Moody 29 or Konsort?

[BigLes]

Are there any owners (past or present) who can give me further information on either? Looking at bilge keel versions of about 1982 vintage. Plus points and faults would be appreciated. And things to look out for when viewing.

Many thanks

Les

 

[SloopJohnB]

Rule 1
Never buy a bilge keel instead of a fin

Rule 2
Never buy a Moody if you can buy a Westerly

Seeya

 

[SloopJohnB]

ps
Never buy a Bav if you can buy a Moody or Westerly

 

[Rob_Webb]

I have never owned either but from anecdotal evidence wouldn't expect you to be bitterly disappointed by either choice. In a straight contest with all other factors being equal (condition, equipment, history etc) I would go for the Westerly simply because I have seen them in action and they seem to be hugely competent sea boats and to also offer great accomodation in port. I have also owned Westerlies (though not a Konsort) and liked their solid feel but am not blinkered enough to think that they are the be all and end all.....

As for bilge vs fin, I think the rule cited below is higly biased and that for a 29ft boat there is no 'rule'. I currently own a fin but have also owned bilge and I reckon my preference for either configuration swings either side of 50:50 depending on what I'm trying to achieve at that point in time. If you plan to sail mostly in open waters and achieve great upwind performance then of course the fin is preferable. But if you're not racing and want the comfort of knowing that you might settle 12-18 inches into the mud at your current anchorage then a bilge is very comforting and you will probably not arrive at your destination very far behind Mr Fin. My current boat is offered in both configurations and I went for the boat that happened to offer the best all-round package regardless of keel type.

Rob.

 

[SloopJohnB]

Depends if you want to potter not too far away from home and sit comfortably on your bilge keels. Not a question of racing but if you go any distance (especially into wind) fin wins (comfortably) every time. If you ground, much easier to get of putty with fin. I've owned both. Bilge is like towing a bucket!!
Bonsoir!

ps do they make a fin Konsort. If not - get a bigger Westerly!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Rob_Webb]

Not so.

Performance of these types of boats to windward is far more dependent on the fundamentals of the hull shape and mass rather than whether they have one or two lumps of iron hanging from them.

I am one of the few on this forum who has no particular grudge against Bavarias (so please forgive me for citing them as an example, Jeremy F) but you will find a fin-keeled Bav32/34 can provide a very uncomfortable ride to windward, thank you very much, by virtue of it's shallow initial hull shape - whilst a deeper-formed hull with bilges will provide a FAR smoother ride.

And neither of both these fine boats would have ever been released to market from their respective stables if the bilge keel version sailed as though it was towing a bucket - utter bollocks.

 

[SloopJohnB]

Not utter b******s. Fact.
If you have 2 boats of reasonably similar LWL you will generally get a better OVERALL performance from a fin than from a bilge. Dont think most buyers spend much time dissecting hull shape.
Utter b******s to say otherwise

 

[SloopJohnB]

PS

At risk of more utter b******s Konsorts often overpriced, IMHO Tempests, Storms and Fulmars are better boats and better value. But.......... watch this space for Mr Webbs opinion!!!

 

[SloopJohnB]

Rob......... you are right. Overgeneralisation for which I entirely blame Mr Guinness. There are many fine Moodys/bilge keelers.
What I meant to say was having owned both I preferred fin to bilge.
There, feel much better already!

 

[JeremyF]

I was wondering how this thread would finish. I bet the original poster is none the wiser!

<font color=blue>Jeremy Flynn/forums/images/icons/crazy.gif
Dawn Chorus</font color=blue>

 

[Guest]

Look for cracking around the top of the keels and inside the hull. Some of both had problems where they had taken ground too hard for too long!!! The Konsort is evergreen, the moody 29 was one of the last Primrose designs and heavily built.

Pete

 

[BigLes]

Peter - many thanks for the tips. I was looking for informtion like this. I didn't intend to start a debate about fin verses bilge!! We have a bilge already and want to stay with bilge as we prefer the versatility and it suits our type of sailing (quiet mooring up river creeks).

So no more about fin v bilge and a bit more information on things to look out for - build quility, longevity, quirks of design, etc.

Thanks for responses anyway!