The Cannes Yachting Festival and the Genoa Boat Show are two of the highlights to find out what the yards have in store on the new model front. Our editorial staff went aboard the latest boats launched, one of them being the new Oyster 495, designed by Humpreys Yacht Design. A deck saloon-style long sailing boat for those seeking comfort and quality without compromise. Here is our tour on board and a preview of the boat.
Oyster 495 – The Video
Oyster 495, a ‘minimal’ boat
The result is a boat that has an almost minimalist design, with a clean deck and a panoramic deck saloon-style deckhouse equipped with a window that gives a sense of movement to the boat’s aesthetic.
The maximum beam is amidships but continues almost all the way to the stern to ensure a homogeneous volume somewhat across the interior. Almost all the way to the stern the paramare also continues, thus providing complete protection even in the helmsman’s seating area.
Oyster 495 – Short keel, comfortable sail plan
Let’s come to the numbers of the boat. the limited draft of 2.28 meters, with an L-shaped keel (with the option of a short keel that fishes even less, 1.83 m) , is certainly geared toward the convenience of entering ports with almost any bottom rather than performance.
The 21 tons displacement with the 120 square meters of upwind sail area does not seem to describe a light breeze hunter.
A luxury apartment by the sea
After all, this is not a performance-cruiser, and the priority is to have a comfortable boat with a very well-finished luxury interior that can be lived aboard year-round. Anyone who buys an Oyster, you know, is buying a luxury seaside apartment, equipped with every convenience, to set out to discover the world.
The wide beam (4.77 m) translates into very large volumes below deck. The master stateroom is very impressive, with three patented Oyster Seascape windows that give a feeling of light and space. Air and light invest all spaces below deck, from the saloon to the galley to the guest cabins.
On deck, the Oyster 495 features an expertly designed central cockpit and deck saloon. The transom houses a motorized boarding/bathing platform, which is operated with a button from the deck. Sunbathing spaces everywhere!
Oyster 495, the numbers
Length ft: 16, 10 m
Hull length: 15.15 m
Length at waterline: 14.27 m
Maximum beam: 4.77 m
Draft (standard): 2.28 m
Draft (short keel): 1.83 m
Light displacement: 21 t
Motorization: Yanmar 4JH110
Total sail area (with furling mainsail in the mast): 120 sqm
Total sail area (with full-batten mainsail): 127.57 sq. m.
Fuel tanks: 800 l
Water tanks: 600 l
Height above water: 23.14 m
