No. Austal acquired the Western Australian yard in May 1999 and retired the Oceanfast brand by the mid 2000s. The yachts themselves remain in service and appear on the used and charter markets.
What was Oceanfast known for?
Fast custom superyachts built near Fremantle. Never Say Never of 1985 is described by the Australian National Maritime Museum as the world's first high-speed luxury motor yacht, and the 69.5 meter Aussie Rules of 2003 was the largest aluminum motor yacht of its day.
Can you still buy or charter an Oceanfast yacht?
Yes, secondhand. Oceanfast hulls from the 1980s and 1990s remain in active service, several take charter bookings, and brokerage listings appear regularly, since used boats are the only way into the brand.
Oceanfast was an Australian superyacht builder of high-speed motor yachts, active from the early 1980s to the mid 2000s at Henderson near Fremantle. The yard no longer exists as a brand, but its hulls still circulate on the world's charter and brokerage markets.
Never Say Never and the fast superyacht formula
Oceanfast made its name in 1985 with the 37 meter Never Say Never, which paired naval architect Phil Curran's fast hull lines with styling by Jon Bannenberg. The Australian National Maritime Museum describes it as the world's first high-speed luxury motor yacht. Larger projects followed, including Opal C in 1990, the 45 meter Moecca in 1992, and the 54 meter Ocean Seven in 1993.
Austal ownership and the end of the brand
Austal, the Australian shipbuilder best known for naval vessels and fast ferries, bought Oceanfast in May 1999. The largest yacht of the Austal era was Aussie Rules, a 69.5 meter aluminum motor yacht built for golfer Greg Norman. At her 2003 launch she was the largest aluminum motor yacht in the world, and she won a Showboats Yacht of the Year award. Norman sold her in 2004, and she has cruised since as Floridian and then Nomad. Austal folded yacht work into its defense and commercial business, and by the mid 2000s the Oceanfast name had been retired.
Oceanfast yachts today
No new Oceanfast has been launched in roughly two decades, so the brand survives through its fleet. Several hulls, Never Say Never among them, still take charter guests, and others change hands through brokers. GetBoat's Oceanfast listings are secondhand sale and charter boats, which is the only way to get one now.
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