Oyster Yachts: made in England

A visit to Oyster Yachts’ Southampton facility confirms this company’s dominance in the 80ft sector: the five bays were full of 825s and 885s – and the sixth 825, Enso, was being commissioned afloat. Apart from vacuum infused bulkheads and carbon-capped frames, construction techniques remain relatively conventional with a reassuringly belt-and-braces approach.

The 675 and 745 can be built either in Southampton, or in Norfolk where the 475 to 625 models are built. Oyster employs about 400 people in total with 320 on the shop floor, capable of producing 18-20 boats a year. Construction time varies from around nine months for a 475 to 16 months for a 885.