Moody 346 - Bilge Keel, opinions?

I have no direct experience of the Moody but have owned the BK version of the Westerly Oceandream and had sailing experience of the fin keel version of the Westerly Oceanquest (both the Oceandream and Oceanquest are the 34ft Seahawk/Falcon hull with a sugar scoop). I found the loss of performance and windward pointing marginal and more than offset against the added practicality of the lower draft and the ability to dry out. I have recently considered the Moody 36 and would probably go for a BK version over the fin if one was available.
 
I had a bilge keel 346 for 3 years, excellent seaboat sailed across the north sea several times in winds up to 40 knots (inadvertently I might add!) never gave me any reason to worry, the difference between the fin and bilge when sailing to windward was not noticable - moodys like to be sailed a little free anyway. the accomodation is good. aft berth was a little narrow for us probably by about 6inches but that was possibly just us. good boat - I have just traded up to 422 which is basically a bigger version but fin, if I could have got it as a bilge keeler I would have.
 
Interesting thread, will keep watching

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moodys like to be sailed a little free anyway

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Is this a polite way of saying they don't point so well? If so, perhaps this explains the lack of difference between bilge and fin. It's hard to believe a well set-up fin keel boat won't leave it's twin keel sister struggling to stay in its wake to windward.
 
Being realistic, a properly sailed fin keel boat will outpoint a bilge keel. Our fin keel Moody 336 points equally as well as any other fin keel production boat, and better than many. A bilge keel does of course have other advantages, and the Moody 346 is very popular in either configuration. It mainly depends on your sailing waters and the kind of cruising you enjoy.
 
I'd gladly foresake sea performance if I wanted to spend time exploring creeks and drying harbours and really wouldn't worry about how well she goes to windward.

As boats get larger, the creek-crawling advantages diminish and that's probably why they no longer offer bilge keel options
 
Interesting article on keel choices for Sadlers here. Mike Lucas even tried to put some numbers to the relative performace for the Sadler 32. But this is difficult as all the different keel options carry the same rig and the twin keeled boats tend to be reefed a bit earlier. We are more than happy with the windward performance of our twin keel Sadler 29. A keen crew and new sails helps though.
 
A further question on pointing ability in general. When we sail a little free on a beat the boat goes faster, it's easier to helm and life feels good. If we use the vmg read out when going to windward, the maximum vmg is obtained when the boat is pointing very high, it feels slow and is very sensitive to one or two degrees of helm either way. It feels awful. Should I trust the instrument?
 
If the boat is well set up, there will be a 'groove' in which she sails well and fast when hard on the wind. You won't need any instruments.
 
We don't have the luxury of VMG on the instruments but I did some rough sums on this once and decided that it was better to sail a bit freer. The difference between cosine 44 degrees and cosine 47 degrees (the component of your course directly to windward) is about 5%. So if by aiming off 3 degrees (of true wind angle) you get more than 5% extra speed it should be worth it.
We can often increase our speed by 10% from 5.0 to 5.5 knots by aiming off those 3 degrees. Also as you say it feels better and it is much easier to keep the boat in the groove.
 
Doesnt the instruments calculate vmg based on boat speed and heading ONLY hence no allowance for leeway. My inclination is always go for speed then point as high as possible without bleeding off too much speed.
 
[ QUOTE ]
A further question on pointing ability in general. When we sail a little free on a beat the boat goes faster, it's easier to helm and life feels good. If we use the vmg read out when going to windward, the maximum vmg is obtained when the boat is pointing very high, it feels slow and is very sensitive to one or two degrees of helm either way. It feels awful. Should I trust the instrument?

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I dont think its even a question of trust - assuming there is no fault in the particular GPS, then what it tells you is fact. Assuming your boat can tack through 90 deg and that the destination is dead ahead, then the difference between (say) 45deg to the course and 40 deg is over 8% or maybe half a knot of vmg. Either way, I'd back the GPS against feel for getting the best real VMG any day.
 
A GPS only knows which way your boat is moving. It cant know which way it is pointing. So it always includes leeway, tides etc. It cant do otherwise.
 
Whilst various comparative tests over the years have shown little difference between bilge and fin versions of the same boat, there is no doubt that a bilge keeled 346 wouldnt keep up with a deep fin First of the same length.

But then why would you ever contemplate buying a bilge keeler, with all the restrictions of choice that involves, if you didnt need that keel configuration ie if fin is not an option.

I have a bilge keel Moody. I use drying moorings, go up little creeks etc, and if I want to go directly upwind and time is tight I use the engine. Its an excellent floating caravan. Just what we want - we are cruisers not racers and the last few degrees to windward dont matter

If I wanted a fin keeler and I sailed in an area like the south coast where its practical to do nothing but marina hop I wouldnt buy a Moody. Build quality isnt impressive and there definitely are better sailing fin keelers. IMHO

So - do you need bilge?
 
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