Oyster · Sailing yacht

Oyster 485

The Oyster 485 is a deck-saloon cruising yacht with a centre cockpit, designed by Holman & Pye and built by Oyster Marine in Ipswich from 1992 to 2002; Oyster counts 36 boats. The hull is 14.78 m long, 15.25 m overall, with three cabins (the owner’s stateroom aft has its own heads and a separate shower) and a standard or shoal-draft bulb keel; the interiors were customised in teak, cherry or light American oak, with alternative layouts, so hardly two boats are alike. Oyster’s model page names the Perkins M90 (80 hp) as the engine, usually with an Onan 6 kW generator in its own space aft of it; the specifications of 2001 and 2002 list the newer Perkins M92 (91 hp) instead, and the ship’s systems run on 24 V. The Oyster 49 followed as its successor in 2001. Oyster no longer publishes the owner’s manual online, but its After Sales department keeps the files of every Oyster ever built and supplies parts for boats of any age.

Manuals & documents

Oyster no longer offers the 485’s owner’s manual online. Every boat was delivered with an owner’s manual and a set of schematic drawings, and Oyster’s After Sales department keeps the files of every Oyster it has built, so ask there if yours is missing. The other links lead to Oyster’s heritage pages, archived copies of Oyster’s own specification pages from 2000 to 2002 and the makers of the engines and equipment. We host no manuals or drawings.

Equipment & its manuals

Standard equipment as the builder’s documents list it. Boats were ordered with options and refitted since — check what is actually aboard.

