Oyster 575 Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

The 575 carries beam aft to support a large cockpit and roomy aft accommodations, with moderate aft overhang and a nicely raked stem. Below the waterline she runs a skeg-hung rudder described by one reviewer as very long and narrow, with an elongated fillet at the skeg root. The standard keel is Oyster's High Performance Bulb, drawing 8 feet 9 inches, while a shoal-draft keel option reduces that to 6 feet 8 inches; the model was also offered with a shallower fixed keel of 2.06 metres and with a centreboard-and-twin-rudder arrangement that drops draught from 3.82 metres to 1.65 metres. Composite build using carbon and Kevlar laminates, shared with the Oyster 655 and 54, keeps her relatively light for an all-out cruising boat — a displacement-to-length ratio of 202 per one tester's reading, with a flat figure of 190 also cited — and contributes to a slippery, easy motion at sea. A raised-saloon cabintrunk brings abundant light below, and advances in design added volume while retaining a deep-V sea-going bilge.

Rig and Handling

The standard rig is a full-batten mainsail, with in-mast furling offered as an option, and double or non-overlapping headsail plans available. The mainsheet traveler sits on the deck just aft of the twin helm stations. Under sail she proved well mannered in a seaway; in a Force 3 she showed the slippery pace of the 54, and with a 135 percent genoa could muster seven knots close-hauled near 50 degrees, with the staysail adding another gear as wind built. Off the wind she sits easily at nine knots. Writing in Yachting World, a reviewer found the helm not especially communicative owing to the long steering linkage and dual autopilot rams, though slight weather helm crept in reassuringly as winds reached the teens. Powered systems all to hand make her manageable for a couple.

Accommodations

The centre-cockpit layout yields sumptuous aft cabins, a large passageway or U-shaped galley, and a spacious saloon set low for privacy yet lit by coachroof windows. The owner's stateroom aft holds an off-center double berth with a dedicated head and shower, and a desk to starboard that can become stowage or seating. Forward are two smaller staterooms with upper-and-lower berths; the forward cabin shares its head with the stacked-berth stateroom, while the cabin beside the engine uses that same forward head and is where engine access is gained. The galley to port of the engine has a wide-enough passage for two to pass yet narrow enough to brace, and the navstation adjacent to the companionway offers ample instrument space. A later interior revision expanded the forward guest cabin with direct head access, raised the chart area to saloon level, added a crafted companionway staircase, and introduced Oyster's Seascape windows, sculpted headliners, upgraded doors, custom air-con vents, and saloon accent lighting. White oak is standard timber, though American cherry was seen on the test boat On Liberty. A pilot berth cabin aft doubles as a workshop or crew space with a lift-up bunk option.

Known Issues

The aft cabins, for all their palatial feel, transmit noise from dock, engine, and deck that can wake the sleeper — Yachting World noted this as the main problem with aft cabins. The companionway is steep, the sea berth in the pilot position is cramped, and the standard format provides no dedicated locker for wet gear. Cockpit bench backrests were found too low and in need of extra cushioning by the same reviewer. The starboard double saloon sofa sees questionable use, and its lifting TV is not viewable from that side.

Refits and Ownership

The revised 575 raised her standard specification to include Formula spars, a Volvo D3 engine, and Raymarine i70 instruments — changes layered atop owner feedback from world travels. The walk-in engine room gives unhindered access to the VW 150 TDI, double-insulated with foam and high-density rubber, and the generator sits under the companionway steps. A second forward-sole fuel tank lifts capacity to 1,400 litres, with three inspection hatches on the main tank. Watermaker service elements are grouped by the navstation, and raw-water manifolds for engine and genset can be linked so one blockage need not stop the engine.

The Verdict

The Oyster 575 is a thoughtfully evolved Humphreys-designed cruiser that balances couple-friendly handling with the volume and finish expected of a luxury bluewater yacht and charter platform. Her composite construction and hull lines deliver a fast, forgiving motion, while the later interior refresh modernised the saloon and forward cabins without disturbing the proven centre-cockpit plan.

Pros