Design and Construction
The 565 evolves the established Oyster center-cockpit, raised deck-saloon concept into a more contemporary arrangement. In this generation the cockpit has been shifted aft so that sailing and lounging spaces are kept distinctly separate, with the cockpit table and bench settees placed forward where a dodger shields them from the elements anchor. Blue Water Sailing described her as modern yet embodying those traditions, and noted extraordinary attention to detail in finish work, construction, and engineering throughout. Built on a semi-custom basis, the platform accepts a long list of options and permits changes to suit an owner’s needs. The hull carries a lead ballast of just under 15,000 pounds in a bulb keel with a spade rudder, a 16.8-foot beam, and a displacement near 56,000 pounds.
Rig and Sail Handling
The rig is a simple fractional sloop with an in-mast furling mainsail and a 110-percent roller-furling genoa, keeping shorthanded sailing manageable. Twin helms put the helmsperson close to the waterline, and all sail controls are concentrated in the aft sailing cockpit so the crew works the boat without intruding on the lounging area forward. An inner forestay can be rigged for a staysail or storm jib, while a permanent bowsprit supports a large downwind sail — and that same sprit doubles as the anchor roller, sized to carry two anchors at once. The fractional layout with a modest sail-area-to-displacement ratio around 19 suggests a boat tuned for control and reassurance offshore rather than raw speed.
Accommodations
Below, the standard arrangement places a large master cabin aft with its own head, a walk-around double berth, a small love seat, and ample lockers. Forward of the saloon sits a double cabin with a Pullman cabin — upper and lower singles — just aft and to port; those two share a large head across the way. The alternative layout reverses the hierarchy: the master suite moves forward as a commodious private cabin with a centerline double and an L-shaped sofa, while two quarter cabins aft hold double berths accessed from the side rather than the end, a thoughtful departure from typical quarter-berth geometry. In both versions the saloon and galley are largely unchanged.
The saloon dinette to port seats six with a couple of folding chairs, and the opposing settee serves as a comfortable sea berth on passage. A spacious traditional chart table aft of the settee lets the navigator spread out charts, run a laptop, and monitor instruments, radios, and ship systems. The galley sits in the passageway leading aft, with sinks placed nearly on centerline so they drain on either tack; across from them sit a large stove and oven, ample prep counter, and a large fridge and freezer. Oyster describes the accommodation as luxurious, with well-appointed cabins, high-quality materials and fabrics, deep luxury mattresses, digital controls, and generous fully-fitted en-suite shower rooms with electric-flush toilets.
The Verdict
The Oyster 565 is a thoughtfully evolved deck-saloon cruiser that separates sailing and social life without compromising either. Her semi-custom flexibility, serious ballast and beam, and considered offshore rig make her a plausible round-the-world family boat, while the accommodation — in either layout — delivers the finish and spatial logic expected of the name.
Pros
- Distinct aft sailing cockpit and protected forward lounging space
- Fractional sloop with in-mast furling, staysail/storm-jib inner forestay, and bowsprit downwind capability
- Semi-custom build with extensive option list
- Two coherent layout choices with practical sea berths and centerline-draining galley sinks
- Luxurious, well-appointed cabins with en-suite electric-flush heads
Cons
- Centerline galley sinks and passageway galley may constrain a working cook in a seaway
- Alternative forward-master layout loses the aft private owner’s cabin
