The builder, Discovery Yachts Group, brought the Discovery and Southerly names under one roof. At just under 59 feet overall, with a beam of 16 feet 8 inches and a displacement of 60,075 pounds, the 58 is a moderate-displacement monohull. She carries 22,046 pounds of lead ballast, giving a 37 percent ballast ratio. Together with a displacement-to-length ratio of 193, those figures place her firmly in the serious cruising camp rather than the lightweight-racer lineage.
Design and Construction
Discovery infuses the Divinycell-cored fiberglass hull and deck with vinylester resin, adding Kevlar cloth in high-stress areas around the keel. The bulkheads, including two watertight units forward, are bonded in place.
The raised saloon sole improves both living space and sightlines while making room beneath for tankage kept low and central, a detail that also serves the boat’s stability. Owners can choose either a deep 7-foot-8-inch lead keel or a shoal 6-foot-5-inch foil, and the yard offers considerable scope to customize the interior.
Solid bulwarks extend from the stem to the sugar-scoop stern. At the bow, a monumental stemhead fitting incorporates a chain stopper of outsized capacity. Even the curved companionway reflects the fit-out standard: it alone required more than 200 hours of build time.
Rig and Handling
The 58 carries a versatile solent rig with a manageable, cutter-style sailplan. A 140 percent genoa and self-tacking jib use Reckmann hydraulic furlers, while split stays leave a clear route along the foredeck. A Seldén sprit fits into one of the two beefy anchor rollers for downwind sailing.
Sailhandling is electrically assisted throughout, with Andersen winches and an in-mast furling Seldén spar. A conventional slab-reefed mainsail remains optional, and North supplied the sail cloth.
Writing in Cruising World, the Boat of the Year testers noted that the split stays keep the pathway forward clear on a boat intended for a couple to handle without undue drama. Judge Bill Bolin specifically praised the deep, accessible chain locker and the double lifelines running to the bow pulpit for the security they provide offshore.
Accommodations
Ken Freivokh styled the deck-saloon interior, which is comfortable, bright, and airy. Large ports bring plenty of light into the raised seating area and across the elevated sole.
Stepping down brings you to a raised table surrounded by a U-shaped settee and a centerline bench. Opposite, a raised navigation desk gives the skipper clear forward and athwartships sightlines. Adding engine and autopilot controls would turn it into a true pilothouse station.
The passageway galley lies to port, where it is safe and secure on either tack. It centers on a sink with ample counter space, with a five-burner gimballed propane stove outboard.
Forward, a cabin with bunks and a head leads to a forward cabin with a queen island berth. The aft owner’s cabin is lit by hull ports and overhead hatches and contains a forward-facing island queen, along with a sizable head and shower compartment. An alternative layout moves the navigation station forward, making room for another bunk cabin beside the companionway.
Engineering and Systems
Beneath the center cockpit is a walk-in engine room with excellent access. The 150 hp Yanmar diesel drives through shaft drive.
At full throttle, testers recorded 50 db below—among the lowest readings in the fleet they measured, compared with some 2018 boats that approached 70 db. Judge Ed Sherman credited the thick engine-room insulation, while Tim Murphy pointed to a split exhaust that separates gas from cooling water to reduce typical exhaust noise.
The watermaker and fuel separation filters are readily reachable for servicing. The boat visited also carried a 7 kW Cummins Onan generator and three solar panels mounted on the stern davits. A gas locker is conveniently positioned beside the midships ladder.
Verdict
The Discovery 58 is a thoughtfully engineered bluewater cruiser with a quiet, accessible mechanical installation and a bright, customizable deck-saloon interior. Her solent rig and uncluttered foredeck suit short-handed passage-making, while details such as the watertight bulkheads, Kevlar-reinforced hull, and solid bulwarks reflect her offshore purpose.
The main caveats are those that come with any heavily optioned 58-foot cruiser. The density of systems calls for disciplined ownership, while the broad scope for customization means no two boats will necessarily have identical specifications.
Pros
- Quiet engineering, with a walk-in engine room, thick insulation, and a split exhaust; testers measured 50 db below at full throttle
- Bluewater structure, including a Divinycell-cored infused hull, Kevlar reinforcement around the keel, and two bonded watertight forward bulkheads
- Couple-friendly rig with hydraulic furling, electric winches, a self-tacking jib, and a clear route forward
- Bright, flexible deck saloon with a raised sole, a navigation station that can become a pilothouse control position, and several cabin layouts
Cons
- Extensive options and yard customization require careful hull-by-hull review of specifications
- Moderate displacement and a 193 D/L favor passage comfort over light-air acceleration
