Greg01
Active Member
I am researching buying a used Sessa Oyster 35 for an article and would appreciate feed back from any one who has owned or skippered one. Both good and bad points.
thanks
Greg Copp
MBY.
thanks
Greg Copp
MBY.
Sessa Oyster 35, your feed back appreciated.
- Thread starter Greg01
- Start date
KevB
Well-Known Member
I've got one. We bought it new in 2002 and have done about 750 hours since.
Not had any major problems with the boat but here is my list of good and bad.
Bad:
It can be a wet ride in the cockpit if the sea is choppy and a beam wind.
The vent for the fuel tank could do with being bigger. I often get blow back through the filler and always have to hold a cloth over the vent to stop diesel spitting out whilst filling.
The same for the holding tank vent, could be bigger.
Can only pump loo into holding tank, no straight out to sea and can only empty holding tank via macerator, no hole in deck for using marina pump out facilities.
Fuses for all the cockpit switching are out in the open and as explained earlier it can be a wet ride and fuses get wet and may need a wiggle to make proper contact.
I have had a problem with the caulking in the teak deck bleeding and leaving black marks everywhere.
Hot water tank could do with being bigger (only 22 litres I think).
My boat has ali window and screen frames, the newer ones have stainless.
The good:
Fantastic cockpit with lots of seating.
Excellent build quality with thick grp lay-up.
Attention to detail, for instance the wiring throughout the whole boat is laid in trunking.
Fantastic sea keeping (although sometimes wet)
Brilliant handling, I can get the port holes underwater in a sharp turn.
General look of boat in my opinion is sleeker than it's rivals and the gel coat is definitely a bright white.
Lots of space for a boat that is only 34.5' long.
Engine bay access is excellent. The whole aft seating area lifts using hydrolics giving easy access to engines.
I've had 42 knots out of her but admit that was with a following tide through the Alderney race but was good for 38 under normal conditions. Now I top out at about 36 but have a load of crap on board.
The boat still looks in excellent condition even with a family of 4 using it most weekends for the last 5 and a half years and more often than not a load of friends eating and drinking on board.
I wish I had pushed myself and bought the Sessa 40 but am more than happy with the 35 and if I were to change would definitely buy another Sessa ( the 42 ) but uncertainty about boating costs has stopped me.
Not had any major problems with the boat but here is my list of good and bad.
Bad:
It can be a wet ride in the cockpit if the sea is choppy and a beam wind.
The vent for the fuel tank could do with being bigger. I often get blow back through the filler and always have to hold a cloth over the vent to stop diesel spitting out whilst filling.
The same for the holding tank vent, could be bigger.
Can only pump loo into holding tank, no straight out to sea and can only empty holding tank via macerator, no hole in deck for using marina pump out facilities.
Fuses for all the cockpit switching are out in the open and as explained earlier it can be a wet ride and fuses get wet and may need a wiggle to make proper contact.
I have had a problem with the caulking in the teak deck bleeding and leaving black marks everywhere.
Hot water tank could do with being bigger (only 22 litres I think).
My boat has ali window and screen frames, the newer ones have stainless.
The good:
Fantastic cockpit with lots of seating.
Excellent build quality with thick grp lay-up.
Attention to detail, for instance the wiring throughout the whole boat is laid in trunking.
Fantastic sea keeping (although sometimes wet)
Brilliant handling, I can get the port holes underwater in a sharp turn.
General look of boat in my opinion is sleeker than it's rivals and the gel coat is definitely a bright white.
Lots of space for a boat that is only 34.5' long.
Engine bay access is excellent. The whole aft seating area lifts using hydrolics giving easy access to engines.
I've had 42 knots out of her but admit that was with a following tide through the Alderney race but was good for 38 under normal conditions. Now I top out at about 36 but have a load of crap on board.
The boat still looks in excellent condition even with a family of 4 using it most weekends for the last 5 and a half years and more often than not a load of friends eating and drinking on board.
I wish I had pushed myself and bought the Sessa 40 but am more than happy with the 35 and if I were to change would definitely buy another Sessa ( the 42 ) but uncertainty about boating costs has stopped me.
benjenbav
Well-Known Member
KevB states:
[ QUOTE ]
Excellent build quality with thick grp lay-up.
[/ QUOTE ]
His needs to have a thick grp lay-up because everytime I see him he is polishing it and must have worn away a mm or so /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
[ QUOTE ]
Excellent build quality with thick grp lay-up.
[/ QUOTE ]
His needs to have a thick grp lay-up because everytime I see him he is polishing it and must have worn away a mm or so /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
Moody
Well-Known Member
'Brilliant handling, I can get the port holes underwater in a sharp turn.'
No wonder it's a wet ride /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
No wonder it's a wet ride /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
KevB
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
everytime I see him he is polishing it
[/ QUOTE ]
And you've never offered to help /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
everytime I see him he is polishing it
[/ QUOTE ]
And you've never offered to help /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
KevB
Well-Known Member
MSIMMS who posts on here has recently bought one.
Nautorius
Well-Known Member
I have crawled over a few on the S/H market in the past couple of Months.
Possitive,
lot of boat for the money
good access around the 'inards'
feels well laid up and solid
most in good nick still
Great space for entertaining on!
Heads very nice and feel roomy (did not try showering!)
Negative
No seperate front cabin unless bulkhead in
Dash switches hit and miss on working things
Covers unless replaced are rubbish
Seating feels very hard!
Some of the 'Teak' cocpits are poorly laid (possibly aftermarket)
Aft cabin is only a double and not twin option.
Just my opinion and I have not been out on one, just crawled over on the water in a marina. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Possitive,
lot of boat for the money
good access around the 'inards'
feels well laid up and solid
most in good nick still
Great space for entertaining on!
