Moody 336 Sailing Performance.

[DJE]

On a very wet evening in Yarmouth last Monday I was forced to admit that our much loved Sadler 29 is not actually big enough for two adults and two teenagers. So I have started thinking fairly seriously about a bigger boat. At first sight the Moody 336 seems to tick most of the boxes but I wonder how well they sail. Comparing sail area to displacement ratios the Moody comes out slightly lower than the Sadler but comparing displacement to cube of waterline length (is this right?) the Moody comes out slightly lighter than the Sadler. The ballast ratio of the Moody is considerably less than that of the Sadler.
Our Sadler is bilge keel and some will say that anything will sail better than that but in a force 4-5 in flat water we get 5.0 to 5.5 knots hard on the wind and tack through 90 degrees. A bad head sea will cut that speed down to 4.0 to 4.5 knots. On a beam reach in the same wind we will get 6.5 knots average. A reliable passage planning speed is 5.5 knots. We sail her hard and are used to healing at 25 degrees when going to windward.
How will the Moody compare with those figures? I’d like to get a couple of hours off a channel crossing in return for my investment.

 

[MoodySabre]

YOu would find it worthwhile to register on the Moody Owners Info Exchange here: http://www.moa.myzen.co.uk/cgi-bin/discus/discus.cgi
and ask the same question.
Also search "336" and see what other info you can glean.

I've got a Moody31 and I would expect better numbers than you give in a F4-5 so a 336 should also do better.

If you get a 336 then join the MOA as there is a wealth of technical stuff on the website.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Without being too rude to Moody owners, Moodys have always put the emphasis on comfort rather than performance. If you want to knock a couple of hours off of channel crossings, look at boats which are racer/cruisers or cruiser/racers, not pure cruisers.

 

[ditchcrawler]

I own a Moody 31 fin keel which sails well.I have sailed with a friend on his Moody 336 which goes well & is very comfortable for extended cruising.We have averaged 6.5/7 knots through the water on a good reach.
To get an appreciation of relative performances try www.byronsoftware.org.uk/bycn/byboat.htm
This gives some surprising figures.

 

[flaming]

[ QUOTE ]
Without being too rude to Moody owners, Moodys have always put the emphasis on comfort rather than performance. If you want to knock a couple of hours off of channel crossings, look at boats which are racer/cruisers or cruiser/racers, not pure cruisers.

[/ QUOTE ]

I would in general agree with you, however I think the 336 is a little different. Test sailed one many moons ago and remember being impressed with the sailing performance. Not going to set any records, especially in the light, but not too bad a performer.

That said.....
If you are prepared to sacrifice a little on the comfort side (especially in terms of internal volume) there are a number of fast cruiser racers from that era that may interest you. For example if the bank manager will allow you the X332 is a cracking boat.

 

[BlueSkyNick]

Dave, I would expect an answer from Skysail who owned one for many years, raced it, and also became the commodore of the MOA.

In the meantime, my answer is that you would expect the 336 to be quicker than our 346 which you have experienced.

Ignore that rude old Twister owner - the 336 is part of the S range, between S31 and S38, which were intended to be more racy versions of the conventional Moody's. Also, I expect you want to consider the bilge keel version - I know of a beautiful one, which may come up for sale but I would need to make discrete enquiries for you.

HTH
Nick

 

[FullCircle]

Sailed side by side with a Moody 336 2 years ago for an hour. Reasonably quick on a beat, nearly kept up with my Jen SO35, only a couple of boat lengths in it.
Looks nice too.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Nick, obviously, is feeling a little Moody, but I'd still back a Sigma 33, OOD 34, X-332, Dehler 34, etc, to beat a Moody 336 across the channel. They wouldn't be so comfortable to bunk-down in, though.

 

[BlueSkyNick]

I agree with you in purely racing terms, but the 336 will still be much quicker than his Sadler29 - less than 10hours Bembridge to cherbourg will be regularly achievable, and provide a little more comfort for the teenagers.

 

[Goldie]

Pop over to Close Encounter's nearest pontoon (G?) and you will find a Moody S38. The boat is new to them this year, with their previous boat being a 336. I'm sure the owners would be delighted to pass on their experiences.

