Oyster 56

MANUFACTURER'S COMMENTS

The quintessential Oyster and undisputed class leader at this size, the 56 is also our most successful model, with seventy-five launched between 1998 and 2010. Rob Humphreys designed the 56 to be large enough for rapid ocean cruising and to accommodate her crew in comfort and style when living aboard, but also to be small and agile enough to be handled by a couple.

The 56 was the first yacht with an ergonomically designed cockpit, the result of working with Loughborough University's Ergonomics department, making relaxing and entertaining a true pleasure, whilst maintaining all the essential qualities you expect from a serious seagoing yacht. She’s a proven performer with class wins in the ARC, and also winning Cruising Class 1 at Antigua Sailing Week, beating a number of more serious racing competitors.

Additional Information

The items in italic highlight the non-standard items fitted during the build programme or added by the owner thereafter.

1. CONSTRUCTION 

 

HULL NUMBER

Oyster 56/59.

 

HULL CONSTRUCTION

Moulded in GRP to the designer’s specification in a Lloyd’s approved facility under controlled conditions, with all laminating carried out by hand to high standard.

Hull and deck mouldings produced using a Lloyd’s approved gelcoat and laminating resin. 

The hull gelcoat and three outer laminates incorporate a special isophthalic resin and powder-bound mats.

Conventional stringer construction above and below the waterline.

 

HULL FINISH

‘White’ hull with cove line and double boot top lines in standard Oyster ‘blue.’

 

DECK CONSTRUCTION

Moulded in GRP with balsa core.

In load-bearing areas the core is replaced with plywood for additional strength, and all load-bearing fittings have aluminium backing plates.

 

DECK FINISH

Teak decks with teak capping rail.

Midship gateway stanchions with stainless steel hinged boarding ladders, which close up to form the side-gates.

Gate to pushpit.

Stainless steel bathing ladder.

3m alloy folding passerelle with bridle and handrail.

 

KEEL

High-performance bulb (HPB) external lead keel.

 

RUDDER

Fully protected skeg-hung rudder.

 

STERN DESIGN

‘Sugar scoop’ stern design with bathing platform trimmed with teak slats and stainless steel steps with teak treads for access to the stern deck.

 

EURCD

Built to comply with the requirements for Category A – Ocean.

 

CHARTER CODING

Built to MCA Category 2 with all associated safety equipment fitted.

 

2. DECK LAYOUT AND EQUIPMENT 

 

ANCHOR

55kg (121lb) Rocna anchor, new 2023, with 100m (328’) of 12mm chain.

Recessed locker for anchor chain stowage within the foredeck, with hinged lids and chrome flush-fitting type locking devices. Anchor locker with removable partition for kedge anchor stowage.

 

WINDLASS

Lewmar V4 vertical capstan type 24V electric anchor windlass, with remote control, new 2018. 

Two-way and operated by adjacent foot switch controls. 

 

DECK ACCESS

Midship gateway stanchions and side gates for boarding, which close up to form the side-gates.

Gate to pushpit.

Stainless steel hinged bathing/boarding ladder.

3m alloy folding passerelle with bridle and handrail.

 

HATCHES

Set of acrylic companionway washboards, top one with louvre.

Alloy-framed, custom-made, deck saloon windows in toughened, smoked 12mm glass - two forward windows to open.  Outer window frames are black powder-coated whilst visible inner frames are off-white

Lewmar alloy-framed deck hatches, new 2017.

Gebo alloy-framed portlights in coaming.

Long Gebo opening ports to galley and starboard cabin.

Gebo alloy-framed coaming portlights, all portholes MCA compliant with deadlights for each.

 

CANVASWORK

All canvaswork in WeatherMax 80 colour ‘Grey’.

Large acrylic fold-down companionway sprayhood with Strataglass windows, new 2024, with stainless steel grab rail and leather cover. The hood incorporates see-through panels in its forward portion.

Stern quarter pushpit seats in teak and stainless steel, with new cushions and backrests, 2016.

Bimini, new 2016.

Covers for cockpit tables, pedestals and wheels, new 2020.

Lewmar deck hatch covers, new 2020.

Saloon table cover in vinyl.

Tender covers, new September 2022.

Floor protectors in canvas, new 2017.

 

DECK PLUMBING

Hot and cold freshwater deck shower in transom locker.

