1997 West Bay Sonship

Step on board to integral swim platform with beautiful polished stainless steel bolsters and grab rail with new Flexi Teak, then up two steps through opening transom door into cockpit (also with new Flexi Teak, $11,000) from which up eight steps to very functional flybridge, four steps down into the engine room or two steps forward up into spacious salon that has been totally redone (as has the entire interior) from sole to overheads with highlights including a custom sofa ($12,000) and custom window treatments ($9,000).

Continue forward up three steps to galley/lower helm, galley has been totally redone (as has the helm, which is covered in detail under Electronics) and features all new appliances and stunning exotic stone countertops and custom raised dinette (it was raised 6" to provide better lines of sight). From galley/lower helm, out sliding doors port and starboard to wide side decks, up seven steps aft to the flybridge or down spiral companionway forward seven steps to the three staterooms.

The redone master stateroom is located amidship under the galley/lower helm and features a centerline walk-around queen, plenty of closet space (even the insides of the closets have been redone!) and a private ensuite head with granite floor and separate stall shower, VIP stateroom (redone) is forward and features a raised centerline double and plenty of storage, guest stateroom (also redone) with over/under twins is situated port side between the master and VIP staterooms, second head (also with granite floor and  separate stall shower) starboard across from the guest stateroom--and note that even the curved companionway down and the short hallway connecting the three staterooms has been redone (another $13,000!).

Moving back to the galley/lower helm, up aft seven steps to the fully enclosed flybridge ($18,000) with beautiful custom Nautical Designs swivel helm chairs ($6,400) and table ($2,600), aft part of the flybridge is set up to accommodate a couple chaise lounges.

As noted elsewhere but worth repeating, the interior has been redone throughout with amazing attention to detail and really must be seen to be appreciated.

Galley

• Totally renewed galley starting with striking granite countertops with extra large deep sink with new fresh water system including a Pure Effect water filtration system and designer one-touch faucet garbage disposal (these are not easy to install on a boat!) and custom cutting board
• Samsung NZ30K7880U 30" Smart Induction Cooktop (2018)
• LG LMC2075 built in Smart Microwave (2018)
• Whirlpool WRF560SMYE04full size stand up refrigerator/freezer (2018)
• InSinkErator Space Saver XP-1 (2018)
• Also new Amtica plank flooring, reupholstered dinette (in a beatiful and comfortable ultrasuede, renewed cabinet hardware, switches, outlets, etc. 

Master Stateroom

• Ariston Washer Machine ARWXF 129W and Dryer TVM63X (2018)
• Dometic Sealand Vacuflush toilet with SeaLand Tankwatch III monitoring (2018, a second Vacuflush is in the guest head)

Lazarette

• Dual Isotherm "Divino" 23 -bottle Wine Cellar (2018)

Cockpit

• Kenyon Built-in Electric Grill Touch Control

Lazarette

• Pure Effect Water Filtration System; filters water throughout boat (2018)

Galley

• CuZnWater Filter (2018)

• Esbar heating system
• Marley Electric Toe space heater model TS-1B
• Cruisair A/C
• SMX ir Display

• Salon Art piece by Carlos Page

Salon

• Sony Bravia XBR-43X800E 43-inch TV: 4K HDR Ultra HD Smart LED TV (2018)
• Sony UBP-X800 4K Ultra HD DVD Blu-ray player (2018)
• Sony STR-DN1080 7.2-ch Surround Sound Home Theater AV receiver: 4KHDR, Dolby Atmos (2018)
• Apple TV 4K (2018)

Master Stateroom

• Sony Bravia XBR-49X900E 49-inch TV: 4K HDR Ultra HD Smart LED TV (2018)
• Sony UBP-X800 4K Ultra HD DVD Blu-ray player (2018)
• Sony HTNT5 Sound Bar with Hi-Res Audio and Wireless Streaming (2018)
• Sony SRSZR5 Wireless Speakers with Bluetooth/Wi-Fi (2018)
• Apple TV 4K (2018)

