Oyster 495: 3 days aboard Oyster's new bluewater baby.

The Oyster 495, the British brand's smallest model, is a modern bluewater cruiser which shows big things can come in (slightly) smaller sizes. Toby Hodges' full report is in Yachting World Sept 2022 issue
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[@ProTuner06]

It’ll probably take me about 7-10 years, but I am buying this vessel. Period.

[@gzaa9155]

I am getting one too, it may take a while but for sure i will.

[@mertylmaz9549]

Best wishes

[@carlospiezzi4030]

For me between 70 and 100 years old 😂

[@bustermot]

I like that I’m accidentally learning/reinforcing my sailboat/sailing terminology by listening to such an informed and engaged host. Thank you man.

[@jimmychonga9713]

I enjoyed the more in depth look at this boat. I hope more future reviews are of this length of time.

[@yachtingworld]

Good to know thanks Jimmy. It took a long time and we didn't know if such length is of value, but appreciate the feedback

[@captainblack1021]

Great review- nice to get a feel of life on board

[@pootsman6722]

Agreed, prefer these longer reviews

[@Tsar_Gory]

​@@yachtingworld It's a good idea, this format should be. Thank you for quality work👍

[@Coleen_West]

BUT--- OYSTER -- went with a terrible "sail drive" and ruined this as a world cruiser. Without shaft drive ending, this is a joke. It is like some cheap plastic sailboat meant for inland water. DO NOT BUY THIS OYSTER. Total junk build. Once they swap out the defect, then consider it.

[@RobertKusicki]

I don't know what was more pleasurable, the wonderful in-depth vlog-like video, or watching this beautiful yacht under sail at 9knots. Well done Toby and Yachting World on an absolute banger of a film. Please produce more videos like this in the future! Cheers

[@yachtingworld]

That's kind and good to hear, thanks Robert - we will try when we have the time and material!

[@Coleen_West]

BUT--- OYSTER -- went with a terrible "sail drive" and ruined this as a world cruiser. Without shaft drive ending, this is a joke. It is like some cheap plastic sailboat meant for inland water. DO NOT BUY THIS OYSTER. Total junk build. Once they swap out the defect, then consider it.

[@jimheaven]

What a fantastic boat. 9-9.5knots? Cranking along to your destination.... and then furling the sails and dropping the anchor all from the helm at the touch of a button. That. Right there. Is the ultimate meaning of life. Anyone who says money doesn't buy you happiness, hasn't seen Toby's review of the Oyster 495! Fantastic.

[@yachtingworld]

Thanks James!

[@Salmon4lif3]

As an experienced sailor as yourself, what would be the largest of the Oyster yachts, that you could comfortably sail by yourself???

[@alisavas9526]

The best sail boat reviews ever. Really enjoying your videos

[@yachtingworld]

Thank you Ali

[@ianbullphoto1]

Couldn't agree more!

[@donday2326]

Once again, Toby and team did it! I watch a lot of boat reviews, but Toby and Yachting World remain the gold standard, far above the rest. Detail orientated with the actual use in mind, and the wealth of experience of Toby just shows. Brilliant. Ah yes, the boat is amazing too. Now back to saving money ...

[@yachtingworld]

That's really kind of you to say, thanks Don, much appreciated!

[@andrewhardy6221]

Oyster have crammed a phenomenal amount into a 50fter. Its a sensational boat and achievement. Maybe just a little overly complicated but then I guess they have put every possible option on hull number 1. Sensational review.

[@yachtingworld]

Thank you Andrew

[@n.o.b.1907]

Seeing the complexity in bilge area with all those pipes and electricals, would be great to have a brand/model ranking for boats, like we have for cars nowadays. Like which brands/models create most problems in the first year or 3 years etc...

[@official_dplanet]

Would love to see that too

[@nicholasjames655]

@@official_dplanet And I wonder what this boat will look like in 30 years time? Those black instrument control panels horizontal to the hot sunshine in the tropics......

[@BlueSnowOfficial]

I would agree 100%. More long-format videos. I loved all your points, touring, and just the different angles of the yacht. I would watch more for smaller and larger boats.

[@yachtingworld]

Thank you

[@johnnyhubbars9893]

“Champagne storage, obviously.” Great job, taking time to actually open things up, especially underway. 👍👍

[@xxxxxxxxxxxx_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]

Not a fan of a lot of modern designs, but this boat is. Absolutely. Stunning.

[@farrellko]

Lovely boat and great to see Oyster in the 50 foot space and nicely done. To show how designs have plateaued , the Oyster is near identical to the 2017 Amel 50 (different deck and interior). Same LOA, waterline, beam, mast height, fore triangle, mainsail area, close in displacement (Oyster is heavier and has more ballast in keel). Almost identical hull forms. Have we reached peak cruising boat design? Great review!

