Moody 37/376 as bluewater yacht?

[Pär1]

Hello!
This is my first post here (but been reading here for a while).
We (my wife and I) will in a couple of years untie the lines and leave the ice and snow in Sweden. Before that we concider shifting to a bigger boat (now Mamba 33). I am intrested in opinions on Moody 37/376, hard weather behavior, as a live abord in general, specific things to look for etc.
Thanks
Pär

 

[pmagowan]

No idea about the boat but welcome to the forum.

 

[Pär1]

Thank you for the welcome

 

[Matelot Joe]

Let me the second to welcome you Par. In answer to your question, for me it would depend on you budget, economy class or first, fast or comfortable, length of time away.

 

[Tranona]

Very suitable for what you want and many boats are used as liveaboards or long term cruisers. However they are now getting old and it is difficult to find one in good condition. There is currently a good choice on the market - about 25 boats,mostly in the UK or the Med, but many will require significant expenditure to bring them up to a good standard. Similar size Westerlys of the same period (1980's) are good alternatives but the same issues of condition arise.

An alternative is to pay a bit more initially and look at a Bavaria 38 or 40 Ocean. Similar centre cockpit layout but 10-15 years younger and likely to need less expenditure after purchase.

 

[AndrewB]

I have just bought a Moody 376 after 20 years with a true, heavy-weather long-distance cruiser. I do not intend to use it for blue-water cruising but from my experience so far think it would be reasonably suitable for trade-wind cruising. Not the best choice though if you intend cruising areas where gales and high seas are common. Factors in its favour are a heavy build, a high ballast ratio, a longish keel allowing good tracking, a reasonably well protected cockpit. A wind vane could be mounted on a 37 but not quite so easily on a 376. Against is the high windage and wide stern, in mast furling (on many 376's), lack of ability to carry a storm jib (though a mountable stay has been added on mine), too many berths resulting in not enough stowage or water/fuel capacity (though again I have seen 376's with bunk space converted for extra stowage), modest rudder strength, a small anchor well not allowing for enough chain.

I cannot understand Tranona recommending yachts such as a Bavaria 38 for this use. OK, such yachts can and do make ARC crossings (the annual cruise from Canary Islands to the Caribbean), but these boats are primarily designed for light-weather Med cruising and lack the strength, the ease of handling by a limited crew, the ability to look after themselves in bad weather, and the stowage, that you would want if starting out looking for a good long term blue-water cruiser.

 

[GrahamM376]

Having had a 376 for 11 years, I can't think of another boat (without teak decks) within the same price range and size, I would prefer. I would go for a 376 rather than a 37 - the sugar scoop makes boarding easier and the standard engine is Mitsubishi rather than BMC based.

This is an extract from our last survey - ......a cruising design from the board of Bill Dixon. She is of fin and skeg hull form and of moderate displacement, with a double spreader sloop rig. This has proved to be a popular class of yacht, and with her SA/D (sail area/displacement ratio) of 16.22 and an almost 40% ballast ratio is very suitable for blue water use. Although the design predates the RCD (Recreational Craft Directive) requirements she should properly be compared with designs in RCD Category ‘A’ Ocean....

 

[GrahamM376]

Not the best choice though if you intend cruising areas where gales and high seas are common. Against is the high windage and wide stern, in mast furling (on many 376's), lack of ability to carry a storm jib (though a mountable stay has been added on mine),

Don't know what "true, heavy-weather long-distance cruiser" you had before and obviously there are more capable boats around but, I disagree with the points above. Compare it with other similar size/price/design boats around.

We used to be based in N Wales and summer cruises were mainly down the French west coat and even as far as the Rias and Portugal & back so experienced some pretty bad weather and rough seas, 8s often gusting into 9 on occasions, the boat handles well and with the well protected cockpit, very rarely felt the need to clip on.

Windage is higher than some but a lot less than many more modern mass produced boats we see around, maybe about the same as a similar sized HR. The stern is also narrower than many.

