Moody 346

Cardo

Cardo

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In a plastic tub!
www.yacht-tinkerbell.co.uk
I get the general impression the Moody range of boats are pretty solid setups.
As an example, there's a 1988 Moody 346 for sale for £51k at the moment. I'm not going to be buying it, but if the equipment and condition is good, would this be a recommended boat for someone who is looking to liveaboard? I quite like the aft double berth cabin with setee etc., looks like a nice room to live in. What kind of insulation do Moodies have? Has anyone lived aboard one? Thoughts?
 
We liveaboard (not a Moody) and have some very good friends who have sailed their 346 from USA to Spain and then off to OZ via Panama. They are currently in Papua New Guinea. It is a very pleasant boat to live on and is economical in terms of berthing and maintenance.
 
We have a 346 and love it as a couple for cruising the south coast and English CHannel but I wouldn't want to live aboard.

Being 6'6" the accommodation is fine for a few days, but I would end up like quasimodo if we lived aboard! The galley and heads compartment are also too small.

For anybody 12inches shorter, it would be fine though.
 
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We have a 346 and love it as a couple for cruising the south coast and English CHannel but I wouldn't want to live aboard.

Being 6'6" the accommodation is fine for a few days, but I would end up like quasimodo if we lived aboard! The galley and heads compartment are also too small.

For anybody 12inches shorter, it would be fine though.

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I'm just under 5'10, would I be able to stand straight in the boat? Most boats I've seen online claim to have head space of about 6' or so, which would be fine for my average height.
 
Yep, I am sure you can stand up OK in the most of the main saloon area.

Of course there are 101 factors to consider regarding a boat for living aboard. After space for me, 2nd on my list would be storage. Assuming you and another use either the aft cabin as the main sleeping quarters, you would probably want to create some form of storage facility in the forepeak. Not sure how practical this would be. You could sleep forward, and use the aft cabin as a work area and storage.

We have never lived aboard, but are thinking about doing so a few months at a time. I would be looking for a minimum 40 footer - a Moody 44 would be ideal IMO.
 
We live aboard a Moody 41, I'm 6' and a bit and I have standing room everywhere except the passageway through to the after cabin. Very happy onboard - good solid boat that also sails well. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Not lived on the 346 for any length of time. Only a couple of weeks at one time.
Bit cousy for two, but for one person, it would probably be ok.
At 5'10'' you might get fed up with the galley and the access to the aft cabin. I am 5'8'' and I got tied of bending. The storage is a bit mean apart from the cockpit locker of course. But then you would probably want to fit a generator in there and loose more space.
Nice friendly boat though, very nice to sail solo.
/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif
 
Hello again Cardo

I see you have taken the insulation bit seriously. From personal experience owing a Scanmar 35 which is very similiar in size to 346 and staying on board a lot during the winter in Scotland, the size is ok. A few tips that will make the aft cabin more habitable during cold weather were:
Scanmar had slatted wooden side lining over very thick hull, however the side the 'double' was on still got lined with some of the sticky back carpet fabric (available from Hawke House Marine) - that helped. As would a slatted board, ventair or similiar beneath the matress. However (no laughing folks) I had an electric underblanket (ring main fitted to boat), over extended bed base and a wonderful goose feather filled duvet - result!
A walk through aft cabin would without doubt make your floating home much more liveable.
 
Further to my previous reply. I now realise that you intend to lie in UK. We are in the Med which means that we spend 95% of our waking day in the cockpit. Issues like stooping through a walkthrough did not occur to me.

As an illustration - a winter berth for a 346 in the lovely city of Seville would be half the price of a 44 footer. Worth a bit of stooping although you only get to spend about 90% of your winter waking hours in the cockpit. Message is that if you want a small liveaboard - head south!
 
Cardo,
Are you having second thoughts on the Bav?

Yes the moody is a great boat I had a 1976 30, which required a bit of work , but she was a joy to sail and she looked really great when finished.
I would have lived on her without a problem, In fact the previous owners did & sailed all over the med. but I would think for your purposes in London a newer design with beter interior layout would be more suitable.
Take your time & have a look at the london boatshow, visit some of the brookers stands as well as the big manufactures.

The sense of anticipation is a great feeling, aint it?

poter
 
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Cardo,
Are you having second thoughts on the Bav?

Yes the moody is a great boat I had a 1976 30, which required a bit of work , but she was a joy to sail and she looked really great when finished.
I would have lived on her without a problem, In fact the previous owners did & sailed all over the med. but I would think for your purposes in London a newer design with beter interior layout would be more suitable.
Take your time & have a look at the london boatshow, visit some of the brookers stands as well as the big manufactures.

The sense of anticipation is a great feeling, aint it?

poter

[/ QUOTE ]
Not second thoughts, just keeping my options open!
I must admit, I do quite like the look and equipment the Bav comes with. And with a new boat, I can get the exact setup I'd like. It's a pity they don't appear to have the best reputation. Will keep my eyes open and see how it pans out.
I'll be popping along to the LBS to get a good look at all the boats and see what I like most.

Anticipation? Unfortunately, I won't be buying for a little while, yet!
 
Well the offers still open if you want a guided tour to help the cause /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

We spent 5 weeks sailing/living on the boat when we did our 1300nm cruise down to La Rochelle and back this summer. Being away from marinas for up to 5 days at a time, it was amazing how we filled the boat up. We even had two bicycles on board, which was great for touring around some of the islands.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Hello again Cardo

However (no laughing folks) I had an electric underblanket (ring main fitted to boat), over extended bed base and a wonderful goose feather filled duvet - result!


[/ QUOTE ]

What's funny about that, we had one in the UK, wouldn't be without it most of the year. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
 
Sorry to resurrect this post, but could any of you who own a Moody tell me what the heads is like? Is it acceptable for liveaboard use? If it's old, would I be able to rip it out and have a decent loo put in there? What about the shower? What does it consist of? Can it be set up so one can have a reasonable shower without getting the entire heads wet?
Cheers for any info!
 
The 346 heads is OK, though not as big as a 336 - but then not many boats will!

You might get additional information by posting on the Moody Owners site -

MOA


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