Hallberg Rassy or Moody?

Bloater

Bloater

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We are boatless for the first time in 16 years, and are looking for a yacht around the 40 foot mark. We are currently looking at Hallberg Rassy 39's and Moody 40's - quite different boats, but with a huge price differential.

We originally thought of chartering, to gain some practical experience of these particular models - but commercial charter prices are horrendous. All we want is 2 or 3 days practical experience before we make an expensive mistake.

Can anyone who owns one of these boats offer any advice on the relative merits of these 2 boats - or better still, we'll happily crew for a few days, and pay for all costs and fittle. Ideally, we'd like some experience of how the boats handle.

At the risk of offending anyone, we're really not interested in any other types of yacht.
 
But there are more options out there..

Xyacht, Amel, Island Packet, Baltic, Alubat, Swan....

If ... I had big moolah... would be a Swan for me. :D:D
 
I have done a few hundred sea miles on a HR. There is much talk about their sea keeping abilities etc etc, but I was surprised how it was chucked about like any AWB you might mention.

You most certainly want to spend some time on one to see if it lives up to your expectations, I was expecting a different experience from it.

Nicely put together solid boat though.
 
I was on a 25 year old HR last week not a 40 but slightly smaller. It was imaculate and looked as good as the day it was commisioned. I've also been on some 25 year old Moodys and they looked like 25 year old boats. I'm not saying all HRs are like that and all Moodys are showing their age but if this one was anything to go by you are comparing apples with oranges. yes there will be a big price difference but you need to decide if you want quality or quantity.
 
hr vs Moody

The 39 was not one of the more popular HRs, but its still a good boat. Its more of an overgrown 36 than a small 42.

For a 'centre cockpit' design, the HR cockpit is a bit further back than in the Moody, so you dont end up so high up. There's a lot less plastic and a lot more wood, but personally I like that sort of thing. The main complaint with the HR is that the galley isnt as spacious, but the build quality will be better, and it should have worn better than the Moody.

The 352/382 were the last of the 'solid and stable' HR designs. The 39 is a Frers design and consequently is a better sailing boat, and a bit lighter and airier. Its not as fast as the current HR series.

I've not sailed the HR39/Moody 40 combination, but I have sailed a Moody 36 whilst owning a HR36. In terms of sailability, there's more similarity than you might think, (although the deck layout on the HR is a lot easier to get around). They are both displacement cruisers, so sea motion is fairly docile with none of this slamming malarkey.

Essentially one's a Ford and one's a Mercedes. They both do the biz, but....

The 39 details and polar curves are still on the HR website.
 
I have a m38, not quite the 40 but close. She's a 92 model one of the first to be built. She's solid, and capable of rough weather. I'm a live aboard so and she has been for most of her life, it shows on the woodwork and interior, but that's what happens on live aboards. Worth asking this question on the moody site, you will get a huge response. There are some minor issues with Moody's, I find that some things have been put in as if they will never get removed again. So when items do need replacing (like the engine, toilet pipes, wires, keel bolts,) it's never a straight forward job.

But as an owner, I'm happy with what I have, she's our home and we feel safe in her, the 38 is also easily handled by myself as a single hander.

Most Moody's also have sufficient prop walk where you can spin on the spot without a bow thruster. But that's each to ones own.

I like HR boats, but like you have said, there is a big price difference. If I had the money I would probably stick with the moody, but then if I had the money I would oversee the build of a new moody and instruct them not to put things in stupid places, like the two keelbolts under my fuel tank!
 
I ran through the same considerations a couple of years ago. To make the choice even more tricky - the Moody I liked was at a Halberg Rassy brokerage!

You can see from my Avatar/profile which choice I made in the end...

I did like things like the way the wiring was done on the Rassy - all in finger trunking and the space in the lockers in the forward cabin.. but regarding the Moody - Things like engine (I moved it forwards and back again on my own a few weeks back to replace the saildrive seal), the keel bolts (all are accessible with a standard 36mm deep socket after removing the table), the wiring (all in conduits), the steering (Cobra 5R/DL draglink driven / no cables), switch panel (all standard magnetic breakers from Carlingswitch), all control lines and halyards led aft, ample winches in the cockpit and the toilet hoses (all reachable if you know where to cut the cable ties that tie them back to the hull), .... I'm happy with all parts.. and especially how safe she feels in a blow... 40mph (apparent) winds against us to the Scuttlebut meet in Beaulieu recently and the autohelm steered us to windward all the way..

Saloon cabin space is more than in the Rassy and the berth in the aft cabin needs a king size fitted sheet (which just about stretches to fit)... Deck has lots of space with little to trip over but handholds in all the right places (both on deck and down below). Galley is sociable and surrounds you so safe in a sea (but this is all referring to the s38 version of the Moody).

