Moody 336 / Westerly Falcon 35.

[Sovereign Frank]

Am considering one of these. Any views out there please - for a 76 year-old!
Previously have owned Bowman 26, Sovereign 32, Van de Stadt Legend 29; cruising and bit of club racing.
Cheers

 

[Concerto]

Welcome to the forum.

It really comes down to personal preference to the layout and what is currently available. As with any secondhand yacht the main consideration is condition. For your age I would definitely find the best of either one and buy it, then go sailing.

I am slightly more biased towards the Falcon as I know more about Westerly yachts, being a Fulmar owner. However in our family there has been a Moody owned. Talking with Westerly and Moody owners, the quality of build is slightly higher for the Westerly, but both are still very good production boats.

 

[Tranona]

Welcome

They were both aimed at the same market, although the Moody is arguably the more "sporty" of the 2. The challenge will be to find a good example of either of them as they were inly made in relatively small numbers. Can't find any Falcons listed at the moment, but 3 Moodys.

Many other boats that meet those basic requirements, but availability may be equally limited so you might want to cast your net wider.

 

[Concerto]

Can't find any Falcons listed at the moment, but 3 Moodys.

Falcon

You could also consider a Corsair.
Westerly Corsair

 

[Cspirit]

I agree with Concerto. I'm aged 75 and sail a Corsair. Brilliant boat. I have sailed her for nearly 20 years, and have been in the Med, Greece and Turkey, for the last 10 or so. Can't fault the boat - spacious, solid, seaworthy, safe. I have had to pass her onto my daughter's family since my wife can no longer sail. I've bought a small motor sailor, an LM27, for me and the dog ,which I'm learning to love, but I can still sail the Corsair when my daughter lets me!

 

[dunedin]

The Moody 336 is a great boat, and one of the best performers in the Moody range whilst still having a very practical interior.

 

[Tranona]

Falcon

You could also consider a Corsair.
Westerly Corsair

Doubt the Falcon is still for sale - post was in September last year (although asking price was strong!)

 

[Concerto]

Doubt the Falcon is still for sale - post was in September last year (although asking price was strong!)

I have sent a message to the seller to check.

 

[Concerto]

I have sent a message to the seller to check.

I have chatted with the owner and the Falcon is still for sale due to a sale falling through. He has had the boat for a long time and he has lost his crew to cancer and therefore has decide to get a smaller boat.

 

[SaltIre]

If buying the Moody 336 make sure the surveyor checks the hull/keel "junction". When I bought mine it was "weeping" due to the plates inside, washers between the nuts and the hull, being slightly bowed. I got the keel dropped then refitted and resealed with thicker plates. I think mine was one of the earlier Moody 336s built.
I enjoyed sailing her immensely, great boat, although not being able to reach the mainsheet which was on top of the coachroof from behind the wheel, took some getting used to. I have no experience of the Westerly Falcon.

 

[Sovereign Frank]

Thanks everyone, some useful comments. Decision made and am going for the Westerly!