Boat & Sail

Builder · Luxury · Wroxham, England

Oyster

British heritage luxury bluewater cruiser builder, 1973-founded. Center-cockpit and deck-saloon yachts 49 to 88 feet.

Oyster bluewater cruiser at sail
Founded
1973
Headquarters
Wroxham, England
Ownership
Richard Hadida (private)
Tier
Luxury
Website
oysteryachts.com

Oyster is the British heritage luxury bluewater cruiser builder from Wroxham, England, founded in 1973. The brand has had multiple ownership transitions and is currently owned by Richard Hadida. Production stays at the Wroxham facility.

The brand argument is the deck-saloon and center-cockpit yacht form for owner-and-couple long-range bluewater cruising. Oyster hulls compete with Hallberg-Rassy, Amel, and Najad on the heritage luxury bluewater cruiser segment.

Lineup

Current platforms.

Model breakdown

Each platform, what it does and where it falls short.

Oyster Oyster 495 / 565 / 595 / 675 / 745 / 885

The Oyster line is the volume luxury bluewater cruiser range. Center-cockpit deck-saloon layout, full master stateroom plus crew quarters on the larger hulls.

Things we like

  • · British luxury yacht-building heritage shows in fit-and-finish
  • · Oyster World Rally history supports the bluewater cruising credibility

Things we don't

  • · Pricing competes with Hallberg-Rassy and full-custom yards at equivalent LOA
  • · Production has paused once in the 2010s under previous ownership

Buyer's guide

The Oyster story and what to know on the used market.

Origin and ownership

Oyster was founded in 1973 by Richard Matthews in England. The brand grew through the 1980s and 1990s as the British luxury bluewater cruiser segment expanded.

Oyster has had multiple ownership transitions. Production paused in 2018 under HTP Investments, was reorganized in 2018 to 2019 under Richard Hadida, and resumed at the Wroxham facility.

Design philosophy

Oyster hulls use moderate-displacement deck-saloon hull form with center-cockpit layout. Designed for owner-and-couple long-range bluewater cruising.

Volvo or Yanmar diesel inboard is the standard rigging.

Used-market notes and known issues

Production-pause history (2018) means warranty support depends on build year. Verify status at purchase.

Volvo / Yanmar saildrive seal pattern on 2017 to 2020 hulls warrants inspection.

Deck-saloon window seals require periodic inspection.

Dealer network concentrated in the UK and Mediterranean; US coverage runs through limited authorized dealers.

Resale

Oyster holds resale tightly in the heritage luxury bluewater cruiser segment despite the production pause. Three-year depreciation runs 8 to 14 percent. Five-year depreciation runs 18 to 25 percent.

Where Oyster fits

Buyers cross-shop Oyster against Hallberg-Rassy, Amel, Najad, and Discovery on the luxury bluewater cruiser segment. The argument is British luxury yacht-building heritage and the Oyster World Rally bluewater credibility.

FAQ

Frequently asked.

What is the Oyster World Rally?
An organized circumnavigation event for Oyster owners. Documented since 2013, the rally provides bluewater-cruising credibility for the brand and a community of long-range Oyster owners.
Did the 2018 production pause affect build quality?
Production resumed in 2018 to 2019 under Richard Hadida ownership. Pre-2018 hulls and post-2019 hulls trade in slightly different markets on the secondary market. Build quality has remained consistent through the ownership transition.
What's the maintenance cost on an Oyster 565?
Annual service on Volvo saildrive runs $3,500 to $5,500. Bottom paint $1,500 to $3,000. Sail service $2,500 to $4,500. Storage $5,000 to $12,000. Insurance for a $1.8M hull runs $9,000 to $15,000.
Where are Oysters built?
Wroxham, England. Hadida-owned facility.

Compare

Categories Oyster fits.

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