Oyster 56

Spec

OWNERS’ COMMENTS

“Chinook's Wake"

In 1994 Doreen and I purchased a Beneteau 44cc sailing yacht, named her Calypso Lady and based her in Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. Over the next 7 years we sailed the Caribbean from the Leeward Islands to the Windwards visiting most of the islands in the area. Sailing for 2 to 3 weeks at a time while concentrating on our business in Edmonton.
Enjoying the people and cultures we met along the way sailing in the Caribbean we felt the need for a more sturdy oc
ean going sailing yacht in order to continue to expand and explore our horizons into the Mediterranean and beyond.
After much research and investigation of top Brand blue water yachts and a trip to England to visit Oyster and view production facilities including boats under construction.
The Oyster 56 with it's huge centre cockpit, stood out as the most practical for a couple to own and sail in comfort and safety as well as the magnificent lines of the "Eyebrow" design.

In 1999 Doreen and I commissioned a beautiful new superbly equipped Oyster 56 yacht which was delivered in 2001 in Ipswich, England. We chose to register her in Canada with the home port of Vancouver naming her after the Indigenous name Chinook, from the warm winds that came from the south and melted the snow.
We sailed her across the English Chanel to La Coruna, Spain arriving on the infamous Nine Eleven. Then from Vigo south to Lisbon in Portugal. From there we headed to Funchal in Madeira with plans to sail to Las Palmas, Grand Canaries, to join the 2001 Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) to St Lucia with our all Canadian crew back, to the Caribbean.
Leaving St Lucia we set sail for the North Atlantic and Bermuda visiting the all the main islands before head north again to Horta on the Isle of Faial, in the Azores. These Islands spread over a considerable area and visited most of them
Leaving the Azores from Ponta Delgada, Chinook continued East toward the Mediterranean making landfall in Lagos, Portugal and cruising the south coast of Portugal to Gibraltar.

We expected to spend a couple of years exploring the Mediterranean but spend Nine very enjoyable years there, attending the first Oyster Regatta in Palma Majorca.
Breaking the summer sailing seasons into two visits of 6 to 8 weeks a year we covered virtually all the Islands, including: Navigating the Bosporus and the Corinth Canal and Straits of Messina, Cruising the Black Sea and the Northern Coast of Turkey. Circumventing most of the Greek Islands, Istanbul and Turkish Islands, The Balearic Islands, cruising ports of Croatia and Venice / Trieste, North and South Cyprus, Malta, Corsica, Sardinia and Sicily and Italy, Ibiza and Palma.

Also visiting ports and anchorages on the coasts of Spain, France, Monaco, Turkey, Italy, Croatia, Tunisia and Morocco.
In 2012 we left the Mediterranean sailing past Gibraltar, south down the coast of Morocco to Gran Canary to prepare for the OYSTER WORLD RALLY leaving from Antigua, early in 2013. We were proud to be the only Canadian flagged, crewed and owned yacht in the fleet.

We'd spent several years sailing the Windward and Leeward Islands of the Caribbean on Calypso Lady so were eagerly look for new territories and challenges in the Pacific.
Leaving Antigua we stopped at the Islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao before heading along the NW coast of Columbia stopping at Santa Marta, Cartagena and Santa Cruz before arriving at the unique low lying San Blas Islands.
We made one more stop at Portobello before Colon and the north entrance to the Panama Canal. Then through the Canal to Panama City and on to the Las Perlas Islands.

Next was the long sail across the Equator and on to San Christabol and Isla Santa Cruz of the world famous Galapagos Island chain.
Our first Island Group in the Pacific was the Marquises and Chinook visited 4 Islands there before heading south west towards the Tuamotos group where we dallied at many of the small islands before heading to Tahiti, Bora Bora, Moorea, Huahine, Raiatea in French Polynesia.
Nuie is a New Zealand Island far from the coast of NZ and Chinook stopped there before continuing on to Neiafu in the Vava Group, popularly known as Tonga.
Then weaving between many Atols and Islands of the South Pacific on to Welagilala before heading north to the Lau Group, part of the massive chain of Fijian Islands landing at Vanua Balavu to check into Fiji.
Taking the Nanuku Passage north of Taveuni Island on to Suvusavu on the North Island then cruising west on the south coast before heading north east through Lekubi Point to Bua Bay.
Landfall on the south Island was at Lautoka and from there we visited the Yasawa Islands before heading to Musket Cove on the south island mainland.