"Ability to carry a storm jib" - what's the difference to any other sloop rigged boat? Like yours, we have a detachable inner stay but it's virtually impossible to rig single handed in rough conditions, has to be done in advance.

 

[Tranona]

I cannot understand Tranona recommending yachts such as a Bavaria 38 for this use. OK, such yachts can and do make ARC crossings (the annual cruise from Canary Islands to the Caribbean), but these boats are primarily designed for light-weather Med cruising and lack the strength, the ease of handling by a limited crew, the ability to look after themselves in bad weather, and the stowage, that you would want if starting out looking for a good long term blue-water cruiser.

I specifically suggested an OCEAN 38 or 40, which are very different from the aft cockpit boats such as the 37 that I have. The Ocean range are very similar to the Moody/Westerly of the same era (late 1990s) and were direct competitors to the Moody 38 and Westerly Oceanranger at the time. They have a good reputation for bluewater/liveaboard and there is a good choice in the used boat market.

 

[Pär1]

Thank`s for interesting answers so far
Pär

 

[capnsensible]

Two friends of ours circumnavigated in their Moody 376. They still live on it 4 ish years after. They love it.

Must admit Moody bias, we have lived on our 33 since 98 and have taken her to the Caribbean twice.

 

[AndrewB]

"Ability to carry a storm jib" - what's the difference to any other sloop rigged boat? Like yours, we have a detachable inner stay but it's virtually impossible to rig single handed in rough conditions, has to be done in advance.

Thanks ... I was rather wondering about this.

If you are interested in my previous yacht, see here ... http://www.yachtsentinel.co.uk/index.htm.

 

[Pär1]

Thanks again
Can anybody tell me what the headroom is in those yachts, I`m 190 cm tall and want to be able to stand up at least in the pentry.

 

[GrahamM376]

Thanks again
Can anybody tell me what the headroom is in those yachts, I`m 190 cm tall and want to be able to stand up at least in the pentry.

185cm over most of the saloon, slightly lower in galley area.

 

[GrahamM376]

If you are interested in my previous yacht, see here ... http://www.yachtsentinel.co.uk/index.htm.

Nice boat, very difficult to compare with anything GRP. We see quite a few steel boats, ranging from very nice and expensive to rusty hulks still doing Atlantic crossings between having patches welded each winter. Nearly purchased some Bruce Roberts plans a few years ago then decided I was getting too long in the tooth for such a major project.

 

[Pär1]

Thank you very much Graham, maybe i will keep on banging my head if we go for a 376...

 

[AB1707]

Hi Par,

I agree with Tranona's suggestion of the Bavaria 38 Ocean. My wife & I are currently liveaboards going round Britain on one we bought this year and we're very happy with our choice. Originally we'd wanted a Moody specifically the 422. We then decided to stay below 12m for economy of moorings. We looked at the Moody 38 and 376. We discounted the 376 as we wanted a centre line berth. We found the 38's cockpit too cosy.
When a broker suggested a Bavaria I was sceptical to say the least. However the Ocean range are a cut above. They were only made for 4 years 1997-2000. Even during that time the quality gradually diminished. You certainly get a lot of boat for your money and I think they compare very well against other boats.
In the end you pay your money and takes your choice. Moody's and Westerly are generally very good boats but for overall comfort and Value for Money, I'd make the same choice again.

Good luck whichever route you choose

Adam

 

[Pär1]

Thank You Adam

 

[AndrewB]

At the risk of starting a flame war, can I warn that advice from people on the best choice of yacht for extended blue-water cruising who have not actually done this themselves, needs to be taken with caution.

 

[GrahamM376]

Thanks ... I was rather wondering about this.

If you are interested in my previous yacht, see here ... http://www.yachtsentinel.co.uk/index.htm.

Regarding the emergency inner stay, just been discussing this with a friend. To lift the strop, bring 47 ft of swinging wire to it and get the pin in the Seasure lever isn't a single handed job even in a chop. The suggestion is to replace the lever and strop with a mainsheet type tackle, using dyneema and a snap shackle or pelican type connector. Seems that would be much easier - any thoughts about strength?