PM me if you want a sail in the Solent.. Moody s38 and you can guess her year when you visit!
 
Bloater said:
We are boatless for the first time in 16 years, and are looking for a yacht around the 40 foot mark. We are currently looking at Hallberg Rassy 39's and Moody 40's - quite different boats, but with a huge price differential.

We originally thought of chartering, to gain some practical experience of these particular models - but commercial charter prices are horrendous. All we want is 2 or 3 days practical experience before we make an expensive mistake.

Can anyone who owns one of these boats offer any advice on the relative merits of these 2 boats - or better still, we'll happily crew for a few days, and pay for all costs and fittle. Ideally, we'd like some experience of how the boats handle.

At the risk of offending anyone, we're really not interested in any other types of yacht.
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No experience of HR 39 but had a 1996 HR 36 in the Med for a few years. Could not fault the boat.

In terms of sailing I doubt they are much different to any other AWB. However, the build quality and attention to detail is fabulous.

They hold their price well. In fact, I sold mine for 30% more than I paid (but I did get a bargain due to a forced sale). 1996 models are still being advertised for more than I sold for back in 2006!

The only other production boat I would be interested in would be an Amel but my days of spending that sort of money again are over.

Good luck.
 
Very difficult question. Both are well built, the HR is better built. Both will sail well but the HR will probably be faster. Both will hold their value.

It is really YOUR choice to spend the extra, who can say if it is worth it, I doubt you can justify buying it. But there is no logical reason to buy a new Aston Martin, but I bought two, dammed if I know why I did though.
 
I am a broker who sells Moodys and HR's and I also own a Moody 38.
The Moody's are well built with the later Bill Dixon models sailing particularly well. I have sailed and lived aboard my M38 for over 20,000 miles and would not fault her. She is a quality yacht. The HR's however are the next level up, with attention to detail in the engineering fit out and interior woodwork being 1st class. The teak trimming on deck and in the cockpit is also superior to the Moodys.

But they are both good yachts and both hold value exceptionally well, so choose one based on what feels right for you.
 
Thank you for all your thoughtfull replies so far.

xyachtdave said:
I have done a few hundred sea miles on a HR. There is much talk about their sea keeping abilities etc etc, but I was surprised how it was chucked about like any AWB you might mention.
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Could you tell me if the HR you sailed in slammed much?

MoodyNick said:
He might want a bigger Moody though !
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Actually, I have viewed your boat

Martin_J said:
PM me if you want a sail in the Solent.. Moody s38 and you can guess her year when you visit!
Click to expand...

Many thanks for the offer, I won't take you up on that at the moment as I would prefer to experience a centre cockpit design.


As all of you have rightly stated it is a hard choice, ultimately I think it will come down to whether we think a HR is worth the extra money because of it's build quality. Whilst I would prefer a HR due to the engineering excellence SWMBO would prefer a Moody because we could get away with spending less money. That's got to be a good thing right?

If anyone does like the idea of a willing crew and all expenses paid and you have one of these HR or Moody models at your disposal then please make yourself known.

Ian & Ange

Oh, I forgot to add - it's really the seakeeping ability that we are interested in hearing about and experiencing. That sort of information can only be got from people who actually have owned one of these boats.
 
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Not sure if anyone has mentioned it but, IIRC, M40s only came with in-mast furling. If that is your bag fine, if not........
 
I'm here on the south coast until the 21st of this month. If you want to spend a day on my centre cockpit 38 your more than welcome. It's not a weekend cruiser and is fully kitted out for offshore sailing.
 
think everybody agrees HR is the next level, not in sailing performance for at least in the smaller versions but in the small details.

both are well build boats and depending at the amount of effort what was put in the they can look nice even after 25 years.

HR is more stable in pricing compared to Moody
 
Bloater said:
We are boatless for the first time in 16 years, and are looking for a yacht around the 40 foot mark. We are currently looking at Hallberg Rassy 39's and Moody 40's - quite different boats, but with a huge price differential.

We originally thought of chartering, to gain some practical experience of these particular models - but commercial charter prices are horrendous. All we want is 2 or 3 days practical experience before we make an expensive mistake.

Can anyone who owns one of these boats offer any advice on the relative merits of these 2 boats - or better still, we'll happily crew for a few days, and pay for all costs and fittle. Ideally, we'd like some experience of how the boats handle.

At the risk of offending anyone, we're really not interested in any other types of yacht.
Click to expand...

Moody's have a particular following & sail suprisingly well & the older ones are solid.

HR's, are well built, but some have the disadvantage of having little stowage space, since there is tankage (water & fuel) taking up much of the space under the saloon, making them a little heavy & sometimes slow for their size.
 
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