[@rlpatton1970]

I agree on designs, I actually prefer the amel over this because of the protection it offers

[@bumblebee240.]

"Monohulls are better than cats" Convince me please

[@rlpatton1970]

@@bumblebee240. live on one vs the other and you would pick a cat any day … a lot More living space

[@chrisoleary9876]

Good to see you again Toby!!

[@jimj2683]

I love these vinyl wraps! Finally I can easily change colour every season!

[@garrettkenny5591]

Absolutely the best. Hope you enjoyed it Toby. Take a bow

[@erickrueger6464]

In a different league than a Hanse, Bene, Jeanneau or HR. The 495 is on the list but, a new Hanse, Jeanneau, Dehler or an HR are in my future. The 495 is a lovely sailing yacht.

[@anthonyrondolino8148]

Nice review..but compare the Kraken 50…a high quality blue water cruiser with integral keel, shaft drive, covered cockpit, interior watch station and incredible systems & engine access. With a solent rig it is a heavy displacement hull that hits 8.5 knots. Fantastic boat!

[@constantinealexandrakis]

😂😂😂😂

[@mustafaoshaughnessy3198]

Thanks Toby & Yachting World!

[@real2gone]

Excellent review from Toby and the Yachting World team. A gorgeous boat too.

[@yachtingworld]

Many thanks!

[@robertw.1499]

Wonderful Oyster as always. Totally agree with you Toby about that dishwasher space. I would go for more refridgeration/freezer capacity and wash the dishes by hand. Love these long reports. Very informative and give great insight 💪

[@yachtingworld]

Thank you Robert!

[@johndimino8746]

Beautiful boat, and nice review. I really appreciate Toby's expertise in the sailing market, which really shows in these videos, unlike some other boat review/tour channels out there...

[@yachtingworld]

Thank you very much John, that's really appreciated

[@johndimino8746]

@@yachtingworld Well deserved! About to watch the new Foiler video, and excited for what's ahead!

[@acsxdzght]

enjoying these video all the time thanks for doing them

[@yachtingworld]

Thanks Sean, appreciated

[@Tuner1967hh]

Would love to see you guys doing a direkt 1:1 with Contest 49CS!

[@AndoCommando1000]

I’m always curious to know what headroom is like onboard boats like this. A lot of KZbin sailing channels have men saying “I’m tall and there’s plenty of headroom”. But saying you are tall doesn’t help. How much headroom exactly do boats like this have? I’m 6’4”. Someone who is 6ft exactly saying “look, lots of headroom above me” is pretty meaningless if it’s only an extra two inches. It would be absolute great if every video like this, you could bring exactly at 2 metre stick with you, and if it fits inside any given berth or cabin or saloon while vertical, it would be great!

[@vokstar]

When opening all those lockers was half expecting Toby to come across some Reg Grundies (Undies). Lovely boat though, nice to hear that it has many orders already. I'm sure you enjoyed your time onboard, but I enjoyed the length of time you got to spend onboard too so could find some of the, don't want to say faults, but little things that you wouldn't necessarily find on a quick sail around the harbor. Cheers.

[@yachtingworld]

Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!

[@Tlecois]

Sark is awesome, and the boat too. thanks !

[@PitStopCrew]

I think that Toby has the best job in the world, probably!

[@will9093]

boat looks great but Toby's mullet is the real star 😂

[@yachtingworld]

Thanks Will!

[@davearmstrong2296]

Really great, insightful video. I have been watching videos on the 885 SII and I agree, Oyster make a fantastic yacht.

[@tomriley5790]

Thanks for the detail showing us around this yacht, great to get a really good look at everything!

[@yachtingworld]

Good to hear thanks Tom

[@darrynmeadows]

Are you sure you're in Britain 25 minutes in. No rain and it's sunny

[@user-ur3vl7li5m]

توبي اند يختنق ورد👏👏👏 Toby and yachting world Thanks for your juniors in depth woke through which I appreciate 🙏🏿🇧🇭

[@mgdurandolo]

Beautiful boat! And a great, thorough review as always

[@yachtingworld]

👍

[@dennisrobinson4588]

Excellent review of a great sailboat that can take one anywhere in the world! I would love to sail this to judge for myself, price may keep me from pulling the trigger on buying a 495. Thanks

[@yachtingworld]

Thank you!