Leaving Fiji we headed west towards Vanuatu stoping at Port Vila on the southern most Island and visiting the Volcano on Ambrm Island. Then heading west again, north of New Caledonia to navigate the Grand Passage between a group of atoll's and on to the Coral Sea via the narrow passage through the Great Barrier Reef to Australia.
Mackay was our first port in Australia which is just south of the popular Hamilton Island and famous Arlie Beach where we visited Whitsunday Island, rounding Hook Island and north west to Hideaway Bay.
Magnetic Island and Townsville were our last stop with the Oyster group as we preferred to spend time in Australia and New Zealand before heading to the west coast of North America instead of the Caribbean where the Rally ended.
Leaving Chinook on the hard in Mackay for the winter we returned to cruise north and south along the east coast before choosing Bunderberg as a safe haven for the next winter. On our return we cruised down the coast to Sydney stopping at Hervey Bay and navigating the inside passage of Fraser Island and the Great Sandy Straight to the Sunshine Coast and Mooloolaba.

Further south we took another inside passage this time inside Moreton Island and Brisbane all the way to South Port and Surfers Paradise. Then south to Coffs Harbour, New Castle and the amazing Pittwater Lagoon and Islands then on to Sydney Harbour, passing under the huge and very famous bridge.

Leaving Sydney we sailed to the Northern tip of New Zealand but winds didn't cooperate so we headed straight to Opua on the north east coast to check into NZ where we spent almost two years.
That voyage contained more tacking than any other voyage of similar size either before or since then.
The cruising around Auckland the Great Barrier Island and Waiheke Island is amazing with nice breezes and sheltered water encouraging sporty sailing and from Auckland to Invergargil we enjoyed great wine country, mountains and terrific railroads.
Our seafaring agenda now was to make for San Francisco and be nearer to home which meant heading back to Papette on Tahiti, waiting out the Cyclone season and on to Hawaii then to SF which took a few months.
From San Francisco we leisurely cruised the California Coast with many stops at anchorages and popular California resorts along the Santa Cruz Basin, the Gulf of Catalina and San Clemente Island, on our way to San Diego.
Joining the Baha Ha Ha Rally we sailed south into Mexico via a few quiet anchorages accompanied by two other Canadian Flagged yachts, on the way to Cabo St Lucas to check in with immigration and customs. Then continued straight east for two hundred miles to Mazatlan.
Then north into the Sea of Cortez to Altata, Topolobampo and Los Mochis Taking the famous train up and into the Copper Canyon, before sailing back to Mazatlan.
We then turned south to the Isla Maria Isabella and on to San Blas, Chacala, Santa Cruz de Huanacaxtle, Nuevo Vallarta and Puerto Vallarta before returning to Mazatlan.
Current plans are North West from Mazatlan to visit La Paz and the Islands to the north as far as Loretto and exploring the Sea of Cortez with its wonderful marine life.

We are proud to have represented Oyster in a consistent warm considerate way observing and respecting laws and customs, wherever we landed, showing and sharing the Canadian attitude of tolerance and friendliness, throughout more than 38K Nautical miles and dozens of port clearances with customs and immigration officials.
While in hundreds of ports Chinook has never ceased drawing attention and we were constantly praised and admired wherever we lingered.
 
We always felt lucky and proud to be sailors and to be representing the Oyster Brand whether visiting tiny Pacific Islands or exciting metropolis's such as Auckland, Lisbon, Venice or Sidney. We've been very proud of our Oyster and unofficial role of ambassador, sailing thousands of miles around the world with careful maintenance and Oyster's legendary support. With upgrades keeping her in top condition and ready for the next sailing adventure.

