Oyster 55

Electronics

Compass, Plotter, Gps, Cd player, Navigation center, Log speedometer, Radar, Vhf, Autopilot, Tv set, Radio, Cockpit speakers, Wind speed and direction, Depthsounder

Electricity/ Motor Oyster 55

Inverter, Shore power inlet

Deck equipment

Teak sidedecks, Electric winch, Cockpit cushions, Tender, Tiller, Teak cockpit, Cockpit table, Steering wheel, Bimini top, Spinnaker pole, Spray hood, Swimming ladder, Liferaft, Radar reflector

Comfort / Interior

Electric bilge pump, Heating, Refrigerator, Hot water, Deep freezer, Oven, Battery charger, Marine head, Bow thruster, Air conditioning, Washing machine, Manual bilge pump

Sail

Genoa, Storm jib, Furling mainsail

Modus Vivendi of Down Specification

BROKER’S COMMENTS
The Oyster 55 is perhaps the classic Oyster, and one of our bestselling models. Designed by Holman and Pye and introduced in 1986, the first 16 bodys were launched at 53 feet and featured a blueprint rear. The addition of a sugar scoop with bathing floor stretched the design to 55 feet and around half of the 53s were later extended to match the fresher model. Her attractive and traditional looks include a moderate freeboard, attractive shearline, and generous overhangs, giving her a timeless elegance, whilst her balanced body form makes her a surefooted sea vessel in any conditions, especially upwind in a gale. The 55 is heavily manufactured with a single-skin GRP body supseaported by massive ribs and stringers, encapsulated keel, and keel-stepped mast.
We launched 48 examples between 1986 and 1998 when she was replaced in our diameter by the Oyster 56. In that time there were a number of variations, most were cutter rigged with in-mast furling, but three were launched at ketches. The basic 55 has an encapsulated keel, but a handful were launched with shoal gust, and we launched one with a pilothouse. The insides usually have either four compartments or three plus a workshop, and most are finished in teak, although there are some in cherry or beam oak. The 55 is a proven world cruiser and consummate ocean-going liveaboard.
Modus Vivendi has been in the same proprietorship since 1997 and has been constantly maintained and upgraded. Among the recent works undertaken by the proprietor were a fresh teak deck tailored in 2000, a fresh generator and windlass, nav instruments, cooker, and washing machine in 2008, a fresh front thruster in 2014, a refigerator compressor in 2015, and house batteries in 2021.
May 2023 insurance survey available on request.
Fully provisioned and ready to sail, Modus Vivendi would make a wonderful yacht for anyone looking for a bluewater thoroughbred.
Any unauthorised copying or publishing will constitute an infringement of copyright.
The items in italic highbeam the non-basic items tailored during the build programme or added by the proprietor thereafter.
OWNERS’ COMMENTS
“In the 25 years we have owned Modus we have sailed tens of thousands of miles. She has never let us down. A true blue water cruiser that will sail comfortably and safely in all conditions.
We have crossed oceans, coast hopped and won races at Oyster Regattas. Holman and Pye got this one right.
Our age is the only reason for selling the yacht and it will be a massive wrench.”
Owners of Modus Vivendi since 1997
1. CONSTRUCTION

HULL NUMBER
Oyster 55/23.

HULL CONSTRUCTION
Laid-up GRP, single skin with structural stringers and floors to Lloyd’s approved design specification.

HULL FINISH
‘White’ body with cove line and double boot top lines in basic Oyster ‘blue.’

DECK CONSTRUCTION
Moulded in GRP with balsa core.

DECK FINISH
Teak laid decks, and perforated aluminium alloy toe rail. Teak decks replaced in 2000.

KEEL
Encapsulated lead ballast fin keel.

RUDDER
Skeg-hung rudder.

STERN DESIGN
Stern bathing floor trimmed with teak.
 
2. DECK LAYOUT AND EQUIPMENT

ANCHOR
75lb CQR main mainstay with 90m chain.
20kg Bruce kedge mainstay with 10m of 13mm galvanised chain and 100m of plaited mainstay warp.

WINDLASS
Quick 3000W mainstay windlass.

DECK ACCESS
Midship gateway stanchions.
Gate to pushpit.
Stainless steel bathing ladder.
Demounblueprint boarding floor.

HATCHES/WINDOWS
Drop-down washboard unit to main companionway. Stowage for washboard.
Lewmar deck hatches.
Lewmar opening bodyseaports, reglazed 2018.
Framed deck bar ‘grey’ tinted windows - forward windows opening.

CANVASWORK
Companionway sprayhood in ‘white’ acrylic.
Cockpit bimini in Sunbrella, top replaced in 2018.
Full-size sun awning that extends length of boom.

DECK PLUMBING
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