Moody 35 or Hallberg Rassy 36 (both 1991)

[Birdseye]

We’re looking at buying a boat to cruise the UK and med on with the potential to cross the Atlantic next year.
We are looking at a moody 35 and a Hallberg Rassy 36 - both 1991. Is the Hallberg Rassy worth the extra 20k?
Thanks!

Likely you would get that extra 20k back when you eventually sold the HR. Are they a much better boat - that I doubt. But they have extra brand value.

Personally I would spend the HR money but would go for a bigger boat. My boat is 36ft and I would not like to spend months on board something so small, two up. So I would go for 40 ft of another brand.

Size matters. Not just comfort but safety wise too.

 

[Graham376]

It always seems those wandering afar accumulate kit so I just wonder if something slightly larger might have a better long term future? Maybe this all ultimately turns on timescales for plans , ability to travel to source and what's on the market with what kit. Are there any features that rules out a particular make e.g. Needing to have new engine or whatever . If you plan to resell which might be easier in your end destinations ? How maybe moody and HR are for sale in Med or cross Atlantic ? Afraid I haven't sailed on either but I would have thought a sail on each type might be useful.

Accumulation of kit is a problem, whatever the size of boat. We ran out of spare space ages ago, the bikes live in the forecabin unless guests aboard and virtually every locker is stuffed full. I don't think there are features which rule out any make, we all have our own likes and dislikes. The centre cockpit design and size of boat we have suits us fine as a couple, with decent en-suite aft cabin and a second en-suite fwd when guests aboard. I don't want high aspect keel, spade rudder and fractional rig, not interested in high speed performance, I also don't like linear galleys and horseshoe seats around tables that are useless as sea berths. Having said that, those may well be the features someone else is looking for so makes to rule out will vary from person to person. Any late 80s early 90s boat is likely to be needing updates whatever its use so a new engine, rig, sails, radar, instruments etc. may be on the cards. For liveaboard distance use, add decent dinghy and outboard, solar panels, large battery bank, bimini, cockpit tent, electric windlass and good tackle, maybe gantry or davits - the list is long and many leave the UK unprepared.

When purchasing, location of boat may become a problem as it seems those outside the EU on B day will lose their VAT status so, those who intend spending >18 months at a stretch in the EU may well be better of buying there, plenty of boats to look at.

 

[Graham376]

.........Personally I would spend the HR money but would go for a bigger boat. My boat is 36ft and I would not like to spend months on board something so small, two up. So I would go for 40 ft of another brand. Size matters. Not just comfort but safety wise too.

Another few feet makes a big difference in accommodation but remember there's often a big jump in marina fees usually at 12m, sometimes 30% extra cost for 12.1m

 

[Jim@sea]

I note that the Moody has a Thornycroft engine. It has been my recent experience that Thornycroft engine parts are virtually impossible to get. The Thornycroft engine I had was based on the BMC Diesel and I was intending to take it from the N West of the UK to a mooring I had in Brittany, so I wanted a comprehensive box of spares.
For Instance for a long distance journey I wanted a spare Engine Water Pump which proved impossible to source. Although I may have been able to have the existing one "re-furbished" I wanted another one as a spare.
I also considered buying a second engine and having it bored, new pistons etc, but I could not find a supplier of pistons.
Certainly if you bought the Moody and got it to the states trying to get a BMC based engine serviced could be difficult.
Although I have great affection for Moody's as I bought a Moody 30 New in 1990, but that had a Volvo.
Considering that the Hallberg Rassy is £20,000 dearer, perhaps consider a New Engine in the Moody which would give you peace of mind with Worldwide Warranty. Also you would not have an issue with Teak Decks.
I did look at a similar age Moody in S Wales a couple of yeras ago and it had an expensive repair as the (forgotten correct word) bolts which secure the hallyards had pulled through the deck so that needs looking at.

 

[Graham376]

I note that the Moody has a Thornycroft engine. It has been my recent experience that Thornycroft engine parts are virtually impossible to get.

Late 80s onwards, the BMC was replaced by the Thornycroft 80D, a Mitsubishi K4D with parts readily available from Diamond Diesels and others.

 

[lrlloyd]

Thanks all for your comments - really appreciated.
We want to spend the summer here in the UK getting the grips with it all before sailing down for a season in the med next year. If we like cruising we'd like the option to then cross the atlantic.
The HR would be the better boat for the ocean crossing (to a new to boat purchasing brain). The other option is sell the moody in the med and then buy a more suitable boat down there but it seems a bit silly to have to change boats in 18 months.
Teak deck scares the life out of me. But at least it looks beautiful whilst doing that.

 

[silver-fox]

I note that the Moody has a Thornycroft engine. It has been my recent experience that Thornycroft engine parts are virtually impossible to get. The Thornycroft engine I had was based on the BMC Diesel and I was intending to take it from the N West of the UK to a mooring I had in Brittany, so I wanted a comprehensive box of spares.
For Instance for a long distance journey I wanted a spare Engine Water Pump which proved impossible to source. Although I may have been able to have the existing one "re-furbished" I wanted another one as a spare.
I also considered buying a second engine and having it bored, new pistons etc, but I could not find a supplier of pistons.
Certainly if you bought the Moody and got it to the states trying to get a BMC based engine serviced could be difficult.
Although I have great affection for Moody's as I bought a Moody 30 New in 1990, but that had a Volvo.
Considering that the Hallberg Rassy is £20,000 dearer, perhaps consider a New Engine in the Moody which would give you peace of mind with Worldwide Warranty. Also you would not have an issue with Teak Decks.
I did look at a similar age Moody in S Wales a couple of yeras ago and it had an expensive repair as the (forgotten correct word) bolts which secure the hallyards had pulled through the deck so that needs looking at.

Marine engines are often re-badged. Thornycroft engines used a variety of sources including BMC as you mention, Ford and others. Some Volvos are Perkins based. Once you know the base engine make and model there is usually a good worldwide source of spares. I had my Thornycroft 110 rebuilt this year and sourced all the parts from the local Ford Tractor dealer at a fraction of the price of buying through the marine channels.

 

[Miken]

Having just sold our Moody 35 and bought a Najad 380 (but looked at a number of HR’s) I can give my perspective

Moody 35 - great boat with good living accommodation, holds value well, a fantastic coastal cruiser and can put up with anything but was never designed to cross oceans or be a blue water cruiser but some have crossed the Atlantic for sure, downside is to make the living Accomodation large storage is not as great as some boats and it lacks a big cockpit locker which is why you always see them with fender baskets

HR and Najad - completely different class of build and Designed from the start as Blue Water, downside is in particular the 36 is interior space is less than the Moody 35 but stowage is better, We found that to get the equivalent interior space we would have had to go for a 39 rather than the 36. I personally don’t like the Gally layout of the HR although some do which was one of the reasons we ended up with Najad instead. If you want to cross Oceans then in my mind the HR or Najad will always be better but if the majority of sailing is south coast, channel and Even Med the Moody 35 is a great boat and good value for money

For info the 35 had either the Perkins Prima or Volvo 2040 which are both the same engine underneath the thornycroft was on the earlier 346

Rgds Mike