BoatsOyster Marine 406

Oyster Marine 406

Masthead Sloop · Fin With Rudder On Skeg · 1986–1990

A Holman and Pyle designed masthead sloop built for offshore comfort with a skeg-mounted rudder for directional stability

Designed by Hollman, Pyle & Kim Holman.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Hull type
Fin With Rudder On Skeg

See her sail

The Oyster Marine 406, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from Be The Captain

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her moderate displacement on a moderate beam gives 29 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 29
CoastalBluewater

1.87 — just under the 2.0 offshore line; her beam is modest for her weight.

Capsize screening 1.87
LightHeavy

217 — moderately heavy for her waterline, a balanced cruising weight.

Displacement / length 217
EasygoingPowered-up

15.0 — modest power for her weight; easygoing rather than lively, and happier with a breeze.

Sail area / displacement 15.0

A capable cruiser that sits just inside the offshore line — coastal work with real passages in her.

What the fleet has seen

The Oyster Marine 406, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Oyster Marine 406 is a 12.3-meter masthead sloop designed by Hollman, Pyle, and Kim Holman, built by Oyster Marine from 1986 to 1990. It features a fin keel with a rudder on skeg and displaces 9298 kg. Aboard *Break of Dawn*, an Oyster Marine 406, the crew intercepted a distress call from a dismasted 48-foot vessel, *Yara*, 1,200 miles from land in the Pacific.4:22 The *Break of Dawn* crew of five, with limited fuel, could not tow the disabled vessel.5:34 They coordinated via VHF radio with *Yara*'s crew, who considered abandoning their vessel or attempting a jury-rigged repair.9:48 The Oyster Marine 406 heaved to overnight to maintain visual contact with the disabled vessel, remaining the only immediate assistance in the vicinity.16:02

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen once across one channel of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
15.0
Displacement / length
217.3
Comfort ratio
29.2
Capsize screening
1.87
Hull speed
7.9 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1586
Hull
Hull type
Fin with rudder on skeg
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1986–1990
Units built
35
Designer
Hollman, Pyle, Kim Holman
Builder
Oyster Marine

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Hallberg-Rassy 4012.40 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA German Frers-designed masthead sloop built for offshore stability with a high comfort ratio and a partial skeg rudder
Hunter Marine 41 AC12.29 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthAn aft-cockpit cruiser featuring a B&R rig and a 12.29-meter hull designed for stable coastal performance
Hunter Marine 41 DS12.29 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA deck salon cruiser featuring a high-volume interior and a B&R rig for simplified handling
Bavaria Yachts C4212.38 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA modern fractional sloop by Cossutti featuring a high-volume hull, dual rudders, and a performance-oriented sail plan
Hanse Yachts 41812.40 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 2017 successor to the 415, offering a shallow keel option and an optional 57 hp engine for versatile cruising
Beneteau First 40512.40 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 12.4-metre masthead sloop featuring a deep 2.19-metre fin keel and a balanced displacement for offshore performance

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

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The fleet has more to say

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