Fresh start, long heritage
Under its new ownership a famous British yacht builder is taking a step up in the world
It’s not often that rules and regulations lead to more freedom and choice. Yet sometimes, technical changes behind the scenes can trigger an effect that goes further than expected. Such has been the case with Oyster Yachts. The start of the chain reaction came with Oyster’s new ownership in March 2018 after Richard Hadida bought the company. With a healthy order book and a strong global reputation, the task of reinvigorating the famous British brand began with improving production efficiency along with a careful look at the entire model range.
There was also the issue of restoring confidence in the market and that message started with the clear statement that all new Oysters would be built under the supervision of Lloyds Register. Achieving a hull and deck moulding certificate meant a great deal of work behind the scenes in the design and production areas of the business. This in turn had resulted in greater flexibility that now allows a better link between the sales and engineering sides of the company.
‘The starting point was that all 64 SEAHORSE
Oyster yachts that were under the 24m load line length (ll) measurement, where adherence to classification is mandatory, were built to confirm to the EU RCD II (European Recreational Craft Directive) regulations,’ explains Ben Mobley, Oyster’s head of group engineering. ‘What we decided to do was to raise the bar and take the certification on to another level by ensuring that all yachts in this sub- 24m ll category complied with the structural requirements of Lloyds’ Register SSC (Special Service Craft) rules. This is achieved by attaining structural plan approval in the design stage paying particular care to the trinity of chainplate, keel floor and mast foundation and building the yacht’s main mouldings with weekly inspections by a Lloyds Register surveyor.
‘Across our range, the regulations’ key focus is on changes to laminate and topside core thicknesses and may include an increase of a few more plys or an alternative structural layout. There are sometimes different web depths to consider for the structural elements and more secondary reinforcement added to
Above: all new Oysters are now built to Lloyds Register
specification which is a big step up from the EU’s RCD standard. The change was initiated by Oyster’s new owner, Richard
Hadida. The first Oyster under 24m in load line length to be built to Lloyds
specification is the Oyster 565 hull
number three. Raising its game in
certification was a major undertaking for Oyster
the hull shell,’ he continues. ‘Although these differences are often small changes, they can have a knock-on effect for the internal layout. If the overall hull is slightly thicker, it may mean for instance that locker spaces must be changed, or cable and plumbing runs re-routed. This meant we had to go right back through each of the designs to establish how they would be affected by the new rules, how we could apply them and what the effects on the internal layout would be.
‘In order for the structural design of our existing yachts to be plan approved to the more onerous Special Service Craft rules our engineering teams likened the exercise to pulling the chassis out of an existing production car to strengthen it, before then putting it back in again and making sure it still fits within the body shell, around the seats, the engine, the steering column and the suspension and everything else. So it was a big task to apply this to a trusted and established range of boats that already meet the Recreation Craft Directive governed by the ISO 12215 structural regulations.
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