BoatsOyster Marine 54 (Humphreys)

Oyster Marine 54 (Humphreys)

Cutter · Fin Keel w/bulb · First built 2005

A Rob Humphreys-designed bluewater cutter featuring a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio and versatile keel options

Designed by Rob Humphreys.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Hull type
Fin Keel w/bulb

See her sail

The Oyster Marine 54 (Humphreys), on the water

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

Footage from Sven Yrvind

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 narrow beam gives 39 — a sea-kindly motion in a seaway.

Comfort ratio 39
CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 1.73
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 212
EasygoingPowered-up

20.4 — plenty of sail for her weight; lively and quick to respond.

Sail area / displacement 20.4

A capable offshore cruiser with an easy motion when the sea gets up.

  • Heavier than ~89% of boats her size on file
  • Draws more than ~77% of boats her size on file
  • Beamier than ~84% of boats her size on file

Compared with 1250 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Oyster Marine 54 (Humphreys), 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 54 (HUMPHREYS) is a cutter-rigged sailboat designed by Rob Humphreys and built by Oyster Marine Ltd. from 2005 to the present. It features a fin keel with a bulb, measures 16.4 meters LOA, has a 4.8-meter beam, and displaces 21,314 kg. The model was offered with multiple keel and centerboard draft options, including a standard 2.4-meter draft, a shoal 1.83-meter draft, and a supershoal centerboard option that ranges from 1.55 meters (board up) to 3.53 meters (board down). This model was later renamed the Oyster 545. Sven Yrvind, a proponent of small boats, mentions the Oyster 54 as an example of a large, expensive vessel that he argues can lead to increased maintenance burdens and reduced flexibility for owners.8:00

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
Cutter
Ratios
SA / displacement
20.4
Displacement / length
211.9
Comfort ratio
38.6
Capsize screening
1.73
Hull speed
9.1 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
2575
Hull
Hull type
Fin Keel w/bulb
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
First built 2005
Designer
Rob Humphreys
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.

Oyster Yachts 49516.10 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterA modern Humphreys-designed fractional sloop featuring a high-stability hull with dual rudders for offshore control
SAILING to the Island of the Bulls0:03from Distant Shores TV
Hylas 5416.48 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA German Frers-designed cutter with a high comfort ratio and bulb keel, built for stable, long-distance blue water cruising
Best Boats at Newport Boat Show 2025 | Hylas, Beneteau & Lagoon18:08from Sailing Doodles
Tayana 5516.76 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA Peter Beeldsnijder-designed cutter with a skeg-hung rudder, built for heavy-displacement offshore cruising
The $89k 55 Foot Bluewater Yacht That Got Cheap Enough to Be Dangerous3:17from Practical Sailor
Oyster 53 (Humphreys)16.41 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Rob Humphreys-designed masthead sloop built for blue-water cruising with a high comfort ratio and stable hull form
Forced to TURN AROUND - Sailboat Delivery: Annapolis to BVI's [EP 188]10:18from Sailing Millennial Falcon
Pearson Yachts 53016.15 mSame hull family0.3 m shorterThe largest yacht ever built by Pearson, this William Shaw-designed staysail ketch balances heavy-displacement comfort
Mistakes, money saving and lessons we learned buying an old sailing boat Episode 4630:31from Sailing Catalpa
Moody 5416.43 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA cutter-rigged 16.43-metre cruiser featuring a skeg-mounted rudder and a 34% ballast ratio for offshore stability
The Sailor Alex Rosén25:51from SEILmagasinet

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

Oyster 53 (Humphreys)A Rob Humphreys-designed masthead sloop built for blue-water cruising with a high comfort ratio and stable hull formOyster Marine 46 (Humphreys)A Rob Humphreys-designed bluewater cruiser featuring a powerful masthead rig and a stiff, high-displacement hullOyster 56A Rob Humphreys-designed bluewater cutter built for comfort and stability on long-distance passagesOyster Marine 55Originally launched as the Oyster 53, this cutter features a 17-metre hull designed for stable, long-distance cruisingOyster Marine 745A Rob Humphreys-designed fractional sloop featuring a high-volume hull with dual rudders for stable, long-range cruisingOyster 655A Rob Humphreys-designed cutter built for high-performance bluewater cruising with a powerful sail area-to-displacement ratio

Keep asking

The fleet has more to say

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