 

COCKPIT

Teak-laid, self-draining cockpit.

Steering pedestal that incorporates the engine start/stop controls, together with the gear and throttle shift lever.

Pair of waterproof loudspeakers mounted within the coamings either side of the pedestal.

Instrument repeaters installed on a dark acrylic panel mounted on a GRP console that is integral to the companionway hatch garage.

 

COCKPIT TABLE

Varnished teak-topped cockpit table with stainless steel frame, folding leaves, and insulated refrigerated chiller, new 2016.

Cockpit table removed, stripped and re-varnished, 2024.

 

STEERING

Whitlock ‘Athena’ cockpit pedestal incorporating a Whitlock 47” diameter stainless steel steering wheel, and friction brake.

Steering wheel covered in ‘grey’ suede leather, which extends to partially cover the spokes.

 

DAVITS

Cooney Simpson S300 electric davits.

 

GENERAL

Stainless steel pulpit and pushpit.

Stainless steel fairleads, stainless steel mooring and cockpit cleats. Additional pair of stern fairleads in cap rail.

Stainless steel mooring and cockpit cleats. Pair of additional aft deck cleats for stern-to mooring.

Large full-width lazarette locker with twin stainless steel gas struts.

Six GRP dorade boxes with flexible cowls.

Stainless steel guard rails over forward dorade boxes.

Stainless steel grab rails on cabin top.

Stainless steel grab handles on transom.

Stainless steel grab rail to aft of sprayhood.

Sunbathing area forward of coachroof.

Two built-in, self-draining deck stowage lockers suitable for stowage of deck gear at aft end of coachroof.

Stowage locker within in the aft deck modified into a new gas locker for gas stove, 2017.

Stern quarter pushpit seats in teak and stainless steel. 

Stern post for navigation/communications antenna and aft deck floodlight, new 2016.

Liferaft stowage to both pushpits.

3. RIG AND SAIL HANDLING

 

MAST AND RIGGING

Cutter rig with all associated fittings.

Formula/Hood ‘white’ painted aluminium mast and Smartboom.

Standing rigging, new 2020.

Running rigging and blocks.

Jumper struts.

Preventer lines.

Navtec A850 hydraulic vang and backstay tensioner with remote panel.

Navtec hydraulic backstay adjuster.

Conduit for masthead instrument wiring.

Second main halyard, clutches and stainless steel spreader bar for hoisting passerelle. Clutches new, 2017.

Pair of folding mast steps at masthead.

“No-Strike” ion dissipators at masthead and mast step bonded to keel bolt.

 

HEADSAIL FURLING

Reckmann electric headstay furler.

 

STAYSAIL FURLING

Harken manual staysail furler.

 

WINCHES

By Lewmar - chrome finish:

2 x 68 CEST two-speed electric self-tailing primary winches.

1 x 46 CST self-tailing reefing line winch for mainsail reefing on the mast below the gooseneck.

1 x 48 CST self-tailing mainsheet system winch on starboard side behind cockpit coaming.

1 x 48 CEST self-tailing electric mainsheet system winch on port side behind cockpit coaming.

2 x 48 CST two-speed, self-tailing main and genoa halyard winches fitted on mast.

2 x 54 CST secondaries for cutter rig.

1 x 54 CEST electric halyard winch on deck beside mast.

 

SPINNAKER GEAR

Single spinnaker pole, stowed vertically on mast with butt hoist winch. Repainted white, 2017. Package includes, halyard, sheets, guys and blocks, topping lift and downhaul, with deck fittings to match.

 

SAILS

Sails by Dolphin: 

Fully Battened Mainsail in DYS Dyneema Laminate fabric, 6 x Rod Battens, 3 x Reefing points, Harken Luff Cars and Sailkote, new 2023.

140% Furling Genoa in DYS Dyneema Laminate fabric with UV sunstrip and Sailkote, new 2023.

Furling Staysail in DYS Dyneema Laminate fabric with UV Sunstrip and Sailkote, new 2023.

Cruising chute with squeezer. 1.5oz rip stop - bue and yellow, new 2023.

 

4. INTERIOR

 

GENERAL

Seven berths in four cabins, excluding the saloon. Two head/shower compartments.

