Oyster 565 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

Owner three-cabin and charter four-cabin layouts are both well represented on the used market; ex-charter examples are common. The standard owner configuration places a large master cabin aft with a walk-around double berth, its own head, a small love seat, and generous locker space. Forward of the saloon, this layout provides a double cabin and a Pullman cabin with upper and lower single berths that share a large head. The alternative layout, which appears regularly, moves the master suite forward into a commodious private cabin with a centreline double, an L-shaped sofa, and a substantial head and shower. Aft, this version offers two quarter cabins with double berths where the side-access design lets you climb in from the side rather than the end – a small detail that makes the berth easier to make up, keeps the pillow from falling off at night, and makes getting in and out simpler. In all configurations, the galley is situated in the passageway leading aft from the saloon, with the sinks nearly on the centreline so they drain on both tacks. A utility cabin amidships functions as a workroom-cum-laundry with an optional pilot berth and access to the walk-in engine room. The saloon features a dinette to port that seats six comfortably, a large settee opposite that doubles as a sea berth, and a spacious chart table aft.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

The 565 left the factory with a remarkably complete standard specification, including hydraulic thrusters, furlers, and windlass, tri-radial sails, powered winches, a generator, and a full electronic navigation package. Retractable bow and stern thrusters were standard, powerful enough to park sideways against a crosswind. The rig is a simple fractional sloop with an in-mast furling mainsail and a blade jib, with hydraulic furling making it straightforward to deploy sails even in a strong breeze. An inner forestay can be rigged for a staysail or storm jib, while a large downwind sail can be flown from the permanent bowsprit, which also doubles as an anchor roller accommodating two anchors at once.

On the used market, certain items are a frequent owner upgrade or appear as optional extras rather than universally fitted gear. Air conditioning, an inverter, and a bow thruster are sometimes seen, though the hydraulic thrusters were standard. A gennaker, electric winches, hot water, and a washing machine fall into the same tier of occasional fitment. A swim platform, radar, AIS, autopilot, and chartplotter are sometimes or owner-upgrade items, though many boats will have substantial navigation packages from new. Starlink connectivity and a life raft are less commonly seen but worth confirming if you plan to head offshore immediately. A cassette-style passerelle was an extra option, extending at the push of a button with its handrail rising automatically. An optional bimini or full cockpit enclosure is worth looking for, as is the extended transom design with tender garage – though most initial owners favoured the standard transom shape with davits for carrying a tender.

What to Inspect

Start below decks where the sole panels can creak, spoiling an otherwise quiet interior. This is a known point to check during a survey, as it may indicate the need for adjustment or refastening of the Fastmount panel system. The companionway steps are flat and steep, and one tester found going below feels less secure when heeled, so test the handhold arrangement and consider whether additional grabrails would be needed for your crew.

The engineering spaces are a strong point but deserve thorough inspection. The engine room is surrounded by plywood with a high-density core and insulated with a composite of foam and sound-absorbing materials. Confirm that the two large bronze seawater inlets beneath the companionway – one for domestic systems, one for engine and generator – are properly labelled and that the linking system functions so one can be used if the other becomes blocked. The engine sits on flexible mountings with a sump below to prevent oil running into the main bilge, and there is an electronic pump-out for oil changes, a powered fuel polisher, and a water-in-fuel alarm – systems normally only found on larger yachts. Verify that bilge pumps are mounted on removable plates for easy cleaning of strainers and that the deep bilge sump in the keel stub drains properly through limber holes. Check the mainsail and jib furler sockets that allow manual winching or operation with a cordless drill; a fully charged 18V drill will reportedly manage 15 mainsail furls, but confirm the system works smoothly under load.

Availability and Buyer’s Takeaway

The used market for the Oyster 565 is concentrated in the United Kingdom, Spain, and France, reflecting the boat’s European build origin and the cruising grounds where these yachts tend to base. Ex-charter examples broaden the pool of available boats, though they naturally warrant closer scrutiny of equipment hours and interior wear. When shopping, keep a short mental checklist: confirm which of the two principal layouts suits your use, verify the presence or absence of the utility cabin’s optional pilot berth, check whether the extended transom with tender garage or the standard davit arrangement is fitted, assess the electronics package against your cruising plans, and have a surveyor pay particular attention to the sole panel fit and the health of the hydraulic furling and thruster systems. The 565 is a capable, luxurious, and thoughtfully engineered cruising yacht that rewards a careful buyer with a genuinely ocean-ready platform.