Design and Construction
The 585 TC displaces 67,776 pounds and carries 22,000 pounds of internal lead ballast. Its 17' 6" beam spans a 53-foot waterline, and draft is 7' 11".
The solid-fiberglass hull is hand-laminated with DBM stitched biaxial fabrics and 100% vinylester resin throughout. The layup includes aramid reinforcement, while every exterior surface is finished with Ashland Maxguard gelcoat.
A matrix of longitudinal and transverse foam-cored stringers runs through the lower hull and hull sides, providing maximum hull stiffness without introducing wood into the structure. Passport eliminated wood coring throughout the boat. The deck is a closed-cell Divinycell composite, and deck-hardware areas are backed with high-density Divinycell H200 foam. Hardware is through-bolted on stainless plates.
A watertight forward bulkhead and marine-plywood bulkheads tabbed to the hull and deck complete a structure intended to stay dry and coherent in a seaway. The fixed, modified-fin keel contains internal lead ballast glassed into place, so there are no keel bolts to weep or loosen. The balanced, skeg-mounted rudder has an internal stainless-steel post with integral reinforcement.
Rig and Handling
The 585 TC has a solent rig with a Seldén hydraulic-furling mast and separate hydraulic furlers for the genoa and self-tending jib. A 24-volt hydraulic system powers the furlers, windlass, and boom vang. Five internal halyards and 316 stainless-steel rigging with mechanical compression fittings keep the rig clean and serviceable.
Total sail area is 1,631 square feet, divided among a Quantum furling mainsail, a self-tacking working jib, and a furling reacher. Jefa torque-tube steering connects the boat’s two 40-inch wheels, providing positive, low-effort control.
For close-quarters maneuvering, the boat has a Side-Power bow thruster with twin counter-rotating propellers. A 180-HP electronically controlled diesel turns a Varifold 26-inch folding propeller on a 2-inch shaft.
Accommodations
The standard interior has three staterooms and two heads, along with a full-size, walk-in engine and machinery room—a rarity that allows an owner to stand among the systems. Passport also offered an optional four-cabin layout.
Cruising World noted that, as with all Passports, the owner, designer, and builder collaborate to customize a one-of-a-kind yacht. Interior veneers could therefore be American cherry or Burmese teak, both with solid-wood trim.
The companionway uses a custom 316 stainless-steel sliding door with an acrylic insert. At the stern, an integral step-down transom leads to a swim platform and ladder.
Five Cruisair units provide a combined 60,000 BTU of air-conditioning capacity. The galley has a Force 10 three-burner propane stove, while 425 gallons of water support long, independent stretches aboard.
Equipment and Systems
Factory equipment emphasizes self-sufficiency. A Racor 75500 MAX2 dual fuel-filter system protects the engine, and the large engine room is fitted with an automatic fire extinguisher.
The 180-HP diesel and 8KW generator feed a 24-volt house system with a 5,000-watt inverter. A separate 12-volt subsystem supplies the instruments and navigation lights.
Deck gear includes two Harken #80.2 electric primary winches and a Lewmar hydraulic windlass. The ground tackle consists of an 88-pound Delta anchor and 250 feet of 3/8-inch HT chain. Fuel capacity is 510 gallons. Both that capacity and the 24-volt electrical architecture are sized for a boat of this displacement and range ambition rather than trimmed for a lighter class.
Verdict
The Passport Vista 585 TC is a heavily engineered, customizable passagemaker. Its defining features include a bolt-free internal-ballast keel, a walk-in machinery space, and a hydraulic solent rig that reduces crew workload at sea. It is built without wood coring and with substantial structural backing, but its size, bespoke nature, and complex systems call for an owner prepared to maintain hydraulic and 24-volt infrastructure diligently.
Pros
- Solid vinylester hull with aramid reinforcement and no wood coring
- Internal lead ballast in a boltless fin keel
- Walk-in engine room in the standard three-cabin layout
- Hydraulic-furling solent rig with self-tacking jib
- Customizable through collaboration among owner, designer, and builder
Cons
- Complex 24-volt and hydraulic systems require diligent upkeep
- Large displacement and 7' 11" draft limit access to some anchorages
- Bespoke interiors complicate like-for-like resale comparisons