ItemModelManual / pageNote
EnginePerkins M901,2,3,4,5Oyster’s model page: Perkins M90, four cylinders, 80 hp; the specification of October 2000 and the dimensions page up to March 2001: ‘Range 4’ M90, 60 kW (80 hp)Perkins 4.236 Parts & service pageThe M90 is Perkins’ marine version of the Perkins 4.236 (3.86 l), which our Perkins 4.236 page covers. Read the engine plate before ordering parts: the engine may have been replaced since.
EnginePerkins M926,7,8,9Specifications of August 2001 and June 2002 and the dimensions page of August 2001: ‘Range 4’ M92, 67 kW (91 hp)Perkins Sabre M92 specifications (archived Perkins Sabre page, 2001)A different engine from the M90: Perkins Sabre gives four cylinders of 4.23 l with Fastram direct injection and a Lucas rotary pump, so M90 parts do not simply carry over. Which of the last boats really got the M92 is not documented; check the plate.
Shaft & stern gearAquadrive2,6,7All three specifications (2000–2002): Aquadrive engine/shaft coupling system with soft engine mounts; Oyster names no Aquadrive type—
Propeller2-blade fixed2,6,7Fixed two-blade propeller in all three specifications (2000–2002)—
Fuel filterRacor2,6,7Racor water separator with a remote warning light (specifications 2000–2002); 550 l fuel tank—
GeneratorOnan, 6 kW diesel1,10,2Oyster’s model page: usually an Onan 6 kW diesel generator, in a dedicated space just aft of the engine (heritage page); not part of the standard specification of 2000–2002—Oyster gives no generator type, so read the plate before ordering parts.
WinchesLewmar 58 CST2,6,7Self-tailing primary winches, Lewmar 58 CST, in all three specifications (2000–2002); the other winches are not listedLewmar Ocean & EVO winches Parts & service pageOur Lewmar page covers the Ocean 58ST; check the size on the drum before ordering a service kit.
WindlassLewmar Ocean 2 / Ocean 32,6,7Electric vertical capstan windlass on deck: Lewmar Ocean 2 in the specifications of 2000 and 2001, Ocean 3 in June 2002—
AnchorCQR 27 kg + 100 m chain2,6,7Loose equipment in all three specifications: 27 kg CQR anchor with 100 m of chain—
Mast & riggingSeldén, keel-stepped sloop2,6,7,1,11Seldén spars, keel-stepped, sloop rig, silver anodised, with a Seldén alloy vang strut (specifications 2000–2002); Oyster’s model page: sometimes with an added cutter staySeldén: hints and advice on rigging and tuning of your Seldén mast (595-540-E)Oyster’s After Sales advises a professional rig inspection and retune at least once a year.
SailsOcean · Gowen Ocean · Dolphin Sails2,6,7,1,11Fully battened mainsail with slab reefing, Seldén RCB system and lazy jacks, plus a furling genoa; sailmaker Ocean (2000), Gowen Ocean (2001), Dolphin Sails (2002); Oyster’s model page: in-mast furling as an option—Oyster’s After Sales: repair even small tears at once and have the sails checked by a sailmaker every year.
FurlerHarken2,6,7Harken headsail furling system with the line led aft to the cockpit (specifications 2000–2002); Oyster names no type, so identify the unit before choosing a manualHarken manuals library (jib reefing and furling systems)
SteeringWhitlock Premiere2,6,11Wheel steering on a Whitlock ‘Premiere’ pedestal with a SIRS (Sestrel) compass, leather wheel cover from 2001; fully protected skeg-hung rudder—Oyster’s After Sales: every Oyster carries emergency steering; make sure the crew can fit it, and check the system regularly, since losing a single split pin can put you at risk.
AutopilotRaytheon ST70002,12Specification of October 2000: Raytheon ST 7000 autopilot, interfaced with the GPSRaymarine ST7000 operation instructions (81347-1)Raymarine’s library also has the ST7000 installation instructions (87183-1). Oyster names no drive unit or course computer.
AutopilotRaytheon ST7000+ · Raymarine6,7,13Specification of August 2001: Raytheon ST 7000+; June 2002: ‘Raymarine’ without a modelRaymarine ST7000+ installation and operation instructions (81118-1)
InstrumentsRaytheon ST602,6,7Sailing instruments Raytheon ST 60 in the specifications of 2000 and 2001; June 2002: ‘Raymarine’ without a modelRaymarine ST60 / ST60+ Parts & service page
InstrumentsGarmin GPS 128 · RayNav 3002,6,712-channel GPS interfaced with the autopilot: Garmin 128 (2000 and 2001), RayNav 300 (June 2002)—
VHFSkanti Leisure DSCall2,6,7‘VHF telephone’ Skanti Leisure DSCall in all three specifications (2000–2002)—
ToiletITT Jabsco, regular bowl × 22,6,7,1,14Two ITT Jabsco WCs with regular bowl (specifications 2000–2002): one in the owner’s heads aft, one in the heads shared by the forward and port cabins—Oyster names no model. If yours is hand-pumped, Jabsco’s current manual toilet with regular bowl is the 29120, which our Twist ’n’ Lock page covers; compare before ordering a service kit.
StoveForce 10, 4 burners2,6,7Stainless-steel Force 10 gas cooker with four burners, grill and oven (specifications 2000–2002)Force 10: support and repair requests (with a photo of the nameplate)
Gas systemSolenoid valve + gas detector2,6,72000: electric gas solenoid valve and gas detector; August 2001: solenoid shut-off valve switched at the galley and an electronic gas detector with two sensors in the galley; June 2002: only the solenoid valve is listed—
FridgeFrigomatic, 24 V DC2,6,7Frigomatic 24 V DC refrigeration in a front-opening box (specifications 2000–2002)—
Water heaterCalorifier, 220 V immersion heater2,6,7Hot-water calorifier with a 220 V immersion heater; pressurised hot and cold water from 750 l of tankage; two hot and cold showers with electric discharge (specifications 2000–2002)—
Bilge pumpManual + electric2,6,7,11Manual bilge pump operated from the cockpit and an electric bilge pump with three-way control (specifications 2000–2002)—Oyster’s After Sales calls working bilge pumps the most important check on board.
Batteries6 V deep-cycle cells, 230 Ah, 24 V2,6,7Deep-cycle batteries in 6 V cells of 230 Ah, wired for the 24 V DC system that serves the engine and the ship’s electrics (specifications 2000–2002)—
Shore power220 V AC ring main2,6,7220 V ring main with a dockside power cable (specifications 2000–2002)—
Audio systemCD/FM stereo2,6,7Stereo CD/FM radio with two speakers in the saloon and two in the cockpit (specifications 2000–2002)—
Fire extinguishersAutomatic, engine room2,6,7Automatic fire extinguisher and an electric fan in the engine room, plus a fire blanket (specifications 2000–2002)—
Hatches & portsLewmar · Gebo2,6,7Lewmar hatches and deck gear; eight Gebo opening hull ports in the topsides; the two forward windows of the deck saloon open (specifications 2000–2002)—
Deck coveringTeak2,6,7,1Teak-laid deck, coachroof and self-draining cockpit, teak also on top of the deck saloon ‘eyebrow’ (specifications 2000–2002; teak-laid decks on Oyster’s model page)—
Swim platformReverse-stern platform2,6,7Bathing platform in the reverse stern with a stainless-steel transom ladder; large lazarette in the stern deck and a self-draining liferaft locker (specifications 2000–2002)—

