Moody 376, Good, Bad, or Indifferent?

[upcountry]

Hi. In order to get SWMBO to come sailing with me again, my next boat is going to have to be, [yes you guessed it] big aft cabin, double sprung mattress, ensuite etc. Instead of my choice of long keel heavyweight. [dont ask] Well i have waited this long i suppose i can wait a bit longer. She likes the look of the moody 376, I`m not a fan of centre cockpit configurations, being more of a traditionalist, but a compromise has to be made. My question, therefore, is in the header. What do the panel think? What do i need to look out for [faults with this particular model etc.] How do they perform, minimum engine size, any quirks,you know the sort of thing... I`m not after comparisons with other boats, SWMBO is quite specific, and yes i`m a man and not a mouse, and a quiet life is`nt everything, but i do want her to come sailing. So what do you think.. Over to you...

 

[Steve Clayton]

This might help

http://moodyowners.org.uk/infoboard/messages/1158/728.html

 

[andy_wilson]

I'm not a fan of centre cockpit either.

Very sea-sickness inducing.

Is SWMBO immune?

 

[upcountry]

Thanks for that Steve, most helpful site...

 

[Genoa]

Have a Moody '44 for the same reason and it is fantastic (especially with 5 kids to hide as well) The centre cockpit works well for us as it divides the boat. The BIG downside is slapping under the hull next to your head at night if there is anything more than a ripple. Cured by a fabric sausage if you remember!

 

[john_morris_uk]

I have heard the argument that centre cockpit is seasick inducing and have yet to find it to be true in practice. I am not totally imune from the mal de mer, and yet our centre cockpit boat produces no more or less sickness than any of the many aft cockpit boats that I have sailed in my life.

Its about the only aspect of seasickness that I really do believe is more in the mind than reality.

By the way, UPCOUNTRY, I think you might be pleasantly suprised about the sea kindliness of the moderate modern fin keel and skeg/rudder combination. Long keels may or may not be a good thing, but the moderate designed fin keeler is a often joy to handle, and has few of the vices of the long keel boat. The Moody 376 is a moderate design by many standards...

 

[tomg]

We ran a Moody 376 for about 7 years and were very pleased with her. It's a moderate configuration keel and conservative hull shape which made her quite sea-kindly. The centre cockpit means you sit a little high as compared to most aft cockpit yachts but because of the kindly ride it was fine. A very sociable boat. No slouch either. Engine was a Perkins - about 50HP I think - and she was just as manouverable in reverse as she was in forward. We did some longish distances in her and were very pleased with virtually everything about her. About the only crticism I can remember was a lack of sea-berths. The best bet, on either tack, was the floor of the passageway to the af cabin. Great bit of kit.

 

[3reefs]

Moody 376 very nice.

Only real vice is the tendency to wander when berthing, so probably needs a bow thruster if crew inexperienced.

 

[upcountry]

Anyone care to comment on whether 35hp is adequate for this boat?
Thanks to everone who replied to this post, looks like SWMBO is spot on yet again.....

 

[lille_bee]

GOOD!
As you can see from my profile, I am the very proud owner of a Moody 422, so I'm totally biased.
centre cockpit-seasickness link: rubbish. If you're going to be seasick, you'll be seasick on the QE2 and on the Sandbanks ferry, the location of the cockpit won't make the blindest bit of difference. I speak from experience!
The palatial aft cabin is the deal-clencher here: you'll never want a "coffin"-style berth again!
I reckon that 35hp for a 376 with 7373kg displacement is ample; we have 50hp for 9528kg displacement and are very satisfied. The bowthruster however is a very useful addition, as she's a pig to steer in reverse!
QUIRKS: there is one thing that has always puzzled me on 376's: why on earth did Moodys decide not to fit a hot&cold shower in the aft heads/master en-suite? There's one in the forward heads...