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Roy Merritt, who became CEO Merritt BoatWorks in 1978, following his grandfather’s passing that year, and his father Allen, further expanded the facilities in 1979 to allow for construction of multiple boats at one time. The Merritt 58 custom sportfish series numbered at least 11 and possibly as many as 14 boats. The first Merritt 58 (which may have been the 1996 Hull #58) was built on a jig using cold-mold composite construction, that was then used to create the mold for the 58ft fiberglass composite hulls to follow. This was typical of the way Merritt developed molds for a popular series, though each Merritt 58 was a custom, built to order boat. Most were built in the years ranging from 1997 to 2000, and 14 years later, Hull #93 another custom Merritt 58, was built.
Advances in diesel engine horsepower capabilities that were developed in the mid-1990s, allowed Merritt to build larger boats able to run faster as more and more fishermen were demanding greater speed and larger boats for further destinations. The 1998 Hull #64 originally named “Leslie Anne” features twin 1,350 HP MTU 12V2000 M90 diesels producing a maximum speed of 33 Knots and a cruise speed of 27 knots, significantly faster than the 20 knot speeds of earlier years. The 1999 Merritt 58 Hull #69, named “Ohhh Boy!” when listed with United Yacht Sales in 2021, features the highly reliable twin Caterpillar 3412E 1,400HP engines that have a cruise speed in the high 20 knot range with WOT speed in the mid 30's depending on the overall load.
Many, if not all, Merritt 58 custom sportfish have been updated and upgraded over their years of ownership with modern navigation and entertainment electronics, interior and exterior soft goods, mezzanines, equipment, and machinery, to the point of looking like a new yacht! Many have had Seakeeper gyrostabilizers installed, new Eskimo icemakers, Spot Zero water systems, watermakers, livewells, fighting chairs, deep freezers, cockpit awnings, bow railings, towers, hydraulic outriggers, Miya teaser reels in hardtop compartments, nonskid applied to foredeck and hardtop, cockpit wing rod holders, aft bridge railing and tower leg rod holders, and more added. Hull #69 was originally outfitted for marlin fishing, but a recent owner refitted the cockpit for sailfish tournament fishing with the addition of four pump boxes and two on-deck customized live-wells that flank an 11-rod Bluewater rocket launcher. Teak decks, cabinetry, and trim add to the magnificence of the Merritt 58 sportfishers.
The Merritt 58 interiors showcase the exquisite workmanship of Merritt’s woodworking artisans with gloss or satin-finished teak and other fine woods. The main deck cabin and accommodations are well-appointed with upscale furnishings, amenities, and materials comparable to a high-end motor yacht, for comfortable longer fishing excursions or family cruises. Accommodations can be 3 staterooms with 3 heads (one guest cabin with over/under bunks can be for crew) or a 3 stateroom/2 head layout as Merritt 58 Hull #64, that features a custom walk-in rod locker on the accommodations level. The Merritt 58s were and continue to be very popular and sought-after sportfish yachts for their comfort, style, classic beauty, and seaworthy durability. They tend to retain a high resale value as they are extremely well-maintained, loaded with amenities, and are proven fishing machines!
The average LOA for the Merritt 58 is 58.40ft with an 18.20ft beam and draft of 5’8”. The known hulls and years with USCG Official Numbers are Hull 58-1996, Hull 60-1997, Hull 62-1997, Hull 63-1998, Hull 64-1998, Hull 66-1999, Hull 67-1999, Hull 69-1999, Hull 70-2000, Hull 72-2000, Hull 93-2014. They are all currently privately owned.
