Oyster 53 – 'Making Time'
Best-equipped example
Ocean Passage ready
Recent refit
The Oyster 53 is one of the world’s most celebrated bluewater cruisers, renowned for its combination of performance, comfort, and quality. Making Time, launched 2005 (hull laid 2004) built by New Zealand’s premier yard, McDell Marine, exemplifies this pedigree with exceptional engineering, meticulous joinery, and a thoughtfully optimized layout for single-handed or family cruising.
Designed by Rob Humphreys with interior ergonomics by Holman & Pye in collaboration with Loughborough University, the raised-saloon, centre-cockpit layout maximizes comfort, safety, and visibility while offshore. Making Time has been maintained to the highest standards, with an extensive USD 240,000 refit in 2019 and ongoing upgrades, ensuring she is a turn-key bluewater yacht capable of safe and fast ocean passages.
With a light American oak interior, 32,000 BTU reverse-cycle air conditioning, and accommodation for up to eight in four cabins, she offers spacious and practical living for extended voyages. The yacht is RCD Category A (Ocean) and remains a proven performer in conditions from light winds to 22 knots offshore.
Owner’s Comments
“We have cruised extensively aboard Making Time, from Hong Kong to the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. She has performed impeccably in all conditions, with ample power and stability. She is optimised for single-handed sailing with redundant systems for enhanced safety... she remains a delight to handle with family and friends. We maintain extensive spares onboard which enable confident access to remote locations while allowing us to stay ahead of the maintenance schedule. Born in New Zealand, her McDell Marine build quality is evident in every detail. We have invested heavily to ensure she’s not just seaworthy, but exceptional in every way."
Broker’s Comments
“We know this Oyster 53 well having sold her to her current owner in 2014. She represents a rare opportunity to acquire a fully equipped, turn-key bluewater cruiser with a meticulous maintenance history. The quality of construction, combined with modern upgrades to rigging, electronics, sails, and deck equipment, make her ready to cruise anywhere in the world. She is one of the finest examples of the model currently on the market.”
Owner will consider delivery worldwide by negotiation.
Key Features
Fully equipped and turn-key bluewater cruiser
Raised deck saloon and centre-cockpit design
Optimized for single-handed sailing
Extensive 2019 refit with ongoing upgrades
Accommodation for 8 in 4 cabins, 2 heads
RCD Category A (Ocean)
Teak decks (2019)
Bow thruster (Sleipner SP155) and advanced autopilot system
Modern electronics including radar, chartplotter, AIS, and autopilot
32,000 BTU reverse-cycle air conditioning (2019 upgrade)
Proven offshore performance, excellent motion in heavy seas
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Specifications
Builder: McDell Marine, New Zealand
Designer: Rob Humphreys (hull), Holman & Pye (interior)
Model Year: 2005
LOA: 16 m (17 m with bowsprit)
LWL: 14.2 m
Beam: 4.7 m
Draft: 2.3 m
Displacement: 23,300 kg (lightship) and 25,000 kg when she was last on the scales tanks full
Ballast: 6,500 kg
Air Draft: 23 m to top of aerials
Hull Type: Monohull
Hull Material: GRP with Isophthalic gelcoat, vinylester resin, longitudinal stringers
Deck Material: Teak (2019)
Keel: Fin with bulb
Rudder: Skeg-hung
Hull Colour: Vermillion Red
Topsides: Snow White
RCD Category: A (Ocean) - Crew Limit: 10
Accommodations
Cabins: 4 - Berths: 8 (excluding saloon)
Heads / Showers: 2
Interior: Light American oak, shadow-gap joints, sculpted fiddles, stainless grab handles
Saloon: Raised deck saloon, oval starboard settee/table, port settee, bar unit
Galley: Starboard aft saloon, Avonite counters, twin stainless sinks, Force 10 4-burner stove/grill/oven
Owner’s Cabin (Aft): Centreline queen berth, en-suite head/shower, dressing table, hanging locker
Forward Cabin: Centreline double, seat/vanity, drawers, hanging locker
Port Midship Cabin: Upper/lower berths (storage/sleeping)
Starboard Guest Cabin: Upper/lower berths, lockers, hanging locker
Air Conditioning: 32,000 BTU reverse-cycle (2019)
Laundry: LG 8 kg inverter washing machine (2022)
Ventilation: Coframo fans in each cabin
Headroom - 2m in the saloon and 1.85m throughout
Performance & Stability
Capsize Screening Formula (CSF): 1.8
Displacement/Length Ratio (D/L): 204–242
Sail Area/Displacement Ratio (SA/D): 16.8–18.99
Max GZ: ~0.5–0.8 m at 30–50° heel (est.)
