beancounter
Well-Known Member
Any thoughts/observations on these two boats?
Plus points, drawbacks or vices?
thanks
Plus points, drawbacks or vices?
thanks
Moody 35 vs Westerly Oceanquest
- Thread starter beancounter
- Start date
jamesjermain
Well-Known Member
If you can be patient, I suggest you wait for the December issue of YM (published in early November) which will contain a head-to-head assessment of the Seahawk, Moody 346 and Sadler 34. I appreciate that these are not quite the models you are looking at but the Oceanquest is a development of the Seahawk and the Moody 35 is the replacement for the 346. Both your boats are significant improvements on the earlier models but you might pick up some ideas.
beancounter
Well-Known Member
Thanks JJ - that will be useful
Whitelighter
Well-Known Member
Never been on an OceanQuest, but we had an M35 from 1995-1997. Very nice boat, good for a family and a definite improvement over the 346. Never the fastest boat, but a good solid cruiser that took my family all over the place from Brittany to the Scillies and the West Country.
Galley is one side of the walk through to the aft cabin which is the only real negative, can be a bit of a shuffle if the cook is cooking and you want to get to the cabin. Other than that, nice boat which still looks modern today
Galley is one side of the walk through to the aft cabin which is the only real negative, can be a bit of a shuffle if the cook is cooking and you want to get to the cabin. Other than that, nice boat which still looks modern today
Jonny_H
Well-Known Member
We looked at both of these when buying our boat, here are our opinions on both of them having seen a few examples of each:
Moody 35 - Great looking, well built and modern interior. Felt substantial. Only downsides; 1) As noted above the galley runs underneath the cockpit down the side of the boat we felt at sea you would always be banging your head as it was quite cramped; 2) No dedicted seat for the chart table (you sit on the end of the saloon seating) we thought this wasn't very practical if wearing wet weather gear.
Westerly Oceanquest - Again, felt very solid. A more modern layout and feel than the Seahawk. The deck is better than the Seahawk (on which the cockpit felt as though it was 'perched' on top of the boat and a little exposed). Interior was great, but the saloon felt a little small for us (as a liveaboard prospect). Only other downsides were the usual Westerly things, ie Osmosis potential and headlinings - although the example we saw were very good in both these departments.
If its a centre cockpit your looking for (which it sounds like it is), we also looked at:
Moody 37/376
Moody 38 (although more money than the others your considering)
Colvic Countess 35 / 37 (we bought a 37 in the end and love it to pieces!)
Southerly 110
Others we thought about
HR352
Oyster Heritage
Rival 38
Westerly Oceanquest (aft cockpit)
Some other ideas here to think about maybe?
(All above are just my opinions!)
Jonny
Moody 35 - Great looking, well built and modern interior. Felt substantial. Only downsides; 1) As noted above the galley runs underneath the cockpit down the side of the boat we felt at sea you would always be banging your head as it was quite cramped; 2) No dedicted seat for the chart table (you sit on the end of the saloon seating) we thought this wasn't very practical if wearing wet weather gear.
Westerly Oceanquest - Again, felt very solid. A more modern layout and feel than the Seahawk. The deck is better than the Seahawk (on which the cockpit felt as though it was 'perched' on top of the boat and a little exposed). Interior was great, but the saloon felt a little small for us (as a liveaboard prospect). Only other downsides were the usual Westerly things, ie Osmosis potential and headlinings - although the example we saw were very good in both these departments.
If its a centre cockpit your looking for (which it sounds like it is), we also looked at:
Moody 37/376
Moody 38 (although more money than the others your considering)
Colvic Countess 35 / 37 (we bought a 37 in the end and love it to pieces!)
Southerly 110
Others we thought about
HR352
Oyster Heritage
Rival 38
Westerly Oceanquest (aft cockpit)
Some other ideas here to think about maybe?
(All above are just my opinions!)
Jonny
Whitelighter
Well-Known Member
Yes, we moved up to an M38 after the M35 because it was that little bit bigger in all areas and that was better for long weeks away.
Jonny_H
Well-Known Member
The 38 is very nice. Jonic (a forumite) is living aboard his in the med, and my parents also have one and cruise the med in the summers.
Beautiful boats, but a little above the price range of the others being considered. (I think the 1995ish - 2002ish ones go for £95k - £120k and the 2002 onwards ones (with a slightly different interior layout) go for £115k to £130k)
Jonny
Beautiful boats, but a little above the price range of the others being considered. (I think the 1995ish - 2002ish ones go for £95k - £120k and the 2002 onwards ones (with a slightly different interior layout) go for £115k to £130k)
Jonny
beancounter
Well-Known Member
Thanks for the info Jonny.
I'm afraid the M38 would be out of our price range (I actually like the interior layout of the M376 better, as the U-shaped galley looks more user-friendly) However, the M376 would not meet one of SWMBO's key requirements, namely that any future boat be newer than our (1989 vintage) Moody 31.
