Moody 333 - Decent turn of speed?

A

Amp1ng

Well-Known Member
Joined
5 Jan 2009
Messages
98
Visit site
I'm currently considering a number of vessels as a replacement for this season. Ideally less than 33' LOA, less than 30K with reasonable sailing performance (good speed through the water and CMG to windward), max draft less than 4' 6'' so as to permit exploration of the French canals and a separate (decent sized) aft cabin.

Amongst others the Moody 333 fin keel has caught my attention (although it draws a little over the stated requirement) however I'm not sure what can be expected from said vessel in light airs. The recorded PN is in the same region as a Fulmar fin keel but I just don't get it myself. Is the Moody 333 really that good, some old reviews I have read seem to suggest that she was a little on the sluggish side.

Anyone got any points of view on the Moody in this respect or indeed some aternative suggestions.

Many thanks
 
Moody 33

The CYCA rating is a good comparison, the Moody gets about 18, (minutes per hour allowance) compared to a Sadler 34 at 16, and a Sigma 33 at 15.25, modern 33 footers like X yachts and my Finngulf rate about 12.5 to 13. The figures are for medium conditions and the Moody would be a bit worse than some others in light conditions. (Smallish rig)
To compare add 60 to each figure to get a ratio.
Extensive list hundreds of boats going by years but regularly updated on the website at www.cyca-online.org.uk (as far as I remember).
I will check and come back.
Go to Handicaps, click on 'look up classes' then on 'look up database'
 
Last edited:
Amp1ng said:
I'm currently considering a number of vessels as a replacement for this season. Ideally less than 33' LOA, less than 30K with reasonable sailing performance (good speed through the water and CMG to windward), max draft less than 4' 6'' so as to permit exploration of the French canals and a separate (decent sized) aft cabin.

Amongst others the Moody 333 fin keel has caught my attention (although it draws a little over the stated requirement) however I'm not sure what can be expected from said vessel in light airs. The recorded PN is in the same region as a Fulmar fin keel but I just don't get it myself. Is the Moody 333 really that good, some old reviews I have read seem to suggest that she was a little on the sluggish side.

Anyone got any points of view on the Moody in this respect or indeed some aternative suggestions.

Many thanks
Click to expand...
The 333 is the same hull as the 33, which when first introduced was thought of as a very ugly but spacious caravan. Then Angus Primrose the designer took one virtually straight off the production line to 4th place in the Azores race, and later did a OSTAR transatlantic race in a very respectable time for a 33 ft cruiser. They are not as slow as they look..

I must say I am surprised that the PN is the same as a Fulmar fin-keeler though: I'd have thought a M33 was a bit, but not that much, slower.
 
The 333 is a development of the original Primrose 33 but with better accommodation and a walkthrough to the aft cabin. They are very popular with budget liveaboards because of the space, reasonable performance and relatively shallow draft. Many have done the trip you are contemplating and in the price range they would be high on the list. All the usual qualifications about age and old engines plus osmosis if it bothers you. Look carefully at the keel and fastening, skeg, steering gear and electrics. However, nothing much to touch them as a spacious centre cockpit 33 footer at the price.
 
The Fulmar isn't a particularly fast boat and the 333 has almost the same ratio of sail area to displacement ie power to weight ratio. Indeed on the Byron site the 333 has a slightly lower PY handicap than the Fulmar and should therefore be slightly faster on average. Both are cruisers rather than cruiser racers.

The difference in average speed between a cruiser like the 333 and a cruiser racer like a First 33.7 is only about 12% plus or minus any difference between sailing skills. In my experience of our racing fleet, skill level is a bigger factor - we have two identical Sigmas racing in the same fleet and the performance difference is on average more than 15%.

So I guess what I'm saying is that any inherent performance difference on same loa cruisers will be small and easily overcome by decent sailing and decent sails.

If you want to go really fast you have to go really exotic.
 
Moody 333

I bought a Moody 33 early last year with similar requirements to yours. I went for the 33mk1 rather than later variants because I prefer the layout for liveaboard and long term cruising. With a cockpit enclosure now added I have an easy and dry route to the aft cabin, and a large extra cabin as well.
I thought the compromise would be sailing performance but I have been pleasantly surprised at her turn of speed. Except hard on the wind she performs very well indeed. Light airs are fine and she is remarkably stiff as the wind picks up. Going to windward I just free off a little to get speed up and leeway down.
Good luck with your search.
 
We had a Moody 33 Mk 1 ('Balki'), which Jos and I took through France to the Mediteranean in 1989/90.

The downside....well, apologies to any present owners who read this, but they're not the prettiest boats afloat, are they?

The upsides, however, are plenty:

Good volume, very easily handled by two, big cockpit to soak up the sun, shallow draft, really good sailing performance, and powerful performance under engine (reversing into awkward berths a doddle).

We sailed for a couple of months in company with two other couples, in an Invicta and an Albin Vega. Yes, both much smaller than the Moody, but the difference in our progress under sail always amazed me...like a Jaguar overtaking a couple Fiestas!

Someone suggested earlier in the thread, that he thought, from looking at them on the hard, that the Moody 33 would not be very good to windward.......you couldn't be more wrong!! They are light on the helm, slice to windward very pleasingly, and take bad weather in their stride.

All in all, they are a really fantastic design!
 
I looked at a 333 to buy a couple of years ago. I agree with what has been said here. The one we looked at had been to the Caribbean and back. The 333 is a prettier version of the original 33 as it had a new deck design. The walkthrough to the aft cabin was a bit low - but then I am tall!!! Another thing to look for is any compression/deforming of the deck below the mast. I saw two with this. I believe there is a lump of wood under there that can get saturated and rot away. Otherwise this boat is a solid centre cockpit with good performance and a solid feel. I would have bought one.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

Frogmogman
My next boat.
2 3
Replies
40
Views
1K
fredrussell
F

Share this page

Top