Moody 33 v Westerly 33 - views?

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Having done quite a lot of research recently, with a view to buying in the New Year, I'm pretty ceratin that either a Moody or Westerly 33 meets my needs, which are:

- a strong & proven construction in a boat with sufficient LOA and design credentials to take me offshore safely
- a centre cockpit and aft cabin arrangement which suits the family (my boys would love the twin, separated berths)
- wheel steering
- a £30k budget!

I was just wondering whether people had a view on one or the other? I've seen plenty of examples, many well updated and maintained for the money. I hold no strong views on the sloop / ketch debate (Westerlys often having the latter) or indeed the fin / bilge keel debate (again, Westerlys giving you the choice). I like the flexibility and ease of handling of the ketch rig, the simplicity of the sloop, the better windward performance of the fin and the grounding and stability advantages of the bilge. But you can't have it all...

I'd appreciate your views on which one you would go for, and why...and also what design flaws to keep an eye out for...

Thanks

Nick
 
I can only comment on the Moody 333 having sailed a friend's on a regular basis. Built in '82, the boat is showing little sign of age and the GRP in particular, is excellent. She is quicker than her looks might suggest (this one's a fin keel), particularly in lighter airs, and she handles well under power. You obviously know the layouts you're looking for, although the 333 is quite different internally and to my eyes at least, more modern looking externally too (different coachroof moulding and more angular windows). I've raced against this boat and W33s and subjectively, I'd say that in light to moderate going the Moody is the quicker of the two, although given a beat into a F6/7, my longkeeled MAB ketch (27ft LWL) tends to leave the Moody behind easily (I haven't raced a W33 in similar conditions). Both builders have active class associations so you might get wider ranging (albeit potentially biased) opinons there. The only adverse comments I would make are that the high centre cockpit leaves me feeling exposed and perhaps lacks the security (for the boys) that some other arrangements offer, and also that the 333 doesn't seem to be that easy to keep "in the groove". Sorry to widen your net, but have you thought of looking at a Maxi 95 too? Good luck with your search.
 
I had a Westerley 33 Discus. I ended up with cronic knee problems 'cos of the bridgedeck That aside, she sailed well (fin keel), handled well in some pretty awful weather. Basically did what was said on the box. Doubt if you find much for £30K.
Good luck if you do.
 
I've not sailed the Moody but I have owned a Westerly 33 fin keeled CC ketch for 7 years and am very pleased with it. The centre cockpit feels very safe, it protects you from following breaking waves and the seat backs are high enough to give plenty of support and security.
Our young grandsons stay aboard without coming to any harm (we fit netting around the guardrails when they are expected). We have sailed about 12,000 miles in her and had our fair share of bad weather without ever feeling that the boat was near her limits.
She's not a quick boat by any means but a very safe one and ideal for our cruising and budget.
Our's is the 1979 model with separate aft cabin and 2 huge cockpit lockers. I find the walkthrough models less attractive because you loose locker space but they might be more secure if young children sleep in the aft cabin.
Our's cost £28,500 in 1999, so you should be within budget.
Good luck in your search.
 
Get a copy of Sailing Today - Nov 2006
they have just reviewed the Westerly 33 and gave the Evasion 34, Moody 33, Rival 32 & Sun Odyssey 34.2 as alternatives with for/against verdicts on all.
 
I have a Moody 33 and am well pleased. Like most things in life, there are compromises and trade offs. The cockpit is large, secure and comfortable - but I am not entirely sure what would happen if if filled from wave action, especially with the engine underneath. This has never happened to me, despite experiencing some large seas. The construction is of the proverbial yet she sails well. Accommodation and stowage is excellent. As to performance vs the Westerly, I suspect Goldie is about right. I am probably biased and have never owned a Westerly, but have sailed in one on occasions, but I think the Moody is better mannered, more balanced and forgiving of senior moments than a westerly. They are both good boats and I suspect your eventual choice will depend on what you find is available!
 
I have a Moody 33 mk2 fin keel, and am very pleased with it. As I got it at a good price, it needed a lot of work which I am gradually doing. I've just fitted a new engine, the original BMC 1500 was knackered - you couldn't see the boat for the smoke! The rear cabin works well and the grandchildren love it! We also like the central cockpit. Not been out in any serious weather yet but so far it's behaved well. The M33 seem to go for between 25 and 35k and there are plenty of examples around.
Try the Moody Owners Association where there are often boats for sale.
 