Angle of Vanishing Stability (AVS): ~120–140°
Smooth motion in heavy seas; offshore passage 150–200 nm/day
Cruising Speed: 6 kts
Max Hull Speed: 8 knots
Rig & Sails
Sailplan:
Sloop, double-spreader (she has tangs and winch pads to install an inner stay sail)
Keel-stepped Selden rig
In-mast furling mainsail (North Sails, 2025, cutback leach, vertical battens option)
115% Roller-furling genoa (Quantum, 2025, single-handed setup)
Asymmetrical cruising spinnaker with Rollgen top-down furler & bowsprit sock
Hank-on storm jib
Sail Areas:
Main: current sail area 71 m2
Genoa 74 m2
Gennaker 145 m2
Standing Rigging:
Dyform & Ix19 stainless steel wire (new 2019)
Running Rigging:
Chromed bronze rigging screws
Spinnaker pole
Mast track
Vang strut
Winches:
Lewmar – 2 x 64 electric primaries, 2 x 48 secondaries, 1 x 48 electric mainsheet/utility, 1 x 48 main halyard, 1 x 48 genoa halyard, 2 x 16 ST
Mainsheet traveller
Engine & Mechanical
Engine: Yanmar 4JH3-HTE 100 hp (74 kW), 5,800 hours
KM4A mechanical gearbox
Propeller: Flexofold 23" 3 blade feathering propeller ALCARA: Aluminium Bronze Alloy with, Stripper rope cutter (2017)
Bow Thruster: Sleipner SP155 with Sidepower 8960 controller (2022)
Twin alternators: 55A 12 V (start) + 150A 24 V Mastervolt (house)
Aquadrive coupling (2017)
Shaft seal wet with greaser
Duplex fuel/water filters (2019)
Engine room soundproofing (2019)
Range -
MAKING TIME has done 700nm between the Maldives and Seychelles motor sailing around 1400-1600 RPM without cans on deck therefore using the cans in the Lazarette stored on deck 1000 nm is possible.
With safety 500 – 1000 nm range.
Plumbing & Tankage
Fuel Tank: 685 L (GRP with inspection hatches)
Water Tank: 580 L (GRP with inspection hatches)
Hot water: 73 L calorifier via engine heat or 1.25 kW 230V element
1 x Holding tank: 50 L with gravity/deck discharge
Watermaker: 200 L/h, 4 Dow Corning membranes (2020)
Sump tanks & Whale Gulper pumps
Electric bilge pumps x2, manual
Henderson MkV pump
2 x propane cylinders with solenoid shutoff & Xintex gas alarm
Electrical Systems
The vessel benefits from fully independent 12V and 24V systems with generator, inverter, solar input and battery monitoring for extended off-grid operation
24V DC house: 12 x 6V Gel batteries (660 Ah @ 24V, 2024)
Engine start: 2 x 80 Ah 12 V batteries (2024 – raised from waterline)
Mastervolt 24/3500-100 inverter/charger (2022)
Victron Orion 230/12 V start battery backup charger (2025)
Cummins Onan 7 kW generator (2019 Kubota engine)
Dockside power: 230 V /50Hz 30A, ring main with outlets.
Battery monitoring unit with PC access.
Navigation & Electronics
Raymarine dual autopilot system (2022), incorporating 2 x P70s heads, EVI sensors, AC400 controllers and 2 x short arm Raymarine Linear Drive units (plus a spare)
3 x i70 multifunction displays
Radar: Quantum Doppler (2022)
Chartplotter: Axiom 12 RV RealVision 3D (2022)
AIS 650 Class B transceiver (2022)
Ray63 VHF, Raymic 60/70 handset at pedestal - Wind, depth, speed instruments (2022)
Garmin InReach
Starlink Mini
Plastimo Echotest 2 hand sounder
Ocean Scout night-vision camera (2017)
Windex, VHF & AIS aerials, masthead navigation lights
Deck & Equipment
Simpson davits
Nova outboard lift
2 x LG 300 W solar panels (2019)
Lumitec underwater lights x 2 (2022)
Hatch & portlights: ManShip (2019) & Gebo (lenses 2019)
Fenders: 4 heavy-duty + 1 inflatable
Cockpit table w/ cooler compartment
Teak swim ladder steps
Anchors
45kg, stainless steel, Ultra anchor (2016)
Ultra Swivel and chain grab
100 m 12 mm galvanized DIN766 G43 chain spliced to a 22mm 3 strand 40m rodewith the bitter end secured below.
Canvas
Dodger (2019/2026)
Bimini w/ zippered sides
Cockpit & saloon covers
Bow awning (2019)
Stern awning (2019)
Refrigeration & Air Conditioning
2 x 16,000 BTU Dometic - reverse-cycle units for heat (2019)
Frigomatic 24V dual compressor electric refrigeration/freezer (2019) keel-cooled
Frigomatic 24 V keel-cooled front-opening refrigerator
Safety
Ocean Signal LB2E EPIRB (2020)
Zodiac 8-man liferaft (2019 inspection)
8 lifejackets (2 Petzl)
Danbuoy, Para-anchor w/ deployment rode/sack (2019)
Emergency tiller
12V flood pump
Flares
Smoke & CO detectors
Fire extinguishers & fire blankets in engine room, galley, cockpit
Mast climbing gear for solo maintenance
Tender & Toys
3.2 m Charlmark RIB, Sunbrella cover (2019)
Yamaha Enduro 15 hp outboard (2020)
Bauer Junior dive compressor (unknown)
Barbecue, fishing rods & gear
Fugoo sound system (2019)
Free Diving fins
Spear gun
Real looking stuffed dog toy “Aki” for added security.
Recent Upgrades / Refit
Major refit 2019: USD 240,000
Teak decks (2019)
New sails (2025)
Rigging & furlers (2019)
Electronics upgrades (2022)
Included Inventory / Spares
Oyster custom crockery & cutlery
Dyson vacuum
Airfryer
Induction hob
Manuals and schematics
Extensive spares (Quantum radar, Aquadrive unit, engine/generator spares, furler motors, steering cable, Mastervolt solar regulator)
Kedge rode & lines, and lines for Typhoon/Hurricane holes and roping to rocks in deep anchorage (Raja Ampat)
Extra fuel/water cans
Tools