VIP Stateroom

• Sony Bravia KDL-32W600D 32-inch HD TV: Wi-Fi (2018)
• Sony UBP-X800 4K Ultra HD DVD Blu-ray player (2018)

Flybridge

• Fusion MS-RA70 Receiver: AM/FM/Bluetooth, Smart Phone compatible (2018)
• Fusion Speakers (2018)

Lower Helm:

• Simrad NSO system with dual 19" color touchscreens for chartplotter and/or radar (2018)
• 48" open array radar scanner (2018)
• Simrad AP 44 autopilot (2018)
• NAC-3 Autopilot Core Pack (2018)
• Simrad NAIS 500 AIS system (2018)
• Simrad forward scan transducer (2018
• Simrad IS 42 instrument display (2018)
• Simrad RS20 VHF radio with long-range antenna (2018)
• Backup video camera (2018)

Upper Helm:

• Simrad NSS9EVO 9" touch screen for chartplotter/depth sounder (2018)
• Simrad Halo 4' open array radar (2018)
• Simrad AP 44 autopilot (2018)
• Simrad RS20 VHF radio with long-range antenna (2018)
• Ray-Line 60010-2 Series 255 SL remote control searchlight

• 110/220V AC / 12/24V DC
• 50 amp shore power service with Marinco shorepower cords and Glendining cable management system
• 20kW Onan genset with sound shield (1,302 hours)
• 14kW Onan genset with soundshield (2011, 648 hours)
• Six 8D batteries (2019)
• Remote panel for generator in the pilot house
• Mastervolt Chargemaster Plus 3-Bank 24V/60A battery charger (2019)
• Magnum Pure Sine inverter/charger
• Portawattzx 300 DC to AC inverter

• Twin fresh water cooled Detroit Diesel diesel engines with Racor Max Series Marine fuel/water separators
• Twin Disk transmissions
• SeaStar Power Steering
• Four bladed bronze props coated with PropSpeed
• Oil XChangeR system
• Hydraulic dingy davit, 1,500lb
• Maxwell hydraulic windlass
• Hydraulic bow thruster
• Cockpit station (3rd) at port side for docking with swing out arm and bow thruster controls
• Freshwater washdown at bow
• Four electric bilge pumps (2018)
• Hydraulic trim tabs
• Naiad hydraulic ship roll stabilizers

• Heavily hand laid up FRP hull with Airex coring, modified-V hull shape with 3/4 length keel and moderate deadrise with a noticeable bow flare making for a dry ride
• The design incorporated state-of-the-art weight saving and hull-strengthening technology with pockets to protect the props (and the underwater exhaust makes for a very quiet ride!)
• Maxwell 3500 heavy duty electric winch, polished stainless steel anchor (2017) on bow pulpit with ample chain/line rode
• Nine mooring cleats
• Bottom last painted in late 2020

At 58 feet in length, the West Bay SonShip 58 Raised Pilothouse Motor Yacht is too small to be called a mega-yacht. But take a ride in this solidly built and well-equipped cruising machine, and you'll feel as if you fell into the lap of luxury.

Big enough for entertaining a large group of friends, yet small enough for a couple to comfortably handle by themselves, it's no wonder that the 58 has remained West Bay's top-selling motoryacht for 10 years.

Delta, British Columbia-based West Bay SonShip Yachts Ltd., on the Fraser River, has more than 30 years of experience engineering and building motor vessels. West Bay got its start as a shipyard that turned out hundreds of boats, ranging from rugged, high-speed police patrol boats to commercial fishing vessels. The company is a family operation, founded by Ben Vermeulen, who now operates the firm with his sons Wes and Bas.

After becoming well known for building tough, high-quality commercial vessels, West Bay turned its attention to building a line of luxury pleasurecraft, using the latest construction techniques and cutting-edge materials. The first model — the West Bay 4500 Pilothouse — appeared in 1985, and it was followed by 65 and 72 foot motoryachts.