 

[alldownwind]

[ QUOTE ]
Without being too rude to Moody owners, Moodys have always put the emphasis on comfort rather than performance. If you want to knock a couple of hours off of channel crossings, look at boats which are racer/cruisers or cruiser/racers, not pure cruisers.

[/ QUOTE ]
I don't think you can have sailed on a modern Moody! The 336 is a terrific boat. I have a lot of experience of the Moody S31 (bilge keeler version) which is also a very quick boat, a lot faster than the older M 31.

 

[Twister_Ken]

Yup - we all love our own boats!

No, haven't sailed a modern Moody - sailed past a fair few, though!

(dons flak jacket and retires to a safe distance!)

 

[BlueSkyNick]

Blimey, you've got the bit between your teeth today !!

 

[alldownwind]

Oooh if you weren't down there and I wasn't up 'ere, I'd be suggesting a duel.......

 

[Skyva_2]

our 336 outsailed Sigma 33s in the Round the Island, and many bigger boats too. Many 'cruising' boats are over loaded and it is hard to compare boat for boat. Agreed that X332s and the Dehler 34 are very quick; but a 336 offers better accomodation and better than average performance. We only moved away for more space and the fact that SWMBO did not get on with the low headroom in the aft cabin. But it took 10 years to make the move!

I would reef before a 25 degree heel, it does not affect boat speed. I like Sadlers too, great sailing boats but the Moody is a good package on all points of sail. If you want a boat that really goes the old Moody 33 is faster still, if sailed light!

Try to get a trial sail, someone on the MOA site might help.

 

[DJE]

Thanks everybody. Lots to think about there.
(BTW Monday night's rain was worth it for a terrific sail round the Island and back to Portsmouth on Tuesday. SWHBO ordered the cruising chute removed in Sandown Bay as the wind was touching F6 and the log was touching 7.5 knots. Everybody sunburnt and happy but the kids not too keen to spend another night on the boat!)
The Dehler 34/36 have been on my list for a long time and if I followed my prejudices I wouldn't be considering a Moody; but the numbers and the overall look of the 336 seem about right. X-yachts look great but I think they might be stretching the budget a bit too far. Hmmm.....
Goldie: Close Encounter is on the last berth on F so G people are my neighbours. I'll be down doing a few jobs on the boat this weekend so I'll look out for them.

 

[wotayottie]

I have a Moody 336 bilge and several members of our club have Sadler 29 bilges. So I can give you some guidance.

In the one "race" I have had against a Sadler 29 which had a new suit of sails, we gained about 10 % in 3 laps of a triangular course in 20 knots of wind. Pointing was much the same and leeway was if anything a little better.

Had we raced in 10 knots, the result would have been different. Like all Moodies, the 336 is undercanvassed for light winds. For example on a trip down to Padtsow in a 5 / 10 kn breeze, I was eaten for breakfast by a 26 ft long keel racy type boat from the 70's until I put the cruising chute up when we started to pull back.

Handling in a blow is excellent - tbh much better than I expected from the beamy hull. Someone has got their sums right, the helm remains light and the boat is very reluctant to round up though it will eventually do so.

Cons are the cr*p cockpit layout with both genoa and main sheets out of reach of the helmsman. Whats more, mine has reefing at the mast. Both issues are solvable but we have yet to decide whether to keep the boat or go back to a cat.

If you want 2 hours off the channel crossing, buy a multi or a 40 footer.

 

[graham]

[ QUOTE ]
No, haven't sailed a modern Moody - sailed past a fair few, though!


[/ QUOTE ]
The Cherbourg ferry is quite quick. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

Not sure of the precise handicaps but am fairly certain you would struggle in a twister to keep up with a 336.

 

[dunedin]

The Moody 336 is a great boat - and much more performance oriented than the centre cockpit moodies of similar sized. We charted one and it was superb - I looked seriously at one before buying current boat.
In the end went Elan. If you can find one in budget, the Elan 333 is a great mix of high performance, nice interior and good value. Slightly more modern than the 336 also