We bought a W33 twin keel ketch in 2001 and have sailed her in some pretty rough north sea weather but my wife could handle her to windward in F7 with no trouble. The ketch rig is not everybody's cup of tea and is a pain on a run, best to have a decent cruising chute. However my other half actually won't sail on anything else and i'm inclined to agree. We spend hours pottering along under mizzen and jib but still at a decent rate. I dont agree these boats are slow, you just have to work at it a bit more. In a short steep chop to weather they will leave more rotund modern designs standing and remain under complete control.
In fact we liked her so much we sold her and bought a Solway ketch which is basically the same configuration but 36' and with a decent size walk through.
Bought both in Holland where elderly Westerlies have not held their price like they have here. There is a nice looking 33 on www.botenbank.nl at about £22000.
Best of luck
 
We have owned a Westerly Corsair and a Moody 38, both for long term/distance cruising. They are both tough well built cruisers but I have to favour the Moody for refinement in bulid. Stories of both boats on our travels can be found here here but I would not discount a Westerly, she looked after us very well in a force 10. /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
 
This IS November 2006, although the December issue came out this week ! You might still find a copy at the newsagent.


I'm going into hospital on monday for a couple of weeks, but if you're still looking when I get out I'll see what I can do.
 
I looked into this about 3 years ago. i came down on the side of the moody.it is roomy well mannered and built very strongly. the particlar points about the westerly that i did not like were the steering position with the wheeltight aaginst the mizzen mast. the headlining problem and the aft cabin which I felt ws inferior to the moody.
having said that, the westerly is a very tough boat with a great reputation and good resale potential.
of the moody 33 I would favour the walkthro if if you have young children as I find they like to keep in contact with the main cabin. for older people the standard 33 mark 11 is great. the aft cabin is roomy with proper berths that you get in from the side rather than trying to slot on from the end.
the engines on both are very reliable with the bmc just shading it for me with its simple design and instantly available cheap spares.
I would certainly look at many and buy a well sorted well cared for example rather than a cheaper neglected one.
finally both have very active owner associations with the moody being paricularly lively and well informed.
good luck.
 
Having sailed a Westerly Fulmar (32 ft) for 8 seasons I can strongly recommend one - excellent accommodation and a very good sailing boat, easy to handle and a good pointer. I have paced it against similar Moody yachts (notably the very capacious 336) and found it fully up to the mark. I also sailed the Fulmar back across the N Sea in a full gale and it stood up to it perfectly.

Ketch rig has to be an acquired taste at this length of boat - so much more rigging about, for how much sail control? No wonder ketch rig is declining.

Think hard about the keel choice - even with the Fulmar, which I rate about the best for bilge keel performance, there is a lot of slap in any kind of seaway. It can get you down. I am now converted back to a fin, and would not trade it for any reputed advantage of "creek crawling". No surprise twin keels are a British fetish - no one else believes in them!

Finally, you will have to find a few bob more than £30k for a good example of 33 footer. If you pay less you will likely have to re-rig, overhaul the engine and drive/ refit the sail locker etc - all 4 figures costs.

Do look abroad, especially to Holland, for examples of your chosen vessel - better deals can often be done there, especially at the current rate of exchange, and dealers are at least as straight there as here! And the standard of boat presentation through a dealer there is almost bound to be better than in the UK! Check it out.

PWG


PWG
 
The Fulmar is a very fine boat but there is no way it will outsail a properly sailed Moody 336. Nor is it capacious compared with a Primrose Moody 33 or 333.

In the RTI we were up with 39 footers and there were no Fulmars in sight.

But they are both very good boats.

Harumph...
 
Yes I had realised that it is Nov 2006, but all the newsagents I went round in Glasgow yesterday had moved on to the Dec issue. On the offchance I took a wander down to Largs Chandlers and they still had Nov. Unfortunately the one I bought has the maintenance section twice, and the rest missing so I'll have to swap it on my past a little later this afternoon. All the best with your hospital visit, and thanks for your offer.
 
For what it's worth I also went through this exercise about 4 years ago and also decided on the Moody - for pretty much the same reasons as you did. We had a Westerly before so we knew all about headlinings!

We got a M33 MkII which came with a cockpit tent which we find a real boon. We tend to use the aft cabin a lot and having the cockpit enclosed is a real advantage when visiting the head on a wet night. Makes up for not having a walk-through.
 
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