Specifications

Years built1992–2002 (Oyster); Oyster’s model page of 2011 counted over thirty boats launched since 199310,1
Hulls built36 delivered (Oyster)10
DesignerHolman & Pye10
BuilderOyster Marine, Ipswich (England); boats commissioned at Fox’s Marina, Ipswich (specifications 2000–2002)2,7,1
VersionsDeck saloon with ‘eyebrow’ styling and centre cockpit; usually three cabins with six berths; interiors customised in teak, cherry or light American oak (June 2002 specification: oak as standard, teak or cherry as options), with alternative layouts; sloop rig, sometimes with a cutter stay; fully battened mainsail as standard, in-mast furling as an option; standard or shoal bulb keel1,10,2,7,3
Hull length14.78 m (48’6″)3,10
Length overall15.25 m (50’0″); Oyster’s heritage page gives the hull length, 14.78 m, as length overall3,10
Waterline length11.91 m (39’1″)3,10
Beam4.27 m (14’0″) on Oyster’s website of 2000 and 2001; the heritage page now gives 4.52 m (14’10″)3,8,10
Draft2.18 m (7’2″) with the standard bulb keel, 1.83 m (6’0″) with the shoal bulb keel3,10
Displacement18600 kg (41000 lb) in sailing trim; the heritage page prints the same 41000 lb as 5927 kg, which does not match3,10
KeelExternal ‘HPB’ (High Performance Bulb) keel, standard or shoal draft; fully protected skeg-hung rudder2,3
Sail area114.4 m² (1231 sq ft) with a 150 % foretriangle3
Engine optionsPerkins M90 (‘Range 4’), 60 kW (80 hp): Oyster’s model page and the pages up to March 2001; Perkins M92, 67 kW (91 hp): specifications of August 2001 and June 20021,3,4,2,8,6,7
Fuel tank550 l (120 Imp gal, 145 US gal)3,2
Water tank750 l (165 Imp gal, 198 US gal)3,2
Cabins3: the owner’s stateroom aft with its own heads and separate shower; a double cabin forward and a twin cabin to port share a second heads with shower1,10
BerthsUsually 6 in three cabins, not counting the saloon1,10
HullHand-laid GRP hull and deck, the outer hull laminate in isophthalic resin with powder-bound mat; cored deck and coachroof laid with teak2
Voltage24 V DC for the engine and the ship’s systems; 220 V AC ring main with shore power cable2,7
SuccessorOyster 49 (2001–2007, Rob Humphreys and the Oyster design team, 15 built), which Oyster calls the 485’s natural successor15

Good to know

  • Start with Oyster itself: its After Sales team holds files for every Oyster ever built, including boats over 20 years old, keeps many parts in stock and helps owners whatever the age of the boat. Each 485 left the yard with an owner’s manual and a set of schematic drawings, so if yours is missing, Oyster is the place to ask.11,16,2
  • Read the engine plate before ordering parts: Oyster’s model page and its pages up to March 2001 name the Perkins M90 (80 hp, the marine Perkins 4.236 of 3.86 l), while the specifications of August 2001 and June 2002 list the Perkins M92 (91 hp), a different engine of 4.23 l. A generator, usually an Onan of 6 kW, was an extra and sits in its own space aft of the engine.1,3,4,6,5,9,10
  • The 485 runs on 24 V DC for the engine and the ship’s systems, with deep-cycle 6 V cells of 230 Ah and a 24 V fridge, so make sure replacement pumps, lights and electronics are 24 V versions. Shore power and the immersion heater in the calorifier are 220 V.2,7
  • Oyster’s current heritage page differs from Oyster’s own data of 2000 and 2001: it gives 4.52 m beam and 14.78 m as length overall, while the original pages give 4.27 m beam, 14.78 m hull length and 15.25 m overall, and it prints 41000 lb as 5927 kg where the original says 18600 kg in sailing trim. For berths, lifts and transport, use the original figures or measure.10,3,8
  • Oyster’s After Sales calls working bilge pumps the most important check on board, wants every crew to know how to fit the emergency steering that all Oysters carry, and advises a professional rig inspection and retune at least once a year, plus a yearly sailmaker’s check. It also points owners to the supplier manuals and the Oyster Owner’s Manual already on board.11
  • Oyster keeps the original plans and build logs of its yachts and today gives owners a maintenance manual and logbook with checklists from weekly to ten-yearly; its service centres in Ipswich, Southampton, Palma, Barcelona, Antigua and Newport (Rhode Island) also work on older Oysters.17,18

Videos & how-tos

Links to YouTube, nothing embedded. The maker’s own channel comes first; the rest are channels we found clear and correct for this model.

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Sources

  1. web.archive.org/web/20110210160425/http://www.oystermarine.com:80/brokerage/previous_mode…
  2. web.archive.org/web/20001018065353/http://www.oystermarine.com:80/oyster485_spec.html
  3. web.archive.org/web/20001119122300/http://www.oystermarine.com:80/oyster485_sailplan.html
  4. web.archive.org/web/20010304172548/http://www.oystermarine.com:80/oyster485_sailplan.html
  5. web.archive.org/web/20010221092439/http://perkins-sabre.com:80/Engines/M90/Specification.…
  6. web.archive.org/web/20010808134212/http://www.oystermarine.com:80/oyster485_spec.html
  7. web.archive.org/web/20020602230143/http://www.oystermarine.com:80/oyster485_spec.html
  8. web.archive.org/web/20010808131722/http://www.oystermarine.com:80/oyster485_sailplan.html
  9. web.archive.org/web/20011121060313/http://perkins-sabre.com/Engines/M92/Specification.htm
  10. oysteryachts.com/heritage-yachts/oyster-485/
  11. oysteryachts.com/oyster-life/essential-oyster-maintenance-tips/
  12. teledyne.app.box.com/s/nwf2s5ha9xrltggghogu/folder/40370558570
  13. teledyne.app.box.com/s/nwf2s5ha9xrltggghogu/folder/40370558592
  14. xylem.com/siteassets/brand/jabsco/resources/manual/user-guide-twist-n-lock-manual-marine-…
  15. oysteryachts.com/heritage-yachts/oyster-49/
  16. oysteryachts.com/services/oyster-after-sales/
  17. oysteryachts.com/oyster-life/sailing-yacht-service-repair-maintenance-guide/
  18. oysteryachts.com/services/

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