Oyster 39, Should I buy it?

[Tanny]

Hello,
Does anyone know anything about the Oyster 39' ketch?
I'm looking at a 1979 boat that seems in reasonable shape, but I'm drawing blanks trying to find out anything about these boats on the net.
Any help would be terrific!
Tanny

[Sabreman]

I have no personal experience with Oyster, but for what it's worth, everyone that I've seen has been a gem. They are profiled in The World's Best Sailboats, Volume 2 by Ferenc Mate. I have the book and the profile will make you drool. They are extremely high quality boats with great attention paid to detail. Sorry that I can not provide specifics.

Amazon.com: The World's Best Sailboats, Volume 2 (9780920256442): Ferenc Máté, Ferenc Mate: Books

[eherlihy]

Oyster 39, Should I buy it?

Yes.

Next question...

[eherlihy]

...and if your query is with regard to the 1979 model on eBay, it looks like a beautiful boat. Oyster Ketch, 39' Blue Water Cruiser : eBay Motors (item 140374187156 end time Jan-23-10 15:32:37 PST)The current price of $28,100 is ridiculously low. That boat, however, is in St. Martin.

Oyster's website says this about the 39;

The 39 was extremely popular due to her excellent accommodation for a yacht of this size. One of the best-known examples, Morningtown, was radio relay vessel throughout the 1979 Fastnet storm and stayed at sea, without incident, in some of the UK's most severe weather.

I have been aboard the Rona II. The hull is an Oyster, but the Rona syndicate finishes off the interior. The hull on that boat is like a tank. Oyster is known for the fit & finish of their interior.

[TQA]

If you post your question on a UK based forum such as YM Scuttlebut you should get a response. Never had one or looked at one but they are well regarded in the UK as a top quality cruising boat.

[Faster]

Plenty of pictures here... as has been mentioned Oyster has a good rep.. none of these are in North America.

Oyster (Sail) Boats For Sale

[hardalee22]

Here is a once in a lifetime offer. I am willing to let you buy the oyster and I will give it a one or two year shakedown and report on the positives and negatives of the boat. In the meantime you can borrow my Mariner 28. My boat does need new batteries and an autopilot so I'd appreciate it if you'd take care of those details.

Just kidding of course. I've always heard great things about oysters, but like any boat get a survey and take a test sail. Any great boat can be ruined by a bad owner.

Good luck.

[tager]

Yea buy it! You should give me the Mariner 28, you won't be needing it anymore. jk

[mikeedmo]

Buy It!!

[Zanshin]

During my boat selection phases I looked at a couple of Oysters and was impressed at their massive solidity. They are designed as solid bluewater boats - with all that that entails. They tend to be heavy, full-keeled boats that are not particularly fast (hence they always race against other Oysters) but they will get there. You will get a lot of looks, sort of like driving up in a Bentley.

If all you intend to do is local and coastal sailing then the Oyster might not be the optimal boat, you might want one that is faster or sprightlier or that has more light belowdecks and bigger open spaces.

As a British boat, the electrics might be worth checking into; but assuming typical Oyster maintenance the hull and sail systems will be top-notch.

How serious are you on this boat? I have a friend sailing up the islands and who is supposed to be in St. Martin sometime soon and who would certainly take a look at the boat to see if there are any major "gotchas" that would preclude doing a survey. There are a LOT of boats in the lagoon that will never make it out of there on their own and on the surface, but an Oyster is unlikely to be in that category. PM me if you are interested in pursuing it.