[@bravofighter]

Oyster makes a GORGEOUS yacht, full stop. My concern is for the depth of these modern systems, long term…will they perform in unison the way they must for a decade of cruising? Also, I wish more of the luxury yacht builders would understand that we don’t all want a longer yacht, as 50’ slips are not easy to come by at any price in MOST of the places where people who can afford these boats actually live. My slip is 32 feet long, just shy of 10 meters, and the only reason we have it is that we jumped on it and reserved it before the marina was finished being built and paid for the first season and winter storage before there were even docks to put in the water. The 50’ slips were spoken for 10 years ago, on a wait list from the owner’s other marina on the other side of the inlet! They simply don’t exist, and so we would prefer a smaller, single island berth with one complete head, a compact galley and a double settee salon with a fold-down table…but modern, and built with quality materials. No nav desk, no big table, no dinette, no quarter berths sold as cabins. We want an electric drive, a small diesel gen set that runs itself on a schedule, 400 Ah of LiPho4, and lines led to the cockpit. Very simple, but we want it to be LOVELY.

[@FLH3official]

Excellent review, not some video shots in an harbour but a real sea trial. All review should be like this one. Nice work, guys.

[@yachtingworld]

Thank you!

[@bobjohns8914]

I've been watching all the KZbin vids for years now...Sailing around the world is my goal. Something about a Mono that just feels more secure than a multi hull... I sort of wish Hallberg and Oyster would have a baby...take the best of both! I like the open helm stations of the Oyster over the center enclosed helm of the Rassy...but the hard dodger of the Rassy over the canvas dodger of the oyster. One thing I would ask for is a deck level hand railing system running down the center of the foredeck...Seems something to hang on to would be helpful when you wanted to stay low when accessing the bow for what ever reason in very sporty seas...

[@yachtingworld]

A central toerail can work well for that. But better to avoid going forward in a blow if possible!

[@rm-61366]

The newer breed of cruising production boats does add some thoughtful features, but as a 60 year old lifetime sailor, the aesthetic looks ungainly and awkward to me. Fat hulls with high freeboard makes for poor lighter wind performance and a bouncy slam-ridden ride at sea. The helm stations seem very exposed for passagemaking, perhaps there is an enclosure option. The transom steps are so narrow and the steep angle makes for challenging boarding and disembarking, inexcusable for a boat this size and price. Why is the cockpit table so friggin wide? That will make movement fore and aft on the boat whilst heeling and pitching in a seaway a major pain. I have not been aboard this boat- but I have been aboard many Oysters at boat shows through the years. Everyone Oyster without fail for me was an ergonomic nightmare. Every space was so cramped and filled with too much so that I would bump my sides, elbows, knees, and head just about every time I tried to move, and that was sitting flat and tied to a pier. Granted I'm 6foot5, but I'm fit and a lifelong sailor for 60 years and generally do not have the same degree of ergonomic issues with many other boats. Weird angles, corners, cramped fore and aft transitways, multiple steps to cross such as the up and down in the cockpit and cabin sole make life miserable when heeled and bouncing in a seaway. Not my style, but to each his own.

[@toddwhitbread6523]

Med foredeck, med stern, bluewater cockpit. Best compromise I’ve see

[@mosca3289]

We’ll done Yachting World.

[@Aiphiae]

I'm not a sailor (would like to be one day) so can someone explain to me how this boat doesn't tip over at 5:11 to 5:26 ? How do people prevent tipping? How do you know how far to push it? I get that there's a keel but man... that's *so close* to the edge of the boat! Is this one of those "it takes practice" things? It look amazing and incredibly fun!

[@ajkgordon]

It will keep tipping as far as you can make it with the wind and the sails. Putting the toe rail in the water is not a big deal. Any more than that and things can start crashing around down below though. Unless you are completely flattened and turned over by a huge wave, the righting moment of a very heavy keel will always bring the boat back to upright.

[@Aiphiae]

@@ajkgordon Very cool, thanks for the reply :)

[@JosephWilsonProductions]

Best yacht review I have ever seen. If I win the lotto. maybe I will buy one. :)

[@yachtingworld]

Thank you Joseph - and good luck!

[@artolehtonen2564]

Nice catch! @27:27

[@pavelow235]

Living the dream !!!!

[@Sommers234]

would have been nice if you would have filmed controlling the sails instead of just talking about it. would like to have seen you ease the jib and how nicely it furls. nonetheless, remarkable yacht

[@davidwhite2011]

Countertops now called "solid surface" before Dupont tracks you down.

[@aswan2140]

Thank you Toby! I still want the 74.5 though! Love the Oysters 🇺🇸🇮🇱

[@KevinMoranTV]

Thank you! Great work.

