Yachting World

Three-day test on the new Oyster 495

An exclusive three-day test on the new baby of the Oyster range, the Oyster 495, shows that big things can come in (slightly) smaller sizes, says Toby Hodges.

The Oyster 495 is as much a part of the small superyacht style of Oyster as its last few launches from the Oyster 565 to the Oyster 885, all by Humphreys Yacht Design. First impressions centre on its size: the deck space and internal volume that all the beam and freeboard height create. Yet while the duck egg vinyl wrap intentionally sets off a vibrant aesthetic, the rest of the renowned quality and styling on the boat hits home. The integral boarding ladders which fold down from the guardrails are optional but arguably essential, though once aboard you quickly realise how easy it is to move around the deck and through the superb cockpit.

For liveaboard voyaging in a luxury monohull of this size, the 495 sets a new standard.