Oyster launched 15 examples between 2001 and 2007. Each had the third-generation Deck Saloon interior, a concept Oyster credited itself with first bringing to market. The 49 measures 50 feet 6 inches overall, with a 43-foot-9-inch waterline and a 15-foot beam.
Design and Construction
Rob Humphreys’ hull was described at launch as slippery, with impeccable handling characteristics. It was built in hand-laid GRP, with an outer laminate of isophthalic resin and powder-bound mat.
Below the waterline, the Oyster 49 carries an HPB (High Performance Bulb) external lead keel with what was described as a state-of-the-art filleted bulb form. The fully protected, skeg-hung rudder has a full skeg for safety anchor.
The cored deck and coachroof are teak-laid, while eight opening Gebo ports are set into the hull topsides. The deck-saloon roof carries Oyster’s distinctive “Eyebrow” feature. The uncluttered deck plan centres on a generously sized, self-draining centre cockpit laid in teak.
Rig and Handling
The Oyster 49 has a powerful sloop rig built around a silver-anodised, keel-stepped mast from Selden Spars. The standard sail-handling arrangement includes slab reefing and a fully battened mainsail on the Selden RCB system, with lazyjacks. A Harken headsail-furling system has its control line led aft to the cockpit.
Gowen Ocean supplied the mainsail and furling #1 genoa. Optional in-mast furling with push-button sailing was available for owners seeking maximum convenience.
With the standard sloop rig and a 150% foretriangle, the boat carries 1,460 square feet of sail. Compared with the 485, the longer waterline and more powerful rig contribute to simple sailing and have made the 49 popular with owners who prefer lighter handling duties.
Accommodation
The third-generation Deck Saloon interior provides six berths in three comfortable cabins, with excellent headroom throughout. Custom joinery and teak surfaces run through the interior, helping make the boat a pleasure to live aboard. Alternative layouts were also available from the builder.
Aft, the owner’s stateroom has its own heads and shower. Opposite is the passageway galley. Forward, a large double-berth guest cabin and a guest cabin with upper and lower berths share a generously proportioned heads and shower.
The light, bright saloon has button-finished Alcantara upholstery. Oyster’s New Millennium chequer-board teak sole continues through the accommodation. Lee screens on the sea berths, quality upholstery, and a sprung-batten system beneath the owner’s berth add practical liveaboard detail.
Machinery and Equipment
Standard equipment was thorough for the period. Propulsion came from a 100 hp Yanmar 4JH3-HTBE turbo diesel, driving a three-bladed feathering Maxprop through an Aquadrive coupling.
The 24-volt domestic electrical system used deep-cycle cells and a 175-amp heavy-duty alternator. Navigation equipment included a Raytheon ST 7000+ twin linear autopilot interfaced with a Garmin 128 GPS.
Oyster commissioned each yacht at Fox’s Marina in Ipswich. The builder provided a one-year hull warranty, extended to three years for GRP below the waterline.
Refit and Ownership Considerations
Only 15 Oyster 49s were built, so buyers will find relatively few examples on the used market. The model is, however, well documented.
The teak deck and coachroof were part of the original design. On a used boat, these surfaces will reward careful maintenance rather than replacement.
The Verdict
The Oyster 49 is a considered evolution of the 485 formula. Humphreys’ hull and the filleted-bulb keel give her sure-footed, simple handling, while the Deck Saloon interior provides genuine liveaboard comfort in a 50-foot package that avoids the overhead of a larger yacht. Her production run of just 15 boats makes her relatively scarce, but well documented.
Pros
- Longer waterline, greater volume, and a more powerful rig than the Oyster 485
- Hull described as having impeccable handling characteristics
- Protected, skeg-hung rudder and HPB bulb keel
- Excellent three-cabin liveaboard layout, with generous headroom and a light saloon
- Thorough standard equipment
- Third-generation Deck Saloon design
Cons
- Small production run limits choice on the used market
- Teak deck and coachroof surfaces require ongoing maintenance
