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if you need to be out of the sun or from a rough day on the water,” David notes. “It also allows you and your guests to use virtually every part of your boat — from bow to stern — for entertaining, water sports, island hopping; all the things that I think everyone enjoys on boats”

Hailing from a long line of Great Lakes-minded yachts, with more than 60 years and three Slikkers generations worth of production experience, the Q44 marks a new type of “adventure yacht” from Tiara. The design of this yacht — built on the Tiara 44 Coupe hull — moves towards increased outdoor space, ideal for day cruising (especially for this rendezvous) with a wide-open, single-level deck. The best part… I’d get my chance to try a hand at captaining this adventure yacht the very next morning!

Grand occasion From the marina, we made our way up to the Mackinac Island Yacht Club — a prestigious club established in 1937 — where a line of rendezvous attendees awaited the next horse-drawn carriage to shuttle them from the cocktail hour to the Grand Hotel; yes, the Grand Hotel.

We were treated to fabulous cuisine as we took in the astounding views of the worlds longest porch. It was the perfect environment to chat with some of Walstrom’s customers, like the Morand family for Tawas City, Michigan, who was attending the rendezvous for their first time.

Ralph and Cheryl Morand invited their 13-year-old granddaughter Allie Morand and her friend Emily Young, to the event. Though the storms deterred them from bringing along their Sea Ray Express Cruiser, they were excited for the opportunity to meet new boaters.

“I really like the fact that the young adults were invited to the rendezvous because they’re really our future boaters,” Ralph says.

“One of the things we’ve tried to do the last few years is invite our grandchildren out on the boat,” Cheryl adds. “We’ve let them all have a trip because that’s the only way to have them get involved and to love boating — by being around people who can teach you.”

After our feast, and speeches from Walstrom staff members, we took a carriage ride back to Shepler’s dock and awaited the arrival of our private, chartered sunset cruise back to St. Ignace under a breathtaking, picturesque night sky.

Captain of the ship Bright and early, on day two of the rendezvous, Walstrom and Tiara hosted a red-eye brunch on the docks of the St. Ignace Municipal Marina for the brave rendezvous-ers who were continuing their journey to the North Channel and the Soo.

After some coffee, croissants and a captains meeting, I hoped aboard the Q44 hull #1 with David, Marc, Leon and his grandson Alex Slikkers. As the sun peaked out behind the clouds and the temperatures started to rise, we left the St. Ignace Marina and headed due east to Drummond Island.

This yacht, unlike hull #2, was optioned with gorgeous teak flooring and onyx topsides. As we began our journey, the boat rode like a dream. While Lake Huron was in no way choppy, the Q44 slipped gracefully through the water alongside a herd of Pursuits and Tiaras.

My place on a boat is always the bow, so I made a beeline as soon as I hopped aboard; settling into the spacious, forward loveseat, I watched the sun rise over the lake. The wide port and starboard walkways made it possible to access the bow even underway. Better yet, as we neared the De Tour lighthouse, I got to try my hand at captaining ship; with the joystick, it was a breeze. We cruised at a

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There is a universal theory widely accepted by boaters: the more you cruise and spend time aboard your boat, the more likely you’ll keep it long-term. And it’s

a fact that cruising with other boaters has the power to reignite your passion for boating. That’s what Walstrom Marine — a full-service marina in northern Michigan

— attempts each year at its rendezvous, by encouraging boaters to cruise. The family owned and operated marina, with locations in Cheboygan, Bay Harbor and Harbor Springs, has been in business for 70 years and has a passionate troop of boaters that can vouch for them.

At this year’s rendezvous, which took place in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, I was joined by more than 100 Walstrom customers and staff, and had the pleasure of meeting the Slikkers family and staff behind the Holland, Michigan-based S2 and Tiara Yachts.

Making an appearanceAs I drove over one of the world’s largest extension bridges, I entered into the quaint town of St. Ignace, Michigan, where the start of the rendezvous was to take place. While the weather seemed a bit dreary, I had no clue that storms ravaged parts of northern Michigan earlier in the day, delaying or canceling some rendezvous attendees plans to voyage north.

“I led a group of boaters up and we got caught in some rainsqualls,” Walstrom’s Rick Venner says. “But we really didn’t miss a beat. Most people joined us despite the weather.”

The first thing on my schedule: hop aboard the famous Shepler’s Ferry with Tiara marketing director David Glenn, and photographer Marc Montocchio, and make our way across Lake Huron to Mackinac Island. This island is a rare destination that allows you to take a step back in time. Once on land, we made our way past a plethora of shops baking up some sweet, world-renowned fudge, through a maze of bicycles and horse-drawn carriages, and finally to the docks at the Mackinac Island Marina. Sitting front row and center, for all to see, was the all-new Tiara Q44 hull #2 — designed by founder Leon Slikkers — making its first public appearance. With a clear view from the porch of the Mackinac Island Yacht Club, where rendezvous attendee’s were sipping wine and snacking on hors d’oeuvres, the Q44 dazzled in the marina slip.

