Design and Construction
The Oyster 66 has a solid-laminate hull and a beefed-up balsa-cored deck. Oyster used two English yards to fit out the boats, with impressive production quality control.
Dick Young Designs specially commissioned the joinery details for Oyster to celebrate the new millennium. They include shadow-gap joints, custom Oyster 2000 logos on locker knobs, and checkerboard floor panels. Several wood finishes are offered, including cherry and American oak. Watertight doors may be fitted forward and aft for compliance with MCA regulations.
Rig, Underbody, and Handling
The 66 combines push-button sail handling with precise control. The Hood rollaway mainsail is hydraulically driven, with an electrically controlled outhaul. The high-clew yankee can be set from the cockpit using Reckmann hydraulic furling gear. Huge Lewmar electric winches allow exact trim.
The large center cockpit has twin wheel positions and quarter seats aft, providing several vantage points from which to enjoy the sailing. A powerful bow thruster helps angle the yacht in rough seas, and the 66 maneuvered well even in difficult conditions.
Her behavior at sea reflects a fairly heavy displacement of 83,774 pounds, combined with a modern underwater shape, keel, and rudder. The underbody is deeper than those of lightweight flyers but shallower than a traditional cruiser’s, without flat surfaces that could pound.
The keel has twice the chord length and perhaps half the span of one fitted to a high-performance racer/cruiser, but its shape is effective. A bulb at the tip lowers the center of gravity for good stability while reducing drag. The skeg-hung rudder is large enough to take big bites of water, producing quick, accurate steering response.
Accommodations
The raised saloon provides a line of sight through the Deck Saloon windows and a panoramic view outside. Its elevated seating and table can accommodate about 10 people.
A few steps down, the lower saloon contains the galley and a pair of armchairs suited to reading or quiet conversation. Open to the saloon but placed at an unobtrusive lower level, the galley feels very spacious and offers plentiful counter space and stowage. To starboard in the saloon, the navigation station has a large chart table and space above for a navigation and communications suite.
The private quarters are generous. Aft, the master suite includes a queen-size berth, a settee, two large hanging lockers, and plenty of drawer space. Port and starboard double cabins forward of the master share a single head to port. Forward of the saloon are two more double cabins, both with en suite heads.
All the heads have VacuFlush toilets, full standing headroom, ample locker space, and Avonite faux granite around the sinks. The forepeak contains a cavernous sail locker and the usual anchor locker, with space forward for light-weather sails, a spare anchor, and a deflated second dinghy. On the reviewed boat, the lazarette right aft held fenders, spare parts, a dive compressor, and other gear.
Ownership and Outfitting
The 66 brings together features normally associated with much larger yachts. The builder describes it as “a really well thought out package of accommodation, good looks, and performance.”
A hard-bottom inflatable launches from electric davits that one person can operate. With proven handling and performance under sail and power, the yacht was designed and built for comfortable, safe offshore cruising, whether run by her owners or a crew.
The Verdict
The Oyster 66 is a serious offshore cruiser that fits superyacht-scale living into a manageable 66-foot hull. Her weight, modern underbody, and bulb-keel stability make her a steady sea boat, while hydraulic sail handling and electric winches reduce the crew’s workload. The Deck Saloon layout and custom millennial joinery give her a distinctive, spacious interior rarely found in this size bracket.
Pros
- Solid-laminate hull, beefed-up balsa-cored deck, and optional watertight doors for MCA compliance
- Hydraulic mainsail and yankee furling, with electric winches for short-handed control
- Panoramic Deck Saloon view and elevated seating for about 10 people
- Five cabins with en suite or shared heads, including a large aft master suite
- Skeg-hung rudder and bulb-tip keel for stability and accurate steering
Cons
- Only 13 built, limiting brokerage availability
- Heavy displacement trades outright acceleration for offshore steadiness
- The galley’s open connection to the saloon may not suit every preference for privacy
