Oyster 655, ROCAS Has Never Looked Better

The Oyster 655 is a robust and well-designed bluewater cruising yacht and this example, which is currently for sale – ROCAS, exemplifies these qualities in spades. Infused with that patented Rob Humphreys’ magic – and substantially refitted in recent memory, we hope this article will provide some insight into why we think she has never looked better.

For her sales particulars: [OFF MARKET]

History of Oyster 655, ROCAS

Launched in 2008, she offers powerful sailing and the capability of 200 nautical mile days, assisted by her carbon rig from Hall Spars with V boom to make the very best of the slippery and powerful hull lines drawn by Rob Humphreys. She has sailed far during life and in this ownership she has cruised in warm waters, always with crew onboard and she has been much upgraded to a very high standard.

Have a look at the walkthrough video –

When the owners decided to upgrade ROCAS she sailed to Foxes in Ipswich. This shipyard knows Oyster and has refitted most of the range. The owners felt that they had the experience to undertake the works needed for ROCAS. Here is the list of work undertaken by Foxes in the winter period 2021/22:

• Machinery overhaul. Propeller overhaul. Service and engine and generator start batteries all replaced.
• Keel re-torqued.
• Overhaul of the freshwater system.
• Overhaul of the Navionics.
• New dinghy and outboard.
• Full refit of the rig and sail; rigs went through full refit, mast unstepped and repainted, sails were serviced (main sail very good condition, genoa and stay sail 50% of life) – all by Doyle.
• New liferafts and update of the safety gear.

ROCAS then sailed to the Mediterranean to enjoy the new season. The next winter 2022/23 offered the opportunity for another refit with her full time captain project managing the project to carry out additional works that had become apparent over the season’s sailing. This work was carried out in Badalona in mainland Spain, close to Barcelona at a yard experienced with big yacht refits who look after a number of Nautor Swan’s each year:

• New watermaker – Schenker Zen 100 24V (100lt/h in DC).
• New Raymarine instrument package with pedestals and chart table areas redesigned with new panels. The new equipment included new radar, 16-inch Axiom XL screen at chart table, 2 x 7-inch Axiom+ screens above the companionway, 7-inch Axiom+ screen at starboard pedestal and a 12-inch screen at the port pedestal. Autopilot control.
• Service main engine and turbo.
• Generator refit.
• Overhaul and refit of service manifold (aircon, fridges, watermaker).
• Winches serviced.
• Engine service and check over.
• New hot water engine/water heater pipes.
• New aircon hoses.
• Service to jib furler (sent to Reckmann in Germany for full overhaul).
• Service to windlass motor.
• New black tanks senders.
• New Wi-Fi router.
• Hull and coachroof / coaming polished, antifouling, anodes, etc.

Exploring the Accommodation & Deck Equipment of Oyster 655, ROCAS

ROCAS has a large cockpit with twin steering positions and a large aft deck and wide side decks. She is a social yacht and easy to handle.

Down below, her joinery is in teak and she has leather upholstery.

Forward there is a VIP cabin and heads to starboard with a second guest cabin to port with upper and lower berths and heads compartment which has a jack and jill arrangement so that this heads can also serve as the day head.

Aft to her generous main saloon with a dining area to starboard and sofa to port with a large U galley aft of that.

Aft to starboard is the Navigation station and then a passageway runs aft with access to the machinery to port and skipper’s cabin to starboard.

The owners’ stateroom is lovely and is aft with a large en-suite heads.

An Insight into the Current Plans of Oyster 655, ROCAS

At time of writing, ROCAS has just been dropped in price. She is tremendous value.

Contact sue.grant@berthon.co.uk.

About Sue Grant | Meet the Berthon Sales Group