Oyster Yachts adds four shallow-draft models to fleet

British boatbuilder Oyster Yachts has revealed new shallow-draft options on the Oyster 495, 595, 745 and 885 models. The firm says these options provide access to secluded bays and shallow cruising grounds, whilst still delivering high-spec upwind bluewater performance.

Oyster says it is now the only global manufacturer of luxury bluewater cruisers to offer four different models with shallow-draft options.

The smallest vessel in the fleet, Oyster 495, is now available with an optional shallow-draft shoal keel, reducing its draft to just 1.83m/6’0”ft. The Oyster 595, which remains the most popular selling model in the Oyster range, now also includes a centreboard variant. This means the keel can be lifted to give a draft of less than 1.8m/5’10”ft, enabling crews to drop anchor in the most remote bays with ease.

Designed and built to Lloyds Register-certified standards, centreboard options have been available on Oyster Yachts since 2008. They are said to be particularly popular in the USA, with owners making the most of shallow cruising grounds, small marinas and sandy coves.

The Oyster 745CB model features a retractable centreboard keel too, which gives a full-depth keel for serious upwind performance, with the ability to easily lift the keel when anchoring or mooring, unique on a 75-foot sailing yacht. Operated by the touch of a button from the helm station, the keel can be raised when stationary or when moving at under 4 knots, reducing the draft from 3.10m/10’2”ft to just 1.98m/6’6”ft. This design within the 745CB means that the retractable centreboard swings up inside the shallow-draft ballast keel, without compromising the openness and spaciousness of the interior layout.

At the top of the size range, the latest edition to the shallow-draft line up is the 90 foot Oyster 885CB, which provides a full draft of 3.5m/11’6”ft, but reduces to 2.3m/7’6”ft giving freedom to navigate into previously inaccessible shallow cruising grounds and anchorages.

“Our owners want to combine fast bluewater performance with the flexibility to explore previously inaccessible shallow cruising grounds for large bluewater sailing yachts,” says Alex Gardner, lead naval architect, design, at Oyster Yachts.

“We’ve worked to incorporate shallow-draft features onto four of the current Oyster fleet – the 495, 595, 745 and 885 – using shallow-draft shoal keels or retractable centreboard systems. All models feature twin rudders, giving finger-tip control, which when combined with other technologies, such as carbon masts, booms and carbon composite standard rigging, ensure that Oyster Yachts continues to provide impressive performance under sail, but also have the flexibility to glide into areas which other yachts simply cannot reach.”