Oyster 26 Buyer's Guide
Shopping the brokerage market for an Oyster 26 means chasing one of the rarest small offshore yachts Oyster ever produced. Only 47 were launched between 1978 and 1981, all from the Holman & Pye board and the Oyster Marine Ltd yard, so every example is a short-run fractional sloop with a fin keel and transom-hung rudder Oyster Heritage Yachts. The appeal is a proper seagoing yacht in 26'2" of length overall, not a scaled-down pretender.
Layouts on the Used Market
Because the entire class numbers 47 and was built to one standard, you are not choosing between interior plans or deck molds. The defining layout cues are Holman & Pye's wide clear side decks for easy passage movement and a well-protected cockpit with stowage for a liferaft or inflatable plus a separate gas bottle locker Oyster Heritage Yachts. Expect a 9'10" beam, a 22'9" waterline, and about 6,350 lb displacement on 2,535 lb of iron ballast in a solid fiberglass hull Yacht Database.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
No equipment summary is available for this model, so equipment must be judged from the design itself. The most consequential buyer items are the Volvo Penta MD5A diesel, the fractional three-quarter rig that reduces headsail changes, and the cockpit stowage built for safety gear Oyster Heritage Yachts. Sail-handling basics are defined by 26.2-foot jib and genoa sheets and a 65.5-foot mainsheet, all 3/8-inch diameter, with a 57.6-foot spinnaker sheet for downwind work Yacht Database. Beyond those, treat any electronics or canvas as owner-fitted rather than standard.
What to Inspect
Inspection should follow the boat's known geometry. Verify the fin keel and transom-hung rudder for impact or repair history, confirm the 1.45–1.55 m draft range under load, and check the 247-square-foot wetted surface for osmotic or impact damage Yacht Database. The immersion rate of about 780 lb per inch is a useful reference when assessing how a specific boat sits relative to her design load.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
No regional availability data is provided for this model. For the buyer, the takeaway is straightforward:
- Confirm hull number within the 47-boat run and 1978–1981 build span
- Inspect fin keel and transom-hung rudder for repairs
- Verify Volvo Penta MD5A installation and approx 3.7-knot power capability
- Check cockpit liferaft stowage and separate gas locker integrity
- Review sail inventory against the fractional three-quarter rig plan
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Oyster 26. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 2 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 25 | 2 | $11,691 | — |
| Dec 25 | 1 | $6,790 | -41.9% |
Where they're listed
Oyster 26 listings appear across 1 country. United Kingdom has the most listings with 3.
Country view
3 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | $9,788 | 3 | 0 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
6 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sadler 26 | 25.75' | $ 12,138 | 28 | 8 |
| Victoria 26 | 26' | $ 23,786 | 26 | 8 |
| Hallberg-Rassy 26 | 26.08' | $ 17,421 | 17 | 2 |
| Victoria 26 | 26' | $ 23,306 | 8 | 3 |
| MacWester 26 | 26' | $ 4,758 | 6 | 1 |
| Oyster Yachts 26You are here | — | $ 9,788 | 3 | 0 |