All sea berths have fitted Dacron lee screens with lanyards to through-bolted eyes.

Interior joinery finished in maple. All woodwork taken back and re-varnished in 2017.

Essential features include sculpted fiddles and chrome grab rails, new 2017, ‘shadow-gap’ joints between joinery panels, solid shaped teak and stainless steel grab handles, and Oyster custom knobs for lockers and drawers.

All drawers use metal runners, which give extremely smooth operation.

Lockers in saloon and all upper lockers in cabins teak-lined with removable outboard panels fabric covered. Lockers are fitted with teak shelves and fiddles, as appropriate.

Door furniture is by Timage with chrome hinges and handles.

Cabin soles in teak and holly veneered boards. Soleboards re-varnished, 2024.

Headlining in ‘off-white’ vinyl. This is also used to cover the deck saloon sides. Hull ports are set into GRP liner mouldings.

Galley and heads horizontal work surfaces finished in Corian in colour ‘Midnight’, new 2017.

Each head is fitted out with a ‘white’ washbasin set under a flat solid Corian surface.

Hudson Reed taps in galley and heads, new 2017. Towel rail, pair of toothbrush holders, soap dish and toilet roll holder in each head compartment.

Upholstery in Alcantara colour ‘stone grey’, new 2017.

Blind system to windows in all cabins, new 2017.

Oceanair Skyscreens to all deck hatches, new 2017.

Metal flyscreens to Gebo port in galley and long port in starboard cabin.

Hella fans throughout.

 

FORWARD SAIL LOCKER

Bow sail locker, accessed via a deck hatch on the foredeck giving access to the chain locker. The aft bulkhead within the sail locker forms a watertight partition from the accommodation.

 

SHARED HEAD/DAY HEAD

Large head compartment forward, accessed by both forward cabins, incorporating an electric PAR Quiet Flush toilet, a washbasin and shower stall. 

Heated towel rail, new 2017.

Corian ‘Midnight’ countertops.

Lockers for wash bags, cleaning materials and linen stowage. Mirror, new 2017.

 

PORT FORWARD DOUBLE CABIN

Forward double cabin situated aft of the forward head to port, with double berth, foam mattresses, and stowage lockers beneath berth.

Hanging locker and bedside shelves. Vanity mirror fitted on bulkhead.

Opening deck hatch.

 

STARBOARD FORWARD TWIN CABIN

Twin cabin situated aft of the forward head to starboard, with upper and lower berths, and stowage beneath the lower berth.

Hanging locker and bedside shelves. Vanity mirror fitted on bulkhead.

Opening deck hatch.

 

SALOON

Access to the saloon from the cockpit is via a set of teak and stainless steel steps, with teak and stainless steel hand rails. Steps re-varnished, 2024.

The saloon is extremely light and airy with seven windows, of which two of the three forward ones open. In addition, there are two opening hull ports.

Featuring an oval table and large settee area to port, outboard of which is a pair of lockers and central shelf to the hull port.

To starboard is a two-seater settee.

‘Stone Grey’ Alcantara seating upholstery, new 2017.

The saloon table is designed to form, in its closed position, an occasional table, which is mounted on a very substantial pedestal, incorporating a bottle and glass storage locker in its base. This table opens to form a large dining table. Black inlay line in saloon table.

Removable foam-backed vinyl mast cover with velcro fastening.

Saloon table cover in headlining material.

 

WASHER/DRYER

LG washing machine/dryer, new 2016, in locker forward of the two-seater settee.

 

NAVIGATION/CHART TABLE AREA

Situated at the starboard aft end of the saloon the chart table area is customised around the electronics and navigation equipment, and strategically sited for optimum viewing.

The chart table can accommodate a half-folded full size Admiralty chart and there is provision provided for stowage of charts.

Stainless steel stay fitted to chart table lid.

AC and DC electrical panels located aft of the navigator’s seat.

Stowage for navigational books and almanacs outboard.

GALLEY

Situated port of the cockpit, in the companionway to the aft cabin, where panels provide access to the engine compartment.

Corian work surfaces with upstands in colour ‘Midnight’.

Ample storage lockers, plus stowage for crockery and cutlery. 

Four wire baskets.

Large rubbish bin fitted inside locker door adjacent to twin sinks.

 

SINKS 

Twin stainless steel sinks.

