Design and Construction
Construction follows Lloyd's specifications, with an optional ABS certificate available for an extra charge. The hull is solid hand-laid fiberglass, reinforced by ten foam-filled longitudinal stringers and ten high-density PVC-foam-cored transverse floors glassed in for rigidity, plus unidirectional tape. The three outermost laminate layers use vinylester resin to resist osmotic penetration. Decks and cabin structure are end-grain balsa cored to stay light and stiff, with marine plywood substituted wherever hardware is secured, and the deck is bedded to the hull's inturned flange with 3M 5200 and stainless thru-bolts. Above the waterline the boat reads as upscale: rich teak decks, and on the evaluated example, pronounced teak toe-rails instead of standard aluminum. The coach roof is raised to gain volume below and house a fully protected secondary helm, yet swept back to preserve a sleek low profile.
Hull Form and Rig
Dixon's hull form shows a fine entry forward, gently rounded sections aft, a longish externally mounted Scheel keel, and a large skeg-hung rudder. The sail plan places the mast forward over a large high-aspect mainsail with a reduced foretriangle and an intermediate staysail stay for cutter capability. All halyards and reefing lines lead aft across the cabintop; the mainsail sheets to a traveler just aft of the cockpit coaming and the primaries sit within reach of the helm. The boat is designed to chug resolutely upwind with predictable, forgiving offshore manners, and writing in Cruising World, test sailors found her refined and able to track even in light to moderate air, with a responsive beefy rudder anchor.
Accommodations
Below, the interior is plush without being overstated. Bulkheads are honey-toned teak, overheads off-white Majilite vinyl with teak battens, and the sole laminated teak and spruce. Three basic plans exist; two place a second steering station in the upper saloon. All layouts give queen berths in forward and aft staterooms plus bunks in a smaller port-side cabin, two capacious heads with showers (one private to the aft cabin), a roomy nav station to starboard at the companionway foot, and a port galley—U-shaped forward or L-shaped aft, the latter somewhat cramped for the boat's scale.
Systems and Power
The standard 140-horsepower Yanmar 4LH-HTE sits with the optional generator in a vented foam-and-lead insulated compartment behind the main companionway, accessed via a starboard hatch across from the nav station. A mother lode of power storage—four 200-amp-hour house batteries and one 120-amp-hour start unit—rides in dedicated fiberglass boxes. Electrical distribution runs through a comprehensive Bass panel in 12/110 or 12/220 volt formats. House plumbing uses a 12-volt pump, two accumulator tanks, and a 15-gallon engine-routed hot water heater. The semi-custom nature lets owners configure mechanical and electrical loads extensively; the inspected boat bristled with hydraulics driving Lewmar winches, windlass, and bow furler.
The Verdict
The Taswell 58 RS is a well-designed boat on a large scale, intelligently composed on deck so a shorthanded crew can sail her from the sheltered cockpit. She rewards the offshore cruiser with structural seriousness and a protected second helm, though the aft-L galley trade-off and custom-heavy systems demand an experienced owner.
Pros
- Lloyd's-spec solid hull with vinylester outer layers and balsa-cored deck
- Amidship beam and Scheel keel for seakindly, weatherly offshore tracking
- Raised salon with protected secondary helm and plush three-cabin layout
- Deep battery bank and insulated, accessible machinery space
Cons
- L-shaped aft galley reads cramped for the boat's size
- Heavy hydraulics and semi-custom systems raise upkeep complexity
