The Oyster 62 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Oyster 62 is one of the most successful models from Oyster Yachts, a renowned British boatbuilder that has been making high-quality yachts since 1973. The Oyster 62 was designed by Rob Humphreys, a prolific naval architect who has created many other award-winning sailboats.

'Dalliance', an Oyster 62 entering Jolly Harbour, AntiguaAn Oyster 62

Published Specification for the Oyster 62

  • Underwater Configuration: Fin keel with bulb & spade rudder
  • Hull Material: GRP (Fibreglass)
  • Length Overall: 63'4" (19.3m)
  • Waterline Length: 55'2" (16.8m)
  • Beam: 17'9" (5.4m)
  • Draft: 8'6" (2.6m)
  • Rig Type: Cutter
  • Displacement: 70,547lb (32,000kg)
  • Designer: Rob Humphreys
  • Builder: Oyster Marine Ltd
  • Year First Built: 2004
  • Owners Association: Oyster Owners Club

Published Design Ratios for the Oyster 62

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 19.5

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 29.4

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 188

4. Comfort Ratio: 41.2

5. Capsize Screening Formula: 1.7

Read more about these Key Performance Indicators...

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Oyster 62

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 19.5 suggests that the Oyster 62 will, in the right conditions, approach her maximum hull speed readily and satisfy the sailing performance expectations of most cruising sailors.

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 29.5 would usually mean that the Oyster 62 would have a tendency to heel uncomfortably in a gust, and need to be reefed early to keep her sailing upright in a moderate breeze.

However, as she has much of her ballast concentrated in a bulb at the foot of her keel, she's likely to be considerably stiffer than her published Ballast/Displacement Ratio might suggest.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 188, tells us the Oyster 62 is a light displacement sailboat. If she's loaded with too much heavy cruising gear her performance will suffer to a degree.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 41.2 suggests that crew comfort of an Oyster 62 in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a heavy bluewater cruising boat. Pitching and rolling will be well damped - your cup of coffee on the salon table stands a reasonable chance of staying there in most conditions.

5. The Capsize Screening Formula (CSF) of 1.7 tells us that an Oyster 62 would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0. 

Any Questions?

Is the Oyster 62 still in production? If not, when did production end and how many were built?

The Oyster 62 was introduced in 1999 and replaced the Oyster 61 model. 
I could not find any definitive information on when the production of the Oyster 62 ended, but it seems that it was replaced by the Oyster 625 model in 2013. The Oyster 625 has a similar design but with some improvements, such as a longer waterline, a larger sail area, and a more spacious interior.
As for how many Oyster 62s were built, I found a list of 32 hull numbers on the Oyster Owners website, but I cannot verify if this is the complete list or if there are more. You may want to contact Oyster Yachts directly for more accurate information. Here is their website: https://oysteryachts.com/

What keel options are available for the Oyster 62?

The Oyster 62 has two keel options: a standard fin keel, which has a draft of 8.5 ft (2.6m) and a ballast of 24,250 lbs (11,000 kg), and a shoal draft keel, which has a draft of 6.9 ft (2.1m) and a ballast of 26,455 lbs (12,000 kg). 

What is the Oyster 62 like to sail?

The Oyster 62 is a fast and comfortable cruiser, with excellent performance under sail. It has a light displacement of 66,139 lbs (30,000 kg) and a long waterline of 53.15 ft (16.2 m), which give it a good speed potential. It has a balanced helm and responsive handling, with twin wheels for easy access to the cockpit. It can sail well in light winds, thanks to its large sail area and efficient hull shape.

What is the average cost of a secondhand Oyster 62?

The average cost of a secondhand Oyster 62 depends on the year, condition, equipment, and location of the boat. According to YachtWorld, the current listings for Oyster 62 range from $999,998 USD to £778,450 GBP (about $1,078,000 USD), with an average price of £735,000 GBP (about $808,000 USD).

Is this boatbuilder still in business?

Yes, Oyster Yachts is still in business and continues to produce high-quality sailing yachts. Oyster Yachts was founded in 1973 by Richard Matthews in Ipswich, England. Since then, it has grown to become one of the leading luxury yacht builders in the world, with over 400 yachts delivered to date. Oyster Yachts offers a range of models from 46 ft (14 m) to 118 ft (36 m), as well as custom projects.

What other sailboats have been created by this designer?

Rob Humphreys is the designer of the Oyster 62, as well as many other Oyster models. He is also the founder of Humphreys Yacht Design, an award-winning naval architecture studio based in Lymington, England. He has designed sailboats for various clients, such as Southerly Yachts, Elan Yachts, Moody Yachts, and Swan Yachts. Some of his notable designs include the Southerly 535, the Elan Impression 50, the Moody 54 DS, and the Swan 60.

The above answers were drafted by sailboat-cruising.com using GPT-4 (OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model) as a research assistant to develop source material; to the best of our knowledge, we believe them to be accurate.

Other sailboats in the Oyster range include:

An Oyster Heritage 37 yacht sailing off the west coast of ScotlandThe Oyster Heritage 37

An Oyster 39 sailboat at anchorThe Oyster 39

An Oyster 53 sailboat at anchorThe Oyster 53

An Oyster 575 sailboat on a mooring ballThe Oyster 575

An Oyster 625 sailboat at anchor in Rodney Bay, St LuciaThe Oyster 625

An Oyster 82 sailboat at anchorThe Oyster 82

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