 

COOKER/HOB

Gimballed stainless steel Force 10 cooker with 3-burners, oven and grill, new 2017. All protected by a flame failure gas cut-off device.

The cooker incorporates an electronic ignition system for all functions.

Heavy-gauge fiddle rail fitted around top of cooker, which incorporates a pair of adjustable clamping pan holders.

Harbour lock and cooker crash bar fitted.

 

MICROWAVE/GRILL

Panasonic NN-CT595S 276 combination microwave oven, new 2017.

 

REFRIGERATOR/FREEZER

Front-opening refrigerator built into galley aft, with automatic door light, and fitted out with shelves.

Top-opening freezer box with top-opening lid and fitted forward with baskets for food stowage.

Frigomatic W50 twin compressor for freezer box.

 

ENGINE ROOM

Large hinged doors within the starboard aft cabin/workshop, in addition to removable panels located in the port aft companionway/galley, below sinks, provide superb access to the engine compartment.

All access panels are fitted with rubber sealing strips to minimise noise and secured by positive catches.

Insulated with a composite of foam and lead insulation.

Tool stowage.

24V lighting and a 24V extractor fan, switched at the DC electrical panel.

Oilskin hanging locker built into aft end of engine room space.

 

STARBOARD AFT CABIN/WORKSHOP

 With upper single berth, and worktop with Mica top below covered with heavy-duty rubber matting.

Stowage locker and drawers beneath worktop/berth.

Tall locker on bulkhead for watermaker, racors, etc. Shelf above watermaker door.

 

OWNER’S STATEROOM

Configured with a double berth offset from centreline, with drawer storage beneath.

Upholstered headboard, new 2017, and curved settee in Alcantara ‘Stone Grey’.

Curved settee upholstered in ‘Stone Grey’ Alcantara, aft facing desk/dressing table, and a large hanging locker. Full height hanging locker, with lift-up locker above to give access to mainsheet winch motor. 

Abundant drawer and locker space.

Access to en suite head/shower compartment to starboard.

Door to port leads to galley.

 

EN SUITE HEAD/SHOWER

Incorporating a PAR quiet flush electric freshwater flush toilet, washbasin, and separate shower stall with teak grating. Quality Hudson Reed mixer taps and showerhead. 

Corian counter tops in colour ‘Midnight’, new 2017.

Heated towel rail, new 2017.

Lockers for wash bags, cleaning materials and linen stowage. Mirror, new 2017.

 

5. ENTERTAINMENT 

 

AUDIO VISUAL SYSTEMS

Status Omni directional aerial mounted at masthead for TV and FM.

 

SALOON

Sharp Aquos 20” TV, new 2020.

Alpine DVA 9861 CD/DVD with iPhone interface and multi-region DVD linked to saloon TV.

Speakers in headlining.

 

COCKPIT

Pair of waterproof loudspeakers mounted within the coamings, either side of the pedestal, new 2017.

 

6. ENGINEERING

 

ENGINE

Yanmar 4LHA-HTP 4-cylinder 160hp (118kW) diesel engine. Last serviced, June 2025.

Engine instruments include alarms for low oil pressure and high water temperature, plus a rev counter, hour meter, oil pressure and water temperature gauges. These instruments are housed in a GRP moulded recess under a perspex cover visible in the cockpit.

Racor 500FG fuel filter and water separator system installed. Engine and genset Racors parallel plumbed to run off single unit.

 

ENGINE HOURS

Approximately 10,043 at October 2025.

 

PROPELLER

Max-Prop 3-bladed propeller.

 

ROPE CUTTER

Ambassador AM15 rope cutter on shaft.

 

ALTERNATORS

The engine is fitted with twin alternators:

Yanmar 60A (12V) alternator wired to charge the engine start batteries.

Second 150A (24V) Mastervolt alternator to charge the domestic battery bank.

 

GENERATOR

Cummins Onan MDKBN generator - 11kW/12V E/R 50Hz PSS, new 2016.

 

GENERATOR HOURS

Approximately 4,047 at October 2025. 100 hours since last major service.

 

BOW THRUSTER

MaxPower CT165 11hp tunnel bow thruster with GRP eyebrow, new 2017. Bow thruster motor overhauled, and new composite leg fitted in Martinique, April 2025.

