Orion Jim
Well-Known Member
A friend is seriously considering a purchase. Does anyone have any information they would like to share? Anything which is a known defect or should be investigated in detail would be appreciated. Thanks to all.
1990 Oyster 46 center cockpit experiences
- Thread starter Orion Jim
- Start date
KellysEye
Well-Known Member
I got to know a number of Oyster owners when we were long distance sailing and none mentioned any problems. Also there a significant number out there cruising, Oyster holds a regatta in English Harbour, Antigua every year the berths are all reserved and it filled up with 54 Oysters, Jane and I were invited on the ones we knew.
Billba
Well-Known Member
Here is a link to a couples blog that have sailed a 1989 Oyster 435 for the last 10 years. Recently they did a full refit and filmed every step on their channel.
Go to 3.00 minutes on this one for a summary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibq9YQkR4L8
Cheers Bill
Go to 3.00 minutes on this one for a summary https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibq9YQkR4L8
Cheers Bill
Last edited:
miyagimoon
Well-Known Member
There is an Oyster owners forum. It is private and you need to be approved to join. However, if you go to the below link and fill in the enquiry form I am sure someone will respond.
http://www.oyster-owners.com/enquiries/
http://www.oyster-owners.com/enquiries/
Yngmar
Well-Known Member
I assume we're talking about this Oyster 46 Ketch. Makes it easier to have something to look at.
In general, Oyster makes very well respected blue water cruising boats (and a few sporty racers, called "Lightwave"), or at least did back in the days. Recently the keel fell off of one, but that was a very much newer model and those are totally different boats. The 80s/90s Oysters are fantastic, and they knew how to build a ketch that sails well and has a good layout for it (i.e. the mizzen mast isn't in the middle of the cockpit or some such nonsense you see on many smaller ketches).
Specific to this boat, the wheel looks a bit tricky to get in/out from behind, the traveller is on the coachroof winches with a mid-boom sheet, which not everyone likes. Halyard winches are at the mast, so she wants a crew, not a single-hander (although everything is possible). There are granny bars at the mast to make this safer. The keel-stepped masts tend to leak, but there's solutions for that (Spartite or Magic Power Gel). There's no troublesome teak deck to worry about and someone has taken care of the teak trim by varnishing it, which looks like it's due another round. Other problems I've seen are seized deck salon windows (the forward facing ones) and leaks from the traveller, the mast wire deck glands and various deck fittings, including Lewmar hatches. The scheel (shallow draft) keel design is one of the better ones, but will mean she won't go as well to windward as the deep draft version. Generally looks like a nice boat and well cared for.
In general, Oyster makes very well respected blue water cruising boats (and a few sporty racers, called "Lightwave"), or at least did back in the days. Recently the keel fell off of one, but that was a very much newer model and those are totally different boats. The 80s/90s Oysters are fantastic, and they knew how to build a ketch that sails well and has a good layout for it (i.e. the mizzen mast isn't in the middle of the cockpit or some such nonsense you see on many smaller ketches).
Specific to this boat, the wheel looks a bit tricky to get in/out from behind, the traveller is on the coachroof winches with a mid-boom sheet, which not everyone likes. Halyard winches are at the mast, so she wants a crew, not a single-hander (although everything is possible). There are granny bars at the mast to make this safer. The keel-stepped masts tend to leak, but there's solutions for that (Spartite or Magic Power Gel). There's no troublesome teak deck to worry about and someone has taken care of the teak trim by varnishing it, which looks like it's due another round. Other problems I've seen are seized deck salon windows (the forward facing ones) and leaks from the traveller, the mast wire deck glands and various deck fittings, including Lewmar hatches. The scheel (shallow draft) keel design is one of the better ones, but will mean she won't go as well to windward as the deep draft version. Generally looks like a nice boat and well cared for.
Richard10002
Well-Known Member
Does that suggest that at about 20 years old, a lot of stuff needs replacing?
Not a criticism, merely an observation which suggests you need to be very careful before handing over £200k for a 26/27 year old boat.