Brian and Doreen
Owners of Chinook since 2001

The items in italic highlight the non-standard items fitted during the build programme or added by the owner thereafter.

1. CONSTRUCTION
 
HULL NUMBER
Oyster 56/21.
 
HULL CONSTRUCTION
Laid up GRP, single skin with structural stringers and floors to Lloyd’s approved design specification. 
 
HULL FINISH
Hull colour ‘White’ with cove line and double boot top lines in standard Oyster ‘Blue.’
Bottom scrubbed, painted and anti-fouled regularly. Thru hulls exercised monthly.
 
DECK CONSTRUCTION
Deck structure moulded in GRP with balsa core.
 
DECK FINISH
Teak laid decks.

Decks refurbished (June 2025).
Bulwark finished with a teak capping rail.
 
KEEL
High-performance external shoal keel.
 
RUDDER
Fully protected skeg-hung rudder.
 
STERN DESIGN
The stern design incorporates a bathing platform trimmed with teak slats and a folding stainless steel boarding/bathing ladder with teak treads.
Teak treads on the transom give access to the stern deck.
 
EURCD
Built to comply with the requirements for Category A – ‘Ocean.’

2. DECK LAYOUT AND EQUIPMENT 
 
ANCHOR
34kg (75lb) CQR anchor with 100m (328’) of 18mm Octoplait nylon warp, plus 10m (33’) of 12mm chain tail, replaced 2017.
Kedge anchor – lightweight folding Fortress FX55 with stowage in lazarette.
Stanforth stern anchor in lazarette.
 
WINDLASS
Lewmar Ocean 3 (24V) vertical capstan electric anchor windlass.
 
DECK ACCESS
Midship gateway stanchions.
Gate to pushpit.
Stainless steel bathing ladder with teak treads.
Extending hydraulic stainless steel passerelle with hand rails.
 
HATCHES
Vertical drop-down washboard.
Alloy-framed deck saloon windows in toughened, smoked, 12mm glass - two forward windows open.
Lewmar alloy-framed deck hatches.
Gebo opening hullports.
Gebo alloy-framed portlights in coaming.
Gebo long portlights into cockpit, from galley and workshop.
 
CANVASWORK
Sprayhood to main companionway with stainless steel grab rail, colour ‘blue’. Zip-up window in front of sprayhood.
Bimini in colour 'blue'.
Cockpit cover.
Covers to pedestal and wheel.
Cockpit table cover.
Cockpit cushions.
Winch covers.
 
DECK PLUMBING
Hot and cold freshwater deck shower.
 
COCKPIT
Teak-laid cockpit.
Stainless steel grab rail and drinks holder to front of pedestal.
 
COCKPIT TABLE 
Stainless steel frame and solid teak, varnished cockpit table, with insulated GRP box and folding leaves.
 
STEERING
‘Athena’ pedestal and Whitlock wheel steering – 48” diameter Maxi wheel with leather cover, including partial spokes. Grab rail to aft of sprayhood covered in leather.
 
DAVITS
Whittall dinghy davits (220kg). Ensign holder on starboard side davit.
  
GENERAL
Stainless steel removable bowsprit.
Oyster deck saloon profile with ‘eyebrow’ styling.
Stainless steel oval mooring and cockpit cleats (oval type).
Custom stainless steel fairleads in aft transom bulwark.
Stainless steel pulpit, pushpit, and gateway midship stanchions.
Dorade vents.
Gate to pushpit.
Life raft stowage built into pushpit.
Anchor locker for warp and chain stowage.
Lazarette locker in stern deck with twin stainless steel gas struts.
Quarter pushpit seats in stainless steel and teak.
Stainless steel mug rack on pedestal.

3. RIG AND SAIL HANDLING
 
MAST AND RIGGING
Selden Cutter rig.
Hood Stoway in-mast hydraulic furling main mast, and boom.
Triple spreader rig with Seldén V-spreaders.
Navtec A250 hydraulic backstay and vang with remote panel in cockpit.
Seldén solid rod kicker and tackle, with control line lead aft to the mainsheet winch via a Spinlock rope clutch.
Standing rigging.
Running rigging.
Conduit for masthead instrument wiring. Extra conduit in mast to masthead, for antenna and cellphone aerials.
 