As for HR, Oyster etc. - that would be moving from "practical dreaming" to "wild fantasy".... /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
I'm afraid the M38 would be out of our price range (I actually like the interior layout of the M376 better, as the U-shaped galley looks more user-friendly) However, the M376 would not meet one of SWMBO's key requirements, namely that any future boat be newer than our (1989 vintage) Moody 31.
As for HR, Oyster etc. - that would be moving from "practical dreaming" to "wild fantasy".... /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
beancounter
Well-Known Member
Jez,
thanks - the galley was the area that most bothered me (and it would certainly bother SWMBO /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif). The galley in the walk-through to the aft cabin seems to be a common feature in CC boats (the Benny 361 CC is the same).
Heigh-ho....I suppose there's no such thing as the perfect boat /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
thanks - the galley was the area that most bothered me (and it would certainly bother SWMBO /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif). The galley in the walk-through to the aft cabin seems to be a common feature in CC boats (the Benny 361 CC is the same).
Heigh-ho....I suppose there's no such thing as the perfect boat /forums/images/graemlins/ooo.gif
Jonny_H
Well-Known Member
The Oyster Heritage we looked at was £68k, and the HR352's go for as little as £55k (look on www.yachtworld.com )
Our budget was £60k (needless to say we went over by the customary 10%!!)
Age is a funny one - our boat (Colvic Countess 37) was home completed by a retired shipwright - so the hull was actually moulded in 1989 - sold in 1992, and then not launched until 1996. The design of her is quite traditional (encapsulated keel, full skeg, wineglass transom), so she doesn't look like an 'new' boat (no sugar scoop etc) yet she is a 1996 boat.
We looked on many Moody 376's etc from the 80's which were in better condition and had more modern equipment than some boats from the mid to late 90's which had been used more and not maintained as well.
Good luck with the search - let us know what you decide - it will be interesting to compare.
Incidentally, what type of sailing are you planning on doing in it?
Jonny
Our budget was £60k (needless to say we went over by the customary 10%!!)
Age is a funny one - our boat (Colvic Countess 37) was home completed by a retired shipwright - so the hull was actually moulded in 1989 - sold in 1992, and then not launched until 1996. The design of her is quite traditional (encapsulated keel, full skeg, wineglass transom), so she doesn't look like an 'new' boat (no sugar scoop etc) yet she is a 1996 boat.
We looked on many Moody 376's etc from the 80's which were in better condition and had more modern equipment than some boats from the mid to late 90's which had been used more and not maintained as well.
Good luck with the search - let us know what you decide - it will be interesting to compare.
Incidentally, what type of sailing are you planning on doing in it?
Jonny
Jonny_H
Well-Known Member
Galley:
The Moody 37 / 376 has a U shaped galley, as does the earlier Moody 38, but the newer Moody 38 has a walk through galley!?
Our Colvic Countess has a U shape galley which we think is great.
The Seahawk had a galley under the cockpit (but with more headroom than the Moody 35 as the cockpit was higher up), but the later Oceanquests had a U or L shaped galley (if I recall correctly)
Jonny
The Moody 37 / 376 has a U shaped galley, as does the earlier Moody 38, but the newer Moody 38 has a walk through galley!?
Our Colvic Countess has a U shape galley which we think is great.
The Seahawk had a galley under the cockpit (but with more headroom than the Moody 35 as the cockpit was higher up), but the later Oceanquests had a U or L shaped galley (if I recall correctly)
Jonny
Jonny_H
Well-Known Member
Another point (I should have remembered all these at the same time to save multilple posts - never mind) was the sailing performance.
When I looked at the Seahawk lots of people told me they didn't sail to windward very well or cope with big seas as the cockpit is high up and brings the centre of gravity up.
I know they redesigned the deck for the Oceanquest, but didn't look into them enough to know whether this was still a problem.
(I know lots of people like the Seahawk and don't want to start a row - just passing on what I was told)
Jonny
When I looked at the Seahawk lots of people told me they didn't sail to windward very well or cope with big seas as the cockpit is high up and brings the centre of gravity up.
I know they redesigned the deck for the Oceanquest, but didn't look into them enough to know whether this was still a problem.
(I know lots of people like the Seahawk and don't want to start a row - just passing on what I was told)
Jonny
Whitelighter
Well-Known Member
Funny thing is we had a 1990 MKII M31 before trading up to the 35. For her shortcomings with the galley, the 35 was a really plus from the 31, for cruising with near teens as me an my brother were then. The plus points are a good sized head, nice safe deep cockpit and a boat that is dead easy to sail shorthanded when the mood takes you.