 

STEERING SYSTEM

Whitlock cable system. Complete spare set of steering cables and conduit.

 

AIR CONDITIONING

220V Cruisair air conditioning system, comprising of 1 x 18,000 BTU unit.

 

HEATING

Webasto DW Thermo 90 (5 fan coils, 2 in the saloon).

 

WATERMAKER 

Seafresh 206A (220V) watermaker, giving approx 104 litres/hr (23 Imp gallons/27 US gallons per hour) with high-pressure pump in engine room and remote start/stop panel, automatic flush and gauge.

 

7. TANKAGE AND PLUMBING

 

FUEL

950 litres approximately (210 Imp gallons/250 US gallons) in a GRP tank installed under the starboard side of the deck saloon floor.

 

WATER

950 litres approximately (210 Imp gallons/250 US gallons) in a GRP tank installed under the starboard side of the deck saloon floor.

 

TANK TENDER GAUGES

Tank tender monitoring system for both tanks.

Backup calibrated dipsticks and calibration chart.

 

HOT WATER 

From an insulated approximately 75 litres (16 Imp gallons/19 US gallons) tank, new August 2025, heated by the engine’s heat exchanger or by thermostatically-controlled 220V, 1.25kW immersion heater element powered by the generator or dockside power.

 

PRESSURISED HOT AND COLD WATER SYSTEM

Hot and cold freshwater system based on a high-capacity water pump with pressure accumulator tank, and Acorn polypropylene pipework and fittings.

 

HOLDING TANKS 

Polypropylene holding tanks installed for each head and plumbed for gravity discharge, with additional ability to pump out from deck, new 2017. Approximate total capacity 140 litres.

Tanks fitted with Wema electric capacity gauges.

 

GREY WATER

Showers and washbasins discharge into two sump tanks, one forward and one aft.These are then evacuated via an electric Whale ‘Gulper’ pump directly overboard.

The galley sink also empties via an electric Whale ‘Gulper’ pump.

These three pumps are each operated by waterproof rocker switches.

 

8. ELECTRICS

 

SHIP’S SUPPLY

24V.

 

RING MAIN

220V AC ring main with double, 3-pin Vimar outlet sockets located as appropriate within the layout, new 2017. 

 

OTHER ELECTRICAL SOCKETS

12V ‘Dri-Plug’ at pedestal for halogen spotlight.

 

BATTERIES

6 x 12V Gel for 3 banks of 24V – Domestic batteries, new in 2023.

2 x 12V 88Ah Varta Drymobil batteries giving 176Ah for engine starting.

Engine start: 2 x 12V x 88Ah batteries, new 2024.

Generator start: 12V x 88Ah battery.

All batteries are positively secured against inversion in case of a knock-down.

 

BATTERY MANAGEMENT 

Mastervolt Alpha Pro Regulator, 24V/150A for charging of domestic batteries from engine.

Mastervolt 24V, 100A battery charger/alternator charger, new 2016.

Mastervolt BTM1 and C3-RS charger controller.

Emergency link.

 

INVERTER

Mastervolt 220V inverter.

 

SHORE POWER

30A dockside power cable, 3-core double insulated PVC, 18m (60’) in length. Dockside end of cable fitted with a 3-pin, 16A plug.

Hubbell socket in coaming.

 

INTERIOR LIGHTING

Lighting changed to LED and all wall lighting replaced with chrome fittings, 2017.

Overhead lights.

Contemporary chrome reading lights, new 2017.

Perko exterior dome lights in engine room.

Red light in galley.

Automatic light to drinks locker and to refrigerator.

Red ‘courtesy’ footlights at deck saloon steps.

Flexible chart table light.

 

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Lopolight LED steaming/deck floodlight, new 2024.

Lopolight LED tri-white anchor/navigation light at masthead, new 2017.

Lopolight LED bow and stern lights.

Pair of lower spreader lights.

 

9. NAVIGATION AND COMMUNICATION

 

COMPASSES

Flush-mounted Sestrel Major 150mm (6”) diameter steering compass with internal lighting and stainless steel crash bar to pedestal top.

 

SAILING INSTRUMENTS

By Raymarine - i70+ multifunction displays, new 2016. Supported data views include wind, speed, depth, tri-data, and navigation integrated with the chart plotter.

