Design and Construction
The powerful hull is the work of the Berret-Racoupeau studio, which focused on versatile water lines suited to a range of sea states anchor. Wauquiez built the hull and deck in fiberglass with a balsa core, a modern infusion-based approach that the marque adopted to control resin content and stiffen the structure. The deckhouse, compared to what we are used to seeing on pilot saloon models, is not excessively high, which keeps the visual mass of the coachroof in check while still allowing a good view at the helm. That measured house height is a deliberate departure from the bulkier trunk cabins common to the type, and it preserves the boat's profile without sacrificing the seated sightlines a pilot saloon exists to provide.
Rig and Handling
On deck, the layout is stripped to its working essentials: the foredeck and sidedecks are completely clear, and all maneuvering is deferred to the cockpit anchor. Just the helmsman has the main winches at his fingertips, so trimming and sail control fall to the person at the wheel without crew movement forward. This is a boat conceived to sail in maximum comfort even when there is a small crew, and the centralized control scheme is the mechanical expression of that brief. The fractional sloop rig carries 1,432 square feet of sail area, enough to drive the 58-foot hull near her 9.6-knot hull speed when the breeze cooperates.
Accommodations
The saloon is developed on one level and fully enjoys the full sea views provided by the large side windows in the deckhouse anchor. Inside, the dinette can count on a large C-shaped sofa to starboard, opposite which we find a second linear sofa, a arrangement that lets a full crew sit together without blocking the passage. The L-shaped galley ensures correct storage spaces for long passages. Wauquiez offers many customizations to please diverse owners, both in finishes—teak remains the main choice, pairing naturally with leather and steel accents—and in layouts. One can opt for an aft or forward master cabin or choose two-, three-, or four-cabin versions, so the same hull serves a couple's private suite or a charter-style multi-stateroom plan.
The Verdict
The Pilot Saloon 58 is a thoughtfully centralized offshore cruiser: clear decks, cockpit-led handling, and a bright single-level saloon under a comparatively low pilot house. The Berret-Racoupeau hull and flexible interior programs make her a credible small-crew voyager, though the customization breadth means no two brokerage examples will be finished alike.
Pros
- Versatile water lines from Berret-Racoupeau for varied conditions
- Clear decks with all maneuvering deferred to the cockpit
- Main winches at the helmsman's fingertips for short-handed sailing
- Single-level saloon with full sea views through large windows
- Configurable as aft/forward master or two- to four-cabin layouts
Cons
- Deckhouse customization and finish variety complicate comparisons between individual boats
- L-shaped galley described only as having correct, not exceptional, storage
