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Oyster 485
Designer: Homann & Pyle  ·  Builder: Oyster Marine Ltd.  ·  First built: 1992
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About the Oyster 485

Built by the renowned British yard Oyster Marine, the 485 is a mid-size bluewater cruising yacht that reflects the brand's long-standing commitment to quality, seaworthiness, and long-distance capability. Oyster has earned a formidable reputation over decades of building serious offshore cruisers, and the 485 sits comfortably within that tradition, designed for owners who want to explore beyond coastal waters with confidence. Well-suited to extended offshore passages and ocean cruising, the 485 offers the kind of robust construction and thoughtful layout that experienced blue-water sailors look for. Oyster yachts are consistently praised for their strong build quality, comfortable interiors, and ability to handle demanding sea conditions — traits that the 485 inherits as a core member of the lineup. For buyers researching this model, the 485 represents a versatile choice that balances genuine offshore capability with the comfort expected on longer voyages. Its pedigree within the Oyster range makes it an attractive option for those seeking a well-regarded, proven platform for coastal cruising, offshore passages, or even more ambitious bluewater adventures.

Market Price Estimate Beta
Small sample size. This estimate is based on fewer than 5 listings and may not be representative of the true market. Use with caution.
$329,000 – $329,000
typical asking price
Median $329,000  ·  1 listing used
All listings
$329,000 – $329,000 1
Rate a listing price
$
About this estimate
  • Prices are based on recent asking prices from public listings — not actual sale prices, which are typically lower.
  • Condition is not factored in. A well-maintained boat with new sails and engine can be worth significantly more than a project boat of the same model.
  • Location affects price. Boats in landlocked states or areas with fewer buyers often sell for less than those on the coast.
  • Year of manufacture is not filtered. Older examples of this model will generally be priced lower than newer ones.
  • Included equipment varies widely. A boat with a full suite of electronics, dodger, and new standing rigging may command a large premium.
  • Outliers are automatically excluded using statistical filtering to improve accuracy, but some bad data may remain.
Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 48.50 ft / 14.78 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 37.50 ft / 11.43 m
Beam 14.00 ft / 4.27 m
Max Draft 7.00 ft / 2.13 m
Displacement 37,550.00 lb / 17,032 kg
Ballast 13,000.00 lb / 5,897 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 960.00 ft² / 89.19 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin with rudder on skeg
Rigging Type Cutter
Construction FG
Designer Homann & Pyle
Builder Oyster Marine Ltd.
First Built 1992
Last Built 2002
Owner Reviews

No owner reviews yet — be the first to share your experience with this boat.

Performance Ratios
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
13.76
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
42.33
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
1.68
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. 8.21
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
1.37
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. 1.0
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 59.0
J (Foretriangle Base) 17.75
P (Mainsail Luff) 51.25
E (Mainsail Foot) 17.0
SA Fore 523.63
SA Main 435.63
How It Compares

vs. Caliber 47 Lrc, Malo 47, Taswell 49

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Oyster 485 ★
48.5 ft
Caliber 47 Lrc
48.6 ft
Malo 47
48.1 ft
Taswell 49
48.8 ft
LWL
Oyster 485 ★
37.5 ft
Caliber 47 Lrc
39.5 ft
Malo 47
38.2 ft
Taswell 49
41.9 ft
Beam
Oyster 485 ★
14.0 ft
Caliber 47 Lrc
13.2 ft
Malo 47
13.5 ft
Taswell 49
15.0 ft
Displacement
Oyster 485 ★
37 lbs
Caliber 47 Lrc
33 lbs
Malo 47
31 lbs
Taswell 49
32 lbs
Ballast
Oyster 485 ★
13 lbs
Caliber 47 Lrc
13 lbs
Malo 47
12 lbs
Taswell 49
13 lbs
Sail Area
Oyster 485 ★
960 sq ft
Caliber 47 Lrc
1 sq ft
Malo 47
1 sq ft
Taswell 49
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Oyster 485 ★
Caliber 47 Lrc
156 s/nm
Malo 47
Taswell 49
102 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Oyster 485 ★
13.8
Caliber 47 Lrc
15.8
Malo 47
21.3
Taswell 49
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Oyster 485 ★
Caliber 47 Lrc
39.4 %
Malo 47
Taswell 49
40.0 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Oyster 485 ★
42.3
Caliber 47 Lrc
39.0
Malo 47
36.4
Taswell 49
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Oyster 485 ★
1.68
Caliber 47 Lrc
1.64
Malo 47
1.72
Taswell 49
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Oyster 485 ★
Caliber 47 Lrc
239
Malo 47
Taswell 49
196
Hull Speed
Oyster 485 ★
8.2 kts
Caliber 47 Lrc
8.4 kts
Malo 47
8.3 kts
Taswell 49
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Oyster 485 ★
1.4
Caliber 47 Lrc
2.2
Malo 47
Taswell 49
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