[@markuskoarmani1364]

ARCH is a must. It's hard to build Bimini for crosing the ocean.

[@krispress7824]

Cool boat and let you test her like that

[@johnnyhubbars9893]

Master is a gem!

[@koomaj]

Wonderful boat and video. I wonder how many of these will be sold with old battery tech. I would guess in this day and age, and younger clientele in mind, they would have lithium-ion as standard battery. Also, do the yard offer integrated (well designed) solar panel solutions? So clients don't have to jerry rig something uglier after delivery.

[@official_dplanet]

Also surprised a premium-priced bluewater yacht would not have solar and lithium-ion

[@ajkgordon]

As this is the launch boat doing a long world publicity tour, it may be having lithium installed prior to client handover and all the other options they may have specified like bimini, davits, solar, etc. With so much going on during the tour, older style batteries are cheaper to replace than lithium ones in the case of a mishap.

[@koomaj]

@@ajkgordon good points! Thank you.

[@j121212100]

love the gill inspired windows

[@amyreuthe693]

The color if the boat is so beautiful in contrast to the grey sails. I must find a way to buy this sail boat

[@ruzgardeniz4673]

Güzel tasarım...👏⛵🗺🙂

[@konstantinostheodoropoulos3499]

Bravo nice video and very nice boat

[@captainblack1021]

Nice design

[@NuMarScorpio]

Good evening, Beautiful yacht! only question: where are the scuppers in guest cockpit? I can't see them. Thanks

[@j121212100]

beautiful boat!

[@N330AA]

Toby has a great job 😂

[@RS265trophy]

Toby loves the boat 😄

[@TedR36]

Great review

[@nearlyzero9849]

Outstanding review Toby.

[@yachtingworld]

Thank you very much!

[@M-yc3er]

Yep beautiful Yacht but I'm with you Toby the Eye Level Ergonomics needs to be better thought out and prioritized, it's what i feel lets Oyster down from other brands that do show seated and standing easy views at eye level.

[@peterbradshaw8018]

Jesus every time you mention Sark I think of the book the Fountain Pen Conspiracy about the Bank of Sark which was if I remember not on Sark but I could be wrong.

[@aardvarkmindshank]

Looks fine, as long as the keel doesn’t fall off 😅

[@Coleen_West]

Just can't get over the saildrive vs shaft drive issues. Can't imagine dealing with a saildrive on a bluewater sailboat. We simply won't do it.

[@NSResponder]

Gorgeous.

[@qdav5]

Nice looking boat. But I have to say, if I wanted a wide-beam, twin-rudder, light, fast boat, then I would just buy a catamaran. Most modern monohulls (like this one) are simply not fit for world cruising and should not be considered bluewater boats.

[@constantinealexandrakis]

😂 And by your logic, if I wanted a narrow beam single-rudder, single-helm slow boat that can be function above and under water I would buy a submarine.

[@terrancedick8912]

Still prefer single wheel . Feels more balanced being In the centre although how High at the stern the wheel Is and how low the head sails Are could be a problem With vision.get someone to Stand in the middle filming Forward to see what vision Would be like.dont think it Would be hard to convert To centre wheel station

[@sakalli424]

Teşekkürler. Türkçe altyazı seçeneği eklemenizi öneririm.

[@basicinfoplaybook]

Toby loves a heated towel rail. lol I feel like the walk through isnt fully complete w/out mention of one. (included or in need)

[@pred7949]

lol it really is a game changer on a boat tho, not for cozy fluffy warm towels, but to just actually dry out damp towels

[@yachtingworld]

Yes I do enjoy my creature comforts more as I age! But for those not living in the tropics it can be tricky to dry and things out, particularly if you don't have a dedicated ventilated wet hanging locker

[@basicinfoplaybook]

@@yachtingworld Your walk-throughs are as classy as the boats you feature. Smooth, elegant, and w/out 'hype'. My favorite part is how you begin them. I always anticipate the very 1st sentence as the video fades from graphic to presenter. So many videos start w/ the cringy "hi guys!". Yours - well done! BTW - i loved to extra long format. Thanks for responding.

[@mikeatfreo2112]

Looks beautiful. What about construction? Does she have balsa cored topsides and deck?

[@ramonsellaresmont3599]

Impresionante velero es precioso 👍👍👍⛵⛵⛵

[@alejandroperelmann9952]

Another hit from Oyster...Great under fifty...Just one missing for me: why did you loose the main sheet track? I need to trim my sails....And with this configuration no way.

[@trey1531]

Is that a line going from the emergency ladder through the hull to the water?