There is enough headroom in the galley, and we never had an issue using it underway. You even hav a window to look out of which helps with the motion sickness. It was more in port or at anchor, with someone wanting access to the cabin while the cook was busy. Easy was round is drop through the big hatch, but this can be a little ungraceful /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
There is enough headroom in the galley, and we never had an issue using it underway. You even hav a window to look out of which helps with the motion sickness. It was more in port or at anchor, with someone wanting access to the cabin while the cook was busy. Easy was round is drop through the big hatch, but this can be a little ungraceful /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
beancounter
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
Incidentally, what type of sailing are you planning on doing in it?
[/ QUOTE ]
I think "plan" implies a firmer situation than at present. The aim is still to do some extended cruising - to that extent Stargazer was always intended to be a first step.
The post has really come about from a discussion SWMBO & I had at the weekend (over a bottle of wine, natch /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif) about what would be our criteria for a future boat. SWMBO had 3 main "musts":
- new than our present boat
- roomy sleeping accomodation
- slightly bigger heads & galley
The sleeping accomodation is the point that has had me looking at CC boats. Neither of us are keen on the idea of sleeping in the "letterbox" under the cockpit sole (which is what many aft cabins are) for extended periods. Forecabins really only become roomy (I think - I may be wrong) once you get north of about 36ft.
Hence the M35/Oceanquest question.
Incidentally, what type of sailing are you planning on doing in it?
[/ QUOTE ]
I think "plan" implies a firmer situation than at present. The aim is still to do some extended cruising - to that extent Stargazer was always intended to be a first step.
The post has really come about from a discussion SWMBO & I had at the weekend (over a bottle of wine, natch /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif) about what would be our criteria for a future boat. SWMBO had 3 main "musts":
- new than our present boat
- roomy sleeping accomodation
- slightly bigger heads & galley
The sleeping accomodation is the point that has had me looking at CC boats. Neither of us are keen on the idea of sleeping in the "letterbox" under the cockpit sole (which is what many aft cabins are) for extended periods. Forecabins really only become roomy (I think - I may be wrong) once you get north of about 36ft.
Hence the M35/Oceanquest question.
FullCircle
Well-Known Member
Full Circle? Lovely forward cabin......
Oceanranger
Member
Don't know your budget, but have you considered an Oceanranger? Sails much better than the Seahawk hull. We've had both and there's no comparison. We are now retiring from sailing so our 1993 Oceanranger is for sale at £65000. PM me if interested.
beancounter
Well-Known Member
[ QUOTE ]
have you considered an Oceanranger?
[/ QUOTE ]
No, I hadn't. Nothing against them, tho'. I guess I was focussing around the 35ft mark, as being a reasonable point in the size - cost - age triangle (i.e. for a given price, you can have a smaller, newer boat or a bigger, older boat). The price you mention is probably around our budget.
Don't know much about the Oceanranger - I assume it's comparable with the Moody 376. Mind you, both of them would feel like sailing the Bismarck after our 31 footer...
have you considered an Oceanranger?
[/ QUOTE ]
No, I hadn't. Nothing against them, tho'. I guess I was focussing around the 35ft mark, as being a reasonable point in the size - cost - age triangle (i.e. for a given price, you can have a smaller, newer boat or a bigger, older boat). The price you mention is probably around our budget.
Don't know much about the Oceanranger - I assume it's comparable with the Moody 376. Mind you, both of them would feel like sailing the Bismarck after our 31 footer...
Jonny_H
Well-Known Member
We started off hell bent on buying a Seahawk as it looked like the right boat for us. We then looked at the Moody 34 / 346 as an alternative.
Out of interest we looked on the Moody 37 / 376 and found it was a lot more boat for not much more money. All the things we didn't like about the 34 / 346 were resolved in the 37 / 376. We then looked on an Oceanranger / Sealord and the Typhoon (aft cockpit version).
We ended up with a 37 footer, but did start off looking for a 34 / 35 footer.
The extra two foot on deck doesn't seem much (especially with a centre cockpit as you have 6 foot of it behind you so when looking forwards it only feels like a 31 footer!) but the interior difference can be quite substantial.
The only downside is anything over 36 feet puts you the wrong side of 11 metres for the marina (although everywhere I have been I have told them I am 11 metres and they haven't asked (I'm 11.2 overall)).
Jonny
Out of interest we looked on the Moody 37 / 376 and found it was a lot more boat for not much more money. All the things we didn't like about the 34 / 346 were resolved in the 37 / 376. We then looked on an Oceanranger / Sealord and the Typhoon (aft cockpit version).
We ended up with a 37 footer, but did start off looking for a 34 / 35 footer.
The extra two foot on deck doesn't seem much (especially with a centre cockpit as you have 6 foot of it behind you so when looking forwards it only feels like a 31 footer!) but the interior difference can be quite substantial.
The only downside is anything over 36 feet puts you the wrong side of 11 metres for the marina (although everywhere I have been I have told them I am 11 metres and they haven't asked (I'm 11.2 overall)).
Jonny