In 1991, the first West Bay 58 made its debut. Designed by Ben Vermeulen, naval architect Howard Apollonio and yacht stylist Glade Johnson, the 58 boasted sleek, eye-catching exterior lines. However, it was also given all the practical attributes of a serious Northwest cruising boat — including a rock-solid ride, walk-around decks protected by beefy rails, a cockpit/aft deck big enough for sportfishing or al fresco dining, a spacious flybridge with a commanding 360 degree view and a roomy raised pilothouse with large windows.

Inside and out, this is clearly no ordinary boat. Built with a hand-laid fiberglass and Airex-cored hull, the 58 exhibits state-of-the-art weight-saving and hull-strengthening technology — including foam-filled composite stringers, Nida-cored bulkheads and endgrain balsa-cored decks. Hull pockets protect the 58's props, and the boat's underwater exhaust makes for a very quiet ride.

The interior is equally impressive, with an extra-large saloon, a raised galley between the saloon and pilothouse, two big luxurious staterooms belowdecks, a smaller guest stateroom and two heads. Joinerwork was expertly crafted of fine hardwoods.

Built Like a Mini Mega-Yacht

West Bay started with a solid platform, building the 58 on a modified-V hull with moderate deadrise. Spray rails and just the right amount of flare at the bow make it a very dry-riding boat.

You might expect a boat this size to handle with all the responsiveness of a 10 ton Winnebago. You'd be wrong. The West Bay 58 handles more like a sports car, thanks to hydraulics and oversized rudders. It banks solidly into turns, and it tracks precisely.

The 58 also has a lot more pep than you might expect of a boat this size. With a pair of Caterpillar 3406 diesels, the 58 cruises at 24 knots and can reach a top speed of 27 knots.

Fit and finish is excellent throughout the boat — from the mirror-gloss of the exterior fiberglass, to the window work, to the smooth surfaces inside lockers and other hidden spaces. Finishing details include fitted vinyl headliners with flush-mounted halogen lighting, designer wall coverings, fine carpet with padding underneath and solid-surface countertops. Interior joinery and wood trim throughout the 58 is finely crafted and flawlessly finished. Rift-cut oak is standard, and American cherry is an available option.

Gracious, How Spacious

You enter the boat from an integral swim step and step up into the boat's roomy cockpit/aft deck. Engine room access is through a gas-assisted deck hatch. A large lazarette is adjacent to the even larger engine room, and there is convenient access to the powerplants and all mechanical gear.

The saloon, accessible through a hinged door at the aft deck, is also surprisingly large, taking full advantage of the boat's wide 17 foot beam. It is an ideal spot for entertaining guests aboard.

A few steps up from the saloon, the 58's combined galley and pilothouse area is also quite spacious. Along with conveniently placed storage cabinets throughout the galley, the pilothouse's settee and dining table are built on a raised pedestal — with pull-out storage drawers in the seat bases and a cabinet in the table base.

The pilothouse offers excellent visibility through large windows (with heavy-duty windshield wipers), and port and starboard side door leads to the boat's wide, rail-protected walk-around decks. One set of steps leads to another fully equipped control station on the roomy flybridge, and another staircase leads belowdecks, to the boat's three staterooms.

The boat's big flybridge offers a lounge seating area and can be equipped with a wet bar — another plus for boaters who love to entertain aboard. There's plenty of room aft, where a davit comes standard — and the flybridge is topped by a radar arch.

Belowdecks, the master stateroom is about the size of two ordinary stateroms. It comes with a queen-size berth, two cedar-lined hanging lockers and an en suite head with a shower.

The forward guest stateroom also has a queen-size berth and its own cedar-lined hanging locker. The smaller third stateroom, to port, comes with bunk-style berths and a hanging locker. These two staterooms share a forward head with a stall shower.

The quality and cruiseability of the West Bay 58 is not a very well kept secret. As a result, this boat is continually in demand on the brokerage market — and used boat prices are often very close to those of brand-new versions. Keep in mind, though, that those used boats often come with a long list of optional goodies.

Whether you buy a 10-year-old model or a brand-new one, you definitely get what you pay for in a West Bay 58. The craftsmanship shows — and this West Coast favorite has already achieved the status of an enduring classic.

Article by Eston Ellis, July 2002