I just bought a 1988 54 MY In July. The beam is in fact 17'6". I looked at 53's, both classic and ED, before I bought the 54. The main advantages of the 54 to us was a salon almost as large as the 53ED, but with wide side decks and a great aft deck. There is also an extra foot of length in the engine room so you don't have to climb over the exhaust to get to the outboard side of the engine, and the extra beam gives more working room. Showers are a little larger, and the galley is more roomy.
On the downside, you really need to have the 750 hp 8V92 or similar engines. They are good engines, but expensive to repair. The boat doesn't perform well with the 6v92's. There also isn't as much cabinetry in the salon on the 54as on the 53ED, so storage in the salon and pilot house is somewhat limited. there is tons of storage elsewhere, though, so it isn't a huge problem. Also, the high center of gravity makes the boat prone to rolling, so stabilizers are a necessity on the 54.
We are very happy with our decision to buy the 54. We looked at a lot of boats, 53' - 58' before we bought her. I would be happy to talk with you about what we found if you would like to give me a call. My cell number is 763-229-4519.