 

COMPANIONWAY CONSOLE

i70 multifunction displays, new 2016.

 

CHART TABLE

i70 multifunction display, new 2016.

 

RADAR/GPS AND CHART PLOTTER

Raymarine e165 15.4” hybrid touch multifunctional display.

RD418HD digital radome 4kW, 18” and no cable.

RS130 GPS receiver with converter.

Yellow Brick tracking system, new 2017.

 

AIS

Raymarine AIS650 Class B transceiver.

 

AUTOPILOT

Raymarine p70 autopilot head. RMK remote keypad.

 

WINDEX

Windex at masthead. 

 

NAVTEX

Furuno NX 300.

 

VHF RADIO

Icom fitted VHF at chart table with remote handset on pedestal, new 2023.

2 x hand-held VHFs.

 

SSB RADIO

Sailor SSB radio. Wide copper strip from chart table to lazarette and twin large ground plates as SSB earth.

 

SATELLITE PHONE

Thrane and Thrane Sailor with Inmarsat Fleet 33. Inmarsat C.

 

PC/INTERNET

Starlink system, new 2023, and Wi-Fi on separate inverter.

Iridium Certus 100 with internal Wi-Fi with RedBox installed by MailASail, new 2022. 

Windows PC.

Hardware upgraded to Intel Core i7, 2022.

 

10. SAFETY

 

LIFE RAFT

Plastimo trans ocean 6-person life raft 24 hours including EPIRB from 2023, mounted to port.

Ocean Safety Solas A, 6-person life raft, new 2016, mounted to starboard. Service due.

 

EPIRB

EPIRB ACR 3 x personal.

 

RADAR REFLECTOR

Echomax 230 Solas radar reflector.

 

BILGE PUMPS

Jabsco Maxi 3000 puppy bilge pump with Par hydro air switch rated at 2,640 litres per hour.

Henderson MkV manual bilge pump, rated at 135 litres per minute, operated from within the cockpit.

Each bilge pump is fitted with a Whale type filtered strum box.

 

DECK SAFETY

Raymarine Lifetag MOB system: 6 x lifetags, base station and external alarm.

Southern Ocean 24 sea anchor.

Horseshoe buoy x 2.

Plastimo Solas rescue rings.

Parachute retrieval system.

Sea drogue.

Bosun’s chair.

Heavy mooring lines.

Emergency tiller.

Hydraulic wire cutters.

 

FIRE EXTINGUISHERS

Various including automatic fire extinguishers in engine bay.

Fire blanket in galley.

 

ALARMS

Alarms to monitor oil levels and temperature.

 

11. GENERAL

 

RIB/DINGHY

Highfield 360 Hypalon dinghy with FCT steering console, new September 2022.

Honda 20hp four-stroke outboard with electric start and tilt option, new 2022.

 

WARPS AND FENDERS

Warps and fenders. Fenders and fender socks, new 2024.

 

CROCKERY

Oyster customised Wedgwood bone china crockery.

 

CUTLERY

Oyster customised Sheffield stainless steel cutlery with yacht logo.

 

LINEN

Bespoke linen and towels throughout, new 2017.

 

ASSORTED TOOLS, SPARES AND MANUALS

Full set of manuals for all equipment.

Offshore Category C First Aid kit.

UK Waters cartography.

 

NB: All personal belongings and all other items not expressly listed in the above inventory are excluded from the sale.

Viewing through Oyster Brokerage.

Inventory verified by the owner.

Issue 1 (OG/YE/lh)

In this case we are acting as Brokers only. Whilst every care has been taken in their preparation, the correctness of these particulars is not guaranteed. The particulars are intended only as a guide and they do not constitute a term of any contract. A prospective Buyer is strongly advised to check the particulars and where appropriate, at their own expense, to employ a qualified Marine Surveyor to carry out a survey and/or to have an engine trial conducted, which if conducted by us shall not imply any liability for such engine on our part. Life-saving appliances do not form part of the inventory and it is for the buyer to ensure they are in date and suitable for their purposes.

*The tax status of the vessel is an indication only based on the Seller’s understanding, for which The Oyster Group and its subsidiaries can accept no liability. Prospective Buyers are strongly advised to seek appropriate qualified independent advice concerning any taxes or duties which may be payable in their own, or any other jurisdiction.

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