Adventure yacht The first thing to catch my eye was the bicycle positioned on top of the yacht. As we stepped closer, the openness of the Q44 is unlike any Tiara I’ve ever seen; the bridge and cockpit blend seamlessly into the outdoor island galley, and then into the full-beam swim platform.

“It is a unique boat for the Great Lakes in that it offers you some protection

FromProduction to

ParadiseLakeland editor Kate Bush takes an adventure aboard the all-new Tiara Q44 at the Walstrom Marine Rendezvous.

by Kate Bush

(From top to bottom) Walstrom Marine hosts its annual summer rendezvous up in St. Ignace and Mackinac Island, Michigan; Walstroms’ Rick Venner at the St. Ignace Municipal Marina after facing the storms; A group of rendezvous attendee’s sit on the Shepler’s Ferry; The streets of Mackinac Island are filled with horse-drawn carriages and bicycles; The Q44 makes its public debut in a slip at the Mackinac Island Marina.

(From top to bottom) Rendezvous attendee’s wait in line outside the Mackinac Island Yacht Club; A horse-drawn carriage transports attendees up to the Grand Hotel; The view outside the Grand Hotel; Members of the Slikkers family, and Rick Venner (second to right) at the Grand Hotel dinner; Allie Morand and Emily Young stand on the Grand Hotel porch; A view from the sunset cruise from Mackinac Island to St. Ignace.

laKelandboating.com | october 2015 39 38 october 2015 | laKelandboating.com

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comfortable speed, but the Q44 can get you up to 32-33 knots with the standard twin Volvo IPS 600.

“We’ve been experts in the field of matching IPS Volvo Penta drives to Tiara hulls and delivering a consistent boat that performs well while cruising,” David says, “Or, if you get in a sticky situation, you find yourself with a 65 knot gale blowing you down the lake or offshore, you can be confident that you’ll be just fine with the build and design and the engineering that goes into the hull.”

I peeked at the Glass Cockpit, with pinch-to-zoom GPS display, as we passed the private islands dotting Drummond Island, with names like Wreck, Gull and Bacon. With the electrically actuated port and starboard sliding doors open, I sat at the helm and could revel in the unspoiled, lush landscape, while getting some fresh air.

With Leon taking the wheel, I found a comfortable spot on the rear-facing L-shaped lounge overlooking the island galley, back sunpad, and aft swim platform area.

Below deck, the Q44 has a simple, yet beautifully designed cabin that, at first appearance, looks like U-shaped lounge; this area is designed to serve as either double twin berths, or convert into a full queen berth. The cabin also features a pantry-style galley, and separate head and shower.

“This Q series product is very appealing in a broad sense for a lot of different uses,” David says. “Someone could look at it and say, ‘I could go fish with this boat with the grandkids,’ ‘I could picnic with this boat, with family and friends,’ or ‘I could go to an island of my own and throw my mountain bikes off and go trailblazing.’”

Michigan’s Ultimate playgroundDrummond Island, which calls itself “Michigan’s Ultimate Playground,” is the second largest freshwater island in the nation and was our next destination. After our 60 mile cruise from St. Ignace, we approached the Drummond Island Yacht Haven Marina to pump out, fill up and tie off.

The remainder of the day was spent exploring this unique paradise, while Leon took down his bike from the top of the Q44, pumped air into the tires, and took off on a 2-hour trip around the 133-square-mile forested landscape. Meanwhile, Bob and Barb Slikkers — who joined us on this leg of the rendezvous aboard their Pursuit OS — invited us to their cottage on Drummond Island, while Alex enjoyed a round of golf, and Marc photographed the lush, northern Michigan landscape. We ended the night with a meal at Pins (with the best pizza in town) and a scoop of homemade Drummond Island ice cream.

Smooth as glass By day three, I was officially on the time schedule of a dedicated cruiser as we took off from the docks around 7 a.m. The lake was so calm; it looked like glass and barely rippled as we headed west for St. Ignace.

As we cruised back near the Mackinac Bridge, the trip came full circle back to the St. Ignace Marina docks. There is nothing like meeting new, enthusiastic boaters, voyaging to unique Great Lakes waypoints and cruising on a beautiful Tiara Yacht (that traveled from production to paradise) to remind me how stunning, exhilarating and peaceful Great Lakes cruising can be.

“When people aren’t using their boat, they ask themselves, ‘is this the right boat for us,’” Venner states. “This event creates a bond between boaters. We want to encourage new people to come, and we want people using their boats. We want them to feel confident using them so that they can become better boaters, and then lifetime boaters. There is nothing like getting away and running a boat to wake you back up to boating.” H

(From top to bottom) Walstroms’ Hi Stover directs the captain’s meeting for the cruise to the Soo; The Q44 hull #1 sits outside the Drummond Island Yacht Haven Marina; Leon Slikkers drives the Q44 over Lake Huron’s calm water; The aft galley features a large island; The Q44 features an open, airy layout; The view from the portside walkway on the Q44.

40 october 2015 | laKelandboating.com