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Oyster 43
Designer: Stephen Jones  ·  Builder: Oyster Marine Ltd.  ·  First built: 1983
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About the Oyster 43

Built from 1983 to 1986, this Stephen Jones design represents Oyster Marine's continued commitment to quality cruising yachts during the brand's formative years. With its moderate displacement of 16,600 pounds and fractional sloop rig carrying 797 square feet of sail, the Oyster 43 strikes a thoughtful balance between performance and comfort for serious cruising sailors. The hull configuration features a fin keel with spade rudder arrangement, providing responsive handling while maintaining the directional stability essential for offshore passages. At 43.38 feet overall with a 34-foot waterline, the design offers generous interior volume while keeping the boat manageable for a couple or small crew. The comfort ratio of 20.58 indicates a motion that favors seakindliness over pure speed, making extended passages more pleasant. Stephen Jones crafted this design with blue-water cruising clearly in mind. The capsize screening formula of 2.21 falls within acceptable parameters for offshore work, while the moderate sail area to displacement ratio suggests the boat will be well-mannered in a variety of conditions. Oyster Marine's reputation for robust construction and attention to detail makes these yachts sought-after choices for sailors planning extended coastal cruising or ocean crossings where reliability and comfort take precedence over pure performance.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 43.38 ft / 13.22 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 34.00 ft / 10.36 m
Beam 14.08 ft / 4.29 m
Max Draft 7.30 ft / 2.23 m
Displacement 16,600.00 lb / 7,530 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 797.00 ft² / 74.04 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Fractional Sloop
Construction FG
Designer Stephen Jones
Builder Oyster Marine Ltd.
First Built 1983
Last Built 1986
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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
 72
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
 19.67
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
 188.55
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
 20.58
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
 2.21
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. 7.81 kn
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. 1,710.52 pounds/inch
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