The Oyster 82 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Oyster 82, a centre-cockpit cutter, was designed by Rob Humphreys and built in the UK by Oyster Marine Ltd.

'Zig Zag', an Oyster 82 cutter-rigged sailboat dropping the hook in the Five Islands anchorage in Antigua in the West IndiesAn Oyster 82 Cutter

Published Specification for the Oyster 82

  • Underwater Profile: Fin keel & spade rudder
  • Hull Material: GRP (Fibreglass)
  • Length Overall: 81'10" (25.0m)
  • Waterline Length: 70'6" (21.5m)
  • Beam: 20'9" (6.3m)
  • Draft: 8'10" (2.7m)*
  • Rig Type: Cutter
  • Displacement: 134,481lb (61,001kg)
  • Designer: Rob Humphreys
  • Builder: Oyster Marine (UK)
  • Year First Built: 2007
  • Owners Association: Oyster Owners Association

* Other available keel configurations:

  • Shoal draft high performance bulb keel - 8'4" (2.6m)
  • Centreboard version with twin rudders - Board up 7'0" (2.1m), Board down 14'0" (4.3m)

Published Design Ratios for the Oyster 82

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 23.6

  • Less than 16 would be considered under-powered;
  • 16 to 20 would indicate reasonably good performance;
  • Over 20 suggests relatively high performance.

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: Not published

  • Under 40: less stiff, less powerful
  • Over 40: stiffer, more powerful

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 171

  • Under 100: Ultralight
  • 100 to 200: Light
  • 200 to 275: Moderate
  • 275 to 350: Heavy
  • Over 350: Ultraheavy

4. Comfort Ratio: 49.6

  • Under 20 indicates a lightweight racing boat
  • 20 to 30 indicates a coastal cruiser
  • 30 to 40 indicates a moderate offshore cruising boat
  • 40 to 50 indicates a heavy offshore boat
  • Over 50 indicates an extremely heavy offshore boat

5. Capsize Screening Formula: 1.6

  • Under 2.0 (the lower the better): Better suited for ocean passages
  • Over 2.0: Less suited for ocean passages

Read more about these Key Performance Indicators...

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Oyster 82

1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 23.6 suggests that, in the right hands, the Oyster 82 will have enough performance to leave most other sailboats of similar waterline length well astern. 

2. The Ballast/Displacement Ratio of the Oyster 82 is not published, hence we are unable to comment on this aspect of the boats predicted performance.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 171, tells us the Oyster 82 is clearly a light displacement sailboat. If she's loaded with too much heavy cruising gear and equipment her performance will suffer to a degree.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 49.6 suggests that crew comfort of an Oyster 82 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 1.6 tells us that a Oyster 82 would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0. 

Other sailboats in the Oyster range include:


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