HEADSAIL/STAYSAIL FURLING
Reckmann RF 90-3 hydraulic furling headstay.
Reckmann RF 90-2 hydraulic furling inner stay.
 
WINCHES
By Lewmar – self-tailing
2 x 66 CEST electric primary winches.
1 x 48 CEST electric mainsheet winch.
2 x 54 CST secondary winches.
1 x 44 CST mainsail reefing winch on mast.
2 x 48 CST halyard winches.
2 x 16 CST mainsheet traveller control winch.
 
SPINNAKER GEAR
Single spinnaker pole stowed vertically on mast.
Spinnaker package includes halyard, sheets, guys and blocks, topping lift and downhaul, with deck fittings. Extra rope clutches for spinnaker halyard, pole lift and staysail halyard.
 
SAILS
By Doyle Sails -
Mainsail.
Staysail.
Cruising chute.
Selden top down furling system.
By Ullman Sails - 
Code Zero with sacrificial weather strips.

4. INTERIOR
 
GENERAL
Seven berths in four cabins, excluding the saloon.
Interior joinery finished in American Cherry with Oyster ‘Millennium’ styling.
Essential features include sculpted fiddles and grab rails, ‘shadow-gap’ joints between panels and Oyster custom knobs for lockers and drawers.
Soleboards in teak and holly veneered boards.
Galley work surfaces in ‘Tuscany Rose’ Avonite.
Heads surfaces in 'Tuscany Rose' Avonite.
Headlining in off-white vinyl. 
Removable mast cover in headlining vinyl.
Upholstery in ‘Blue’ Alcantara, new 2017.
Full complement of towels, sheets and pillow cases.
Oceanair Skyscreens to all deck hatches.
Curtains to windows and ports. Curtain to cover whole hullport moulding.
Lee cloths.
Hella fans to all cabins and galley.
 
FORWARD DOUBLE CABIN
With centreline double berth, upholstered seat with vanity table, plentiful clothes lockers and a hanging locker. The deck is accessible via the forehatch.
 
PORT FORWARD TWIN CABIN
To port with upper and lower berths, lockers for clothes, vanity unit and hanging locker.
 
FORWARD SHARED HEAD/SHOWER
To starboard with VacuFlush toilet, washbasin and separate shower cubicle.
 
SALOON
Access to the saloon from the cockpit is via a set of teak and stainless steel steps, with teak and stainless steel handrails.
The saloon is extremely light and airy, with seven windows, of which two of the three forward ones open. There are also two opening hull port holes.
Featuring a round table with burr wood inlay and black perimeter line, and settee area to port, outboard pair of lockers and central shelf to hull port.
The saloon table is designed to form, in its closed position, an occasional table which is mounted on a very substantial pedestal incorporating a bottle locker in its base. The table opens to form an oval dining table.
To starboard is another settee.
Bar unit with glass and bottle stowage.
Two forward opening windows.
 
NAVIGATION AREA/CHART TABLE
To starboard aft end of saloon, with bookshelf outboard.
The chart table can accommodate a half-folded admiralty chart.
  
GALLEY
To port with plenty of locker space for cutlery, crockery and glasses.
Extra locker at aft end of engine room.
 
SINKS 
Twin Avonite integrated galley sinks. Avonite lid with finger-hole to use as cutting board.
Charcoal filter on cold water supply.
 
COOKER/HOB
Gimballed Force 10 stainless steel gas cooker with 4-burners, oven and grill. A heavy gauge fiddle rail is fitted around the top of the cooker which incorporates a pair of adjustable clamping pan holders.
Double burner induction yop with multiple stainless steel pots & pans.
 
MICROWAVE
AEG Micromat Duo stainless steel combination microwave oven.
 
