if your priority is putting more people on the water — it handles 15 passengers and at 51,4 ft it has the deck room to back that rating up comfortably. The Tiara Yachts 3800 Open 2009 is the smarter pick if you want a lighter, easier-to-trailer boat rated for 12 that costs less to run day-to-day.
General Boat Info
MakeTiara Yachts
MakeTiara Yachts
Model3800 Open
Model4800 Convertible
Model Year2009
Model Year2011
Measurements / Dimensions
Beam14 ft. 2 in. (4.32 m)
Beam15 ft. 11 in. (4.85 m)
Beam - Meters4.32
Beam - Meters4.85
Beam - Inches17
Beam - Inches191
Deadrise18℃
Deadrise14.8℃
Draft [max] - Detail3 ft. 6 in. (1.06 m) with props
Draft [max] - Detail4 ft. (1.22 m) with props
Draft [max] - Meters1.07
Draft [max] - Meters1.22
Draft [max] - Inches42
Draft [max] - Inches48
Weight - Detail22,600 lbs. (10,251 kg)
Weight - Detail45,012 lbs. (20,417 kg)
Weight - kg10251.18
Weight - kg20417.08
Weight - lbs.226
Weight - lbs.45012
Height - Detail9 ft. 5 in. (2.87 m) from waterline to top of windshield 10 ft. 5 in. (3.17 m) from waterline to top of optional hardtop
Height - Detail17 ft. 5 in. (5.3 m) waterline to top of optional hardtop
Height - Meters3.18
Height - Meters5.31
Height - Inches125
Height - Inches209
Length - Meters11.69
Length - Metersnot available
Length - Feet38
Length - Feet51.42
Length - Inches4
Length - Inchesnot available
Length [over all with swim platform]43 ft. 3 in. (13.18 m) with standard pulpit and optional 30 in. swim platform
Length [over all with swim platform]53 ft. 11 in. (16.43 m) with standard pulpit and optional 30 in. swim platform
Length overall - Detail38 ft. 4 in. (11.69 m) without standard pulpit 40 ft. 9 in. (12.42 m) with standard pulpit
Length overall - Detail51 ft. 5 in. (15.67 m) with standard pulpit 48 ft. 5 in. (14.76 m) without standard pulpit
Length overall - Meters12.42
Length overall - Meters15.67
Length overall - Inches489
Length overall - Inches617
Body / Hull
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull materialFiberglass
Hull typeModified Vee
Hull typeDeep Vee
Engine and Drivetrain
Engine/s standardTwin Cummins? QSC8.3, 490 hp (with Smartcraft? VesselView?
Engine/s standardnot available
Fuel tank capacity - Detail411 gal. (1,556 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Detail1,000 gal. (3,785.4 l)
Fuel tank capacity - Liters1555.8
Fuel tank capacity - Liters3785.41
Fuel tank capacity - Gal411
Fuel tank capacity - Gal1
Fuel typeDiesel
Fuel typeDiesel
Drive typeInboard - Twin
Drive typeInboard - Twin
Engine max490 hp
Engine maxnot available
Battery12V 2-bank battery system with batteries and battery switches (3 engine batteries, 3 house batteries)
Batterynot available
Engine makenot available
Engine makeCAT®
Engine modelnot available
Engine modelC18 ACERT
Horsepowernot available
Horsepower885 hp
Operational Info
Sleeping capacityPlan A: 5 Plan B: 6
Sleeping capacity7
Water capacity110 gal. (416 l)
Water capacity150 gal. (567.81 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detail40 gal. (151 l)
Holding tank capacity - Detail50 gal. (189.27 l)
Holding tank capacity - Liters151.42
Holding tank capacity - Liters189.27
Holding tank capacity - Gal4
Holding tank capacity - Gal5