Maybe it's because they were among the very first manufacturers to use CAD in designing their boats.IIRC, the 4588 was completely CAD designed from the keel up. I never owned one but I did have the opportunity to experience my friend's boat and it was one hell of a lot of bang for the buck. I really like the 45 & 47 Bayliners!
They were and today you see Westport with the most advanced technology available. I don't know how far Bayliner went but WP's includes all design, production planning and tracking, materials acquisition. Boats are finished ready to be used and on schedule. Their use of technology and efficiency of their facility has been compared to Boeing (although at this moment that's not good). For someone who started building with his hands, he had a great appreciation for improved methods.
His last boat was a 164' Westport, his second 164. However, long ago, when Daryl Wakefield, current President of Westport, was running another PNW builder, Admiral, he had a 164 built for him by them. So, that boat is what led him when he took ownership of Westport to have to have Daryl build him one there.
He loved boatbuilding, he was a good friend of Bill Garden and admired his work. However, even more, he loved boats and in his retirement got tremendous pleasure cruising on his boat, built by his company. Not many years ago he sat out on a cruise to Alaska and then from there to Japan and after Asia to the South Pacific including Fiji, before heading back toward home.
His last business move was selling Westport. Again, he was interested in their future, not just the money. As such, he didn't sell to a Chinese Industrialist or a Venture Capitalist but to someone he knew loved boating as much as hid did, in Gary Chouest, also an owner of a Westport. The Chouest family owns Edison Chouest, so a huge boat builder, although a different kind, and American Custom Yachts. They grew up in a boating family and several are avid sportfishermen. He left things in good hands.