The Oyster Heritage 37 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Oyster Heritage 37, an aft-cockpit masthead sloop, was designed by Holman & Pye and built in the UK by Oyster Marine Ltd.

'Spellbound', an Oyster Heritage 37

'Spellbound' is the coachroof version. A Pilothouse version was also produced.

There was also a centre-board option drawing 4'3" with the board up and 8'0" with it down.

Published Specification for the Oyster Heritage 37

Underwater Profile: Fin keel with Skeg-Hung Rudder

Hull Material: GRP (Fiberglass)

Length Overall: 37'0" (11.3m)

Waterline Length: 31'3" (9.5m)

Beam: 12'0" (3.7m)

Draft: 5'4" (1.6m)

Rig Type: Masthead sloop

Displacement: 14,535lb (6,593kg)

Designer: Holman & Pye

Builder: Oyster Marine Ltd (UK)

Year First Built: 1984

Year Last Built: 1988

Number Built: 35

Owners Association: Oyster Owners

Published Design Ratios for the Oyster Heritage 37

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 16.5

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: 41.3

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

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 213

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

4. Comfort Ratio: 24.9

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: 2.0

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

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Oyster Heritage 37

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 16.5 suggests that the Oyster Heritage 37 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 41.3 means that the Oyster Heritage 37 will stand up well to her canvas in a blow, helping her to power through the waves.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 213, tells us the Oyster Heritage 37 is a moderate displacement cruiser, which means she'll carry all your cruising gear without it having a dramatic effect on her performance. Most of today's sailboats intended for offshore cruising fall into this displacement category.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 24.9 suggests that crew comfort of an Oyster Heritage 37 in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a coastal cruiser with moderate stability, which is not encouraging news for anyone prone to seasickness.

5. The Capsize Screening Formula (CSF) of 2.0 is on the cusp of suitability for an ocean passage, so venture offshore with caution.