REFRIGERATOR/FREEZER
Individual refrigeration units for front-opening refrigerator and freezer. 
 
TRASH COMPACTOR
Broan Waste compactor at aft inboard galley locker.
 
STARBOARD AFT CABIN/WORKSHOP
To starboard, designed for professional crew or children with one berth.
Access to engine room space.
U-Line wine cooler adjacent to washing machine.
 
WASHING MACHINE
Eumenia Baby Nova 1000 washing machine.
 
WINE FRIDGE
U-Line wine cooler.
 
OWNER’S STATEROOM
With double berth offset from centreline, a curved settee, dressing table and large hanging locker, drawers and lockers.
Central book case against bulkhead.
 
EN SUITE HEAD/SHOWER
En suite head with VacuFlush toilet, washbasin, and separate shower cubicle.

5. ENTERTAINMENT 
 
AUDIO VISUAL SYSTEMS 
 
SALOON
Smart 32" flat screen TV.
Pioneer marine stereo sound system with FM radio and CD player.
Twin loudspeakers in headlining.
 
COCKPIT
Twin waterproof loudspeakers within coamings either side of the pedestal. Fader control.

6. ENGINEERING
 
ENGINE
Yanmar 4LH-TE (110hp) diesel engine.
Aquadrive engine coupling system and mounts.
Racor filters.
 
ENGINE HOURS
Approximately 4,764 @ January 2025.
 
PROPELLER
Max-Prop 3-bladed feathering propeller.
 
ROPE CUTTER
Ambassador AM15 rope cutter on propeller shaft.
 
ALTERNATORS
175A 24V Prestolite alternator.
Yanmar 55A alternator.
 
GENERATOR
Westerbeke BTD 7.5kW generator complete with water separator, ammeter and voltmeter. Complete service and overhaul, 2024.
 
GENERATOR HOURS
Approximately 2,713 @ January 2025.
 
BOW THRUSTER
Sleipner 10hp (SP155TC) tunnel bow thruster.
 
STEERING SYSTEM
Whitlock cable system.
 
HYDRAULICS
Lewmar Commander hydraulic power pack 200-3 for main, headsail and staysail furling.
 
AIR CONDITIONING/HEATING
Individual air conditioner/heater in saloon.
220V Cruisair reverse cycle air conditioning system, comprising 1 x 12,000 BTU unit to aft cabin and 1 x 16000 BTU to forward cabin with outlet to portside guest cabin. Giving a total of 28,000 BTUs.
 
WATERMAKER 
Seafresh 206A (220V) giving 95 litres (approximately 20 Imp gallons/25 US gallons) per hour with waterflow gauge and charcoal filter.

7. TANKAGE AND PLUMBING
 
FUEL
1,050 litres (231 Imp gallons/277 US gallons) in a GRP tank.
 
WATER
950 litres (209 Imp gallons/251 US gallons) in a GRP tank.
 
TANK TENDER GAUGES
Tank tender gauges.
 
HOT WATER 
 From an insulated 76 litres (17 Imp gallons/20 US gallons) tank heated by the engine’s heat exchanger, or by thermostatically-controlled 220V, 2kW immersion heater element powered by the generator or dockside power.
 
PRESSURISED HOT AND COLD WATER SYSTEM
Hot and cold freshwater system based on a high capacity Par CW320 Twin-Max water pump with PEX/PBT pipework and fittings.
 
HOLDING TANKS 
Gravity discharge stainless steel holding tank for forward and aft heads, fitted with Wema gauge and gravity discharge or deck pump out systems.
 
GREY WATER
 Showers and washbasins discharge into two sump tanks, one forward and one aft, which then evacuate via a dedicated electric Whale ‘Gulper’ pump directly overboard.
The galley sink also empties via an electric Whale ‘Gulper’ pump.
These three pumps are each operated by rubber toggle switches.
 
MANIFOLD SYSTEM
Manifolds for seawater inlets to reduce through-hull fittings.

8. ELECTRICS
 
SHIP’S SUPPLY
24V. 
 
