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Oyster 37
Designer: Holman & Pye  ·  Builder: Oyster Marine Ltd. (Uk)  ·  First built: 1978
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About the Oyster 37

Built during Oyster Marine's formative years from 1978 to 1981, this 37-footer represents the British yard's early commitment to combining elegant aesthetics with serious cruising capability. Designed by the renowned naval architecture firm Holman & Pye, only 40 examples were constructed, making this model relatively rare among the Oyster fleet. With its moderate displacement of 16,530 pounds and substantial ballast ratio, the Oyster 37 delivers the stable, comfortable passage-making characteristics that would become synonymous with the brand. The fin keel and spade rudder configuration provides responsive handling while maintaining the seakindly motion expected from a quality cruising yacht. A comfort ratio of 28.1 indicates this boat prioritizes stability and ease of motion over pure performance, making it well-suited for extended offshore passages and serious coastal cruising. The masthead sloop rig offers straightforward sail handling, while the hull's design strikes a thoughtful balance between interior volume and sailing performance. Like other Oyster yachts of this era, the 37 was built to exacting standards using solid fiberglass construction, establishing a foundation for the yard's reputation for quality craftsmanship and long-term durability that continues today.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 37.00 ft / 11.28 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 31.17 ft / 9.50 m
Beam 12.08 ft / 3.68 m
Max Draft 6.16 ft / 1.88 m
Displacement 16,530.00 lb / 7,498 kg
Ballast 7,270.00 lb / 3,298 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 645.00 ft² / 59.92 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Holman & Pye
Builder Oyster Marine Ltd. (UK)
First Built 1978
Last Built 1981
Number Built 40
Related Sailboats Swan 371 · Valiant 37 · Baltic 37 · Passport 37 · Pacific Seacraft 37
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
 140
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 15.96
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 43.98
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 243.68
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 28.1
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 1.9
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 7.48 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 2.13
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 1,345.40 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 15.97
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 49.50 ft / 15.09 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 15.50 ft / 4.72 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 43.58 ft / 13.28 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
SA Fore 383.63 ft² / 35.64 m²
SA Main 261.48 ft² / 24.29 m²
SA Total (100%) 645.11 ft² / 59.93 m²
Est. Forestay Length 51.87 ft / 15.81 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Perkins
Engine Model 4-108
Engine Type Diesel
How It Compares

vs. Baltic 37, Pacific Seacraft 37, Passport 37, Swan 371, Valiant 37

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Oyster 37 ★
37.0 ft
Baltic 37
37.0 ft
Pacific Seacraft 37
36.9 ft
Passport 37
37.0 ft
Swan 371
37.0 ft
Valiant 37
37.0 ft
LWL
Oyster 37 ★
31.2 ft
Baltic 37
27.3 ft
Pacific Seacraft 37
27.8 ft
Passport 37
29.6 ft
Swan 371
29.7 ft
Valiant 37
31.6 ft
Beam
Oyster 37 ★
12.1 ft
Baltic 37
12.0 ft
Pacific Seacraft 37
10.8 ft
Passport 37
11.9 ft
Swan 371
11.4 ft
Valiant 37
11.5 ft
Displacement
Oyster 37 ★
16 lbs
Baltic 37
13 lbs
Pacific Seacraft 37
16 lbs
Passport 37
17 lbs
Swan 371
16 lbs
Valiant 37
17 lbs
Ballast
Oyster 37 ★
7 lbs
Baltic 37
6 lbs
Pacific Seacraft 37
6 lbs
Passport 37
6 lbs
Swan 371
5 lbs
Valiant 37
6 lbs
Sail Area
Oyster 37 ★
645 sq ft
Baltic 37
640 sq ft
Pacific Seacraft 37
618 sq ft
Passport 37
673 sq ft
Swan 371
—
Valiant 37
667 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Oyster 37 ★
140 s/nm
Baltic 37
114 s/nm
Pacific Seacraft 37
189 s/nm
Passport 37
138 s/nm
Swan 371
120 s/nm
Valiant 37
—
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Oyster 37 ★
16.0
Baltic 37
18.0
Pacific Seacraft 37
15.6
Passport 37
16.1
Swan 371
—
Valiant 37
16.2
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Oyster 37 ★
44.0 %
Baltic 37
45.0 %
Pacific Seacraft 37
—
Passport 37
—
Swan 371
35.4 %
Valiant 37
39.4 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Oyster 37 ★
28.1
Baltic 37
25.5
Pacific Seacraft 37
34.0
Passport 37
31.1
Swan 371
—
Valiant 37
30.6
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Oyster 37 ★
1.90
Baltic 37
2.01
Pacific Seacraft 37
1.72
Passport 37
1.84
Swan 371
—
Valiant 37
1.79
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Oyster 37 ★
243
Baltic 37
300
Pacific Seacraft 37
—
Passport 37
—
Swan 371
273
Valiant 37
240
Hull Speed
Oyster 37 ★
7.5 kts
Baltic 37
7.0 kts
Pacific Seacraft 37
7.1 kts
Passport 37
7.3 kts
Swan 371
—
Valiant 37
7.5 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Oyster 37 ★
2.1
Baltic 37
1.8
Pacific Seacraft 37
1.4
Passport 37
1.7
Swan 371
—
Valiant 37
2.2
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