[@yachtingworld]

Yes to access the ladder from the water

[@climbskibikenz]

How high is that boom though?

[@stevenschapera2888]

Toby, you know the Rustler 57 and you know this Oyster 495. Very different styles and probably similar internal volume despite length differential. The question is…which do you prefer as a Med cruiser for a family of 3?

[@yachtingworld]

Interesting question. I like both boats. But while I am a fan of how Rustler builds its yachts, I would not normally consider them as typical Med cruising yachts - more suited to Atlantic waters and cruising.

[@stevenschapera2888]

Fair point, thank you.@@yachtingworld

[@DanO530.8]

It’s almost to bad they couldn’t put a really slick film underneath the hull where the water runs to save the paint and after a large build up just clean or peel it off and put a new one …

[@leonardschofield9913]

Even though one person can sail this yacht, would you just recommend having 2 - 3 people there?

[@dennisbrach9550]

Nice review and overall a very beautiful boat! A little noisy when the engine is running, I believe it should have a better sound isolation….just wondering the price..thanks!

[@yachtingworld]

I measured sound insulation and found it pretty respectable and the insulation very good (detailed in the full report). Price is shown at the end and starts at £1.25m

[@dennisbrach9550]

@@yachtingworld, perfect and again thanks for the very good review!

[@krisvanaut]

Thx for the review Can you have a traveler for the main sheet?

[@MichealForsyth-n6v]

I know I'm coming late to the party, where would one put the tender?

[@fawkesp]

Toby, great review of a fantastic boat. Reviews like this can never be too long! Just one question though, if the winches etc are hydraulic, does this mean that the engine is always running?

[@yachtingworld]

Thank you. And the winches are electric. The hydraulics run off electric power pack, so still silent when sailing and using furlers etc

[@fawkesp]

@@yachtingworld Thanks Toby, that makes sense.

[@eddiezorro1]

Be honest! Wish One Is Better Bluewater sailing? Oyster or Kraken?

[@andrearossi3770]

Out of the crowd comment here but this is the equivalent of people going on safaris in Botswana on air-conditioned Range Rovers and complain that there's not fibre WiFi at the lodge...and I bet half of this boats the furthest will go is Gosport to Yarmouth... surely luxurious and comfortable but aren't we missing the basic point of sailing which is to be one-to-one with the elements and nature? Beautiful machine nevertheless

[@johnwaga3702]

Brilliant!

[@johnswanson6790]

Hmm, I would think technology has arrived at a point where lithium iron phosphate batteries would be an option. Thoughts?

[@Peter_Mcleod]

Most electrics very low in the boat, a ingress of water, will not be good. Appears to be electronics just above the sump box also.

[@samhermans]

Yes was also quite surprised

[@paulgilliland2992]

The boat is fabulous but the interior coach space isn’t as beautifully done as some others. I get it that it’s only a 50 so you always have a compromise . Interesting that Toby didn’t mention the cost. I suspect north of £2 million?

[@Denstoradiskmaskinen]

The sound of silence @ 44:10

[@billhanna8838]

Nice BUT for deep sea it lost me with the sail drive ?

[@jamiemcneil9462]

I have a question about the Sail-Drive. Why would anyone drill a huge hole in the bottom of the boat for no good reason?

[@constantinealexandrakis]

There is reason: Saildrives are quiter, offer more horsepower because the prop is not at an angle and take less space and can be moved further aft. Shaft drives and saildrives both have advantages and disadvantages.

[@Mordalo]

Nice, save one deal killer for a blue water boat. Windows below the water line.

[@michaelsasylum]

Does that engine have the generator on it that generates electricity while under sail? Oyster makes a mighty fine sailing vessel.

[@yachtingworld]

No, but it is an option we believe - as per the 595

[@user-oe2ti1fb8r]

Why synthetic decking on the bathing platform but teak on the rest of the deck?

[@richardwallinger1683]

ALL OF THAT GLASS / WINDOWS BELOW THE WATERLINE WHEN SAILING WHAT HAPPENS IF A WINDOW IS BROKEN BY ANY FLOATING OBJECT . How strong is the window materiel .? the different hull and windows need sealing and eventually those bonds will break down leading to leaks . Not an issue with a reasonably new build but after 20 / 30 plus years of degredation due to uv and the weather .. nightmare .

[@fearhand12]

Someone who can afford this new will probably be onto a new boat or 5 in 20 years tbh

[@strix9013]

Question. Do sailboats have stabilization systems like some motor yachts do? Like a gyro, to ease the sway when your at anchor.

[@yachtingworld]

No. But the keels do help make them more stable at rest

[@Krzysztof-yh9jy]

What is the price for??