BoatsOyster Marine 435

Oyster Marine 435

Cutter · Fin With Rudder On Skeg · 1983–1995

A Holman & Pye designed cutter with a skeg-hung rudder, built for blue-water stability and comfortable long-distance cruising

Designed by Holman & Pye.

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

See her sail

The Oyster Marine 435, on the water

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

Footage from All About Sailing

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 35 — a sea-kindly motion in a seaway.

Comfort ratio 35
CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 1.79
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 259
EasygoingPowered-up

17.3 — moderate power for her weight; steady, all-round performance.

Sail area / displacement 17.3
TenderStiff

38% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 38%

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

  • Heavier than ~87% of boats her size on file
  • Beamier than ~80% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2542 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Oyster Marine 435, 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 435 is a cutter-rigged sailboat designed by Holman, Pye and built by Oyster Marine Ltd. from 1983 to 1995. It features a fin keel with a rudder on skeg, measures 13.2 meters LOA, has a 4.2-meter beam, a 1.9-meter draft, and displaces 13,154 kg. The model was available with optional keel configurations, including a keel/centerboard variant with a draft ranging from 4.83 to 9 feet, or a shoal keel drawing 5.33 feet. It could be powered by a Volvo MD30A 62 hp diesel engine. The Oyster Marine 435 was offered in several variants, including coachroof, deck saloon, aft cockpit, and center cockpit designs, and could be rigged as a ketch or a sloop/cutter.

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

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
Ballast / displacement
37.9%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Cutter
Ratios
SA / displacement
17.3
Displacement / length
259.1
Comfort ratio
35.3
Capsize screening
1.79
Hull speed
8.1 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
1804
Hull
Hull type
Fin with rudder on skeg
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
1983–1995
Units built
65
Designer
Holman, Pye
Builder
Oyster Marine Ltd

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.

Westerly Marine Ltd. Ocean 4313.26 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Ron Holland-designed masthead sloop built for offshore comfort with a stable, skeg-mounted rudder configuration
Log Books and Boats17:38from Sailing Gently
Hallberg-Rassy 42 (Frers)13.22 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA German Frers-designed masthead sloop built for blue-water cruising, featuring a stable fin keel and a 181-unit production run.
TEST: Pure 424:05from SEILmagasinet
Jeanneau Sun Magic 4413.34 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA high-volume charter veteran also marketed as the Atlantic 44, built for stable cruising with a 2.12-metre fin keel
We found our next houseboat in Newport, USA | Episode 82 - Chez Team5:25from Chez Team
Sweden Yachts 4213.25 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 13.25-metre fractional sloop featuring a 2.1-metre bulb keel and a 40% ballast ratio for balanced offshore performance
Sweden Yachts 42 - An Atlantic crossing from Sint Maarten to UK as part of the ARC Europe 2025.9:00from Halcyon Yachts - International Yacht Delivery
Nicholson 4413.18 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthAn extended Nicholson 42 featuring a modified deck molding that creates a convenient walk-through to the aft cabin
Camper and Nicholson 44 - A Yacht Delivery from Falmouth to Gosport0:34from Halcyon Yachts - International Yacht Delivery
Beneteau Oceanis 42 CC13.23 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA center-cockpit cutter designed by Groupe Finot, featuring a wing keel for shoal draft and a stable, comfortable motion
Sailing Solo to San Clemente Island and buddy boating (June 2024)from keeldragger

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.

Oyster Marine 485A robust cutter-rigged blue water cruiser developed from the 461, featuring a skeg-hung rudder for offshore securityOyster Marine 45A Holman & Pye designed masthead sloop built for blue water comfort with a heavy displacement and high stabilityOyster Marine 475A Holman & Pye designed masthead sloop evolved from the 46, offering a high comfort ratio for blue water cruisingOyster Marine 53 (Holman & Pye)A Holman & Pye designed masthead sloop built for blue water, featuring a stiff fin keel and skeg-mounted rudderOyster Marine 55Originally launched as the Oyster 53, this cutter features a 17-metre hull designed for stable, long-distance cruising

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