Heads very nice and feel roomy (did not try showering!)
Negative
No seperate front cabin unless bulkhead in
Dash switches hit and miss on working things
Covers unless replaced are rubbish
Seating feels very hard!
Some of the 'Teak' cocpits are poorly laid (possibly aftermarket)
Aft cabin is only a double and not twin option.
Just my opinion and I have not been out on one, just crawled over on the water in a marina. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
KevB
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Negative
No seperate front cabin unless bulkhead in
Dash switches hit and miss on working things
Covers unless replaced are rubbish
Seating feels very hard!
Some of the 'Teak' cocpits are poorly laid (possibly aftermarket)
Aft cabin is only a double and not twin option.
[/ QUOTE ]
I've got the bulkhead option which having as an option is I think good. It was an extra £1500, although I'm in two minds whether it was the right choice cause I actually like the open feel without it and could have done with just using the curtain that comes fitted if you don't have the bulkhead.
With Bulkhead
Without
The switches were probably the fuse thing.
As part of the deal I had blue covers made cause the white ones they came with are only good for the med, ie reflect heat and had small windows to stop greenhouse effect (not global warming)
Agree about aft cabin but the bed is kingsize so enough spare space not to touch if you've had an argument /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
We use the front cabin as the main cabin due to head room in the aft.
Negative
No seperate front cabin unless bulkhead in
Dash switches hit and miss on working things
Covers unless replaced are rubbish
Seating feels very hard!
Some of the 'Teak' cocpits are poorly laid (possibly aftermarket)
Aft cabin is only a double and not twin option.
[/ QUOTE ]
I've got the bulkhead option which having as an option is I think good. It was an extra £1500, although I'm in two minds whether it was the right choice cause I actually like the open feel without it and could have done with just using the curtain that comes fitted if you don't have the bulkhead.
With Bulkhead
Without
The switches were probably the fuse thing.
As part of the deal I had blue covers made cause the white ones they came with are only good for the med, ie reflect heat and had small windows to stop greenhouse effect (not global warming)
Agree about aft cabin but the bed is kingsize so enough spare space not to touch if you've had an argument /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
We use the front cabin as the main cabin due to head room in the aft.
Nautorius
Well-Known Member
I thought your summary was spot on!
Glad that it is just a design fault on the switches..obviously made for sunnier climes!
I like them though /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Cheers
Paul /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Glad that it is just a design fault on the switches..obviously made for sunnier climes!
I like them though /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
Cheers
Paul /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
msimms
Well-Known Member
Not much more to add, I think you've captured all the main points.
Ours is 2001 and spent its life on the Thames prior to us moving it to Chichester. We had a few niggly problems in the first few weeks but nothing that could be attributed to Sessa. All problems were simply related to lack of use. Still got a problem with the new autopilot but again down to Raymarine not Sessa.
For the size of the boat I think they got the proportions right, good size cabins, truly usable heads, loads of space in cockpit. Seating in salon is perhaps a little cramped, but to be honest we normally eat in the cockpit and it's never been an issue. Lowering the salon table and fitting the infill cushion makes a really good veg-out area for watching DVDs.
Plenty of storage below but access to some of these areas could have been improved. I'd have liked a seperate storage area in the cockpit for the outboard, I don't like storing it in the engine bay.
We like the ability to be able to access the deck through the opening windscreen, much better than having to use the side decks. Important point for me is that the cockpit fridge that can easily swallow two crates of becks!
On the whole very pleased the boat and think we made the correct upgrade choice. If we were moving up again and staying with power Sessa would definitely be on the list.
BTW I fixed the holding tank vent problem by removing the gauze from the hull fitting, didn't mean to remove it, it just fell apart when trying to clean it. Vents fine now. New models also have the ability to discharge direct to the sea, I took some photos at SIBS, looks an easy mod.
The fuel vent is a real pain, I think the pipe may not have a good run to the vent. I think there must be a low point that fills with diesel whilst underway and has nowhere to go when you start to fill other than out the vent.
Ours is 2001 and spent its life on the Thames prior to us moving it to Chichester. We had a few niggly problems in the first few weeks but nothing that could be attributed to Sessa. All problems were simply related to lack of use. Still got a problem with the new autopilot but again down to Raymarine not Sessa.
For the size of the boat I think they got the proportions right, good size cabins, truly usable heads, loads of space in cockpit. Seating in salon is perhaps a little cramped, but to be honest we normally eat in the cockpit and it's never been an issue. Lowering the salon table and fitting the infill cushion makes a really good veg-out area for watching DVDs.
Plenty of storage below but access to some of these areas could have been improved. I'd have liked a seperate storage area in the cockpit for the outboard, I don't like storing it in the engine bay.
We like the ability to be able to access the deck through the opening windscreen, much better than having to use the side decks. Important point for me is that the cockpit fridge that can easily swallow two crates of becks!
On the whole very pleased the boat and think we made the correct upgrade choice. If we were moving up again and staying with power Sessa would definitely be on the list.
BTW I fixed the holding tank vent problem by removing the gauze from the hull fitting, didn't mean to remove it, it just fell apart when trying to clean it. Vents fine now. New models also have the ability to discharge direct to the sea, I took some photos at SIBS, looks an easy mod.
The fuel vent is a real pain, I think the pipe may not have a good run to the vent. I think there must be a low point that fills with diesel whilst underway and has nowhere to go when you start to fill other than out the vent.
msimms
Well-Known Member
We had exactly the same problem.
On the fuse covers there's a little drain hole which is not very efficient. I replaced all fuses which were wiped with some grease made for protecting electrical equipment. So far not a single failure since.
On the fuse covers there's a little drain hole which is not very efficient. I replaced all fuses which were wiped with some grease made for protecting electrical equipment. So far not a single failure since.