RING MAIN
220V AC ring main with five double Clipsal sockets located in the aft cabin, forward cabin, port forward cabin, galley and at chart table.
 
OTHER ELECTRICAL SOCKETS
Extra AC Clipsal double sockets, one in guest cabin, one in forecabin.
 
BATTERIES
Domestic: 8 x 6V 20 hour rated batteries give 230 Amp hours (approximately) at 24v for the domestic supply (equivalent to 480 Amp hours at 12v).  These batteries are heavy duty ‘deep-cycle‘ "Varta” type.
Engine start: 1 x 88Amp hour 12V battery.
 
BATTERY MANAGEMENT 
Magnetronic DCC 4000 battery manager for domestic batteries only.
Mastervolt MASS 24V/75A battery charger.
Emergency link.
 
INVERTER
Mastervolt 24V/2500W inverter to run TV/VCR and microwave.
 
SHORE POWER
50A dockside power cable in 3-core double-insulated PVC, 18m (60’) in length.
Hubbell socket in transom. Dockside end of cable fitted with 3-pin, 32A plug.
Additional 220V/30A shore power cable and socket for air conditioning leads.
 
INTERIOR LIGHTING
Halogen overhead lights.
Halogen overhead night lights in galley and at chart table.
Golf ball reading lights.
Hella engine room lights.
Flexible chart table light.
Auto refrigeration door light.
Courtesy foot night lights in deck saloon steps.
 
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Aquasignal port and starboard lights.
Aquasignal bow and stern lights.
Steaming/deck floodlight.
Tri-white anchor/navigation light at masthead.

9. NAVIGATION AND COMMUNICATION
 
COMPASSES
SIRS Major 150mm (6”) diameter binnacle-mounted steering compass.
 
WINDEX
Windex at masthead.
 
SSB RADIO
Icom SSB radio, new 2013.
Wide copper strip from chart table to lazarette and twin large ground plates as SSB earth.
Backstay insulator.

10. SAFETY
 
EPIRB
New 2017.
 
RADAR REFLECTOR
Firdell Blipper on mast.
 
BILGE PUMPS
Electric Jabsco Maxi 3000 Puppy bilge pump with PAR hydro air switch.
Henderson MkV manual bilge pump.
 
DECK SAFETY
Grab bag with flares, radio and mechanical cell phone charger.
Webbing jackstays.
Emergency tiller.
 
FIRE EXTINGUISHERS
Three powder type fire extinguishers. 
Fire blanket.

11. GENERAL
 
RIB/DINGHY
AB Aluminum RIB.
Yamaha 15hp 4-stroke outboard.
 
OUTBOARD BRACKET
Large teak and stainless steel enclosed outboard bracket on pushpit.
 
WARPS AND FENDERS
Warps and fenders.
 
CROCKERY/CUTLERY
Plates, cups and cutlery.
 
SAFE
4-brick combination safe with digital keypad.
 
TOOL KIT
Very extensive range of tools.
 
ASSORTED TOOLS, SPARES AND MANUALS
Assorted manuals and equipment handbooks.

NB: All personal belongings and all other items not expressly listed in the above inventory are excluded from the sale.
Viewing through Oyster Brokerage.
Inventory verified by the owner.
Issue 3 (GO/YE/av)

In this case we are acting as Brokers only. Whilst every care has been taken in their preparation, the correctness of these particulars is not guaranteed. The particulars are intended only as a guide and they do not constitute a term of any contract. A prospective Buyer is strongly advised to check the particulars and where appropriate, at their own expense, to employ a qualified Marine Surveyor to carry out a survey and/or to have an engine trial conducted, which if conducted by us shall not imply any liability for such engine on our part. Life-saving appliances do not form part of the inventory and it is for the buyer to ensure they are in date and suitable for their purposes.

*The tax status of the vessel is an indication only based on the Seller’s understanding, for which The Oyster Group and its subsidiaries can accept no liability. Prospective Buyers are strongly advised to seek appropriate qualified independent advice concerning any taxes or duties which may be payable in their own, or any other jurisdiction.

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