Moody v Jeanneau

Greg2

Greg2

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Okay, mobo sale going through so now starting to get serious about looking at yachts. Always liked the look of the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey DS 40 - not the current swoopy window job but the last version with 'proper' windows along both sides and the front of the coachroof.

Found a 2002 version on a Brokers site and on the same site is a 1991 Moody Eclipse 38 at the same price. Both deck saloons but with an 11 year age difference the Moody looks a little dated. The Jeanneau looks to be better equipped with up to date electronics etc.

Is the the Moody a much better quality boat? Will it sail better and be more seaworthy?

I know boat values are subjective and that the depreciation curve tends to flatten out after a time but I am wondering why the parity in asking price and is the Jeanneau still on its way down (depreciation wise).
 
I was looking at exactly the same two manufacturers as you a few years back. I did like the amount of stowage on the DS40 though and looked over a few (of that exact model) in great detail.
From my avatar you can see what my final choice was.

For what it's worth.. the brokers did show me a few even newer boats.. One even said as we approached a new boat.. "we know you will not like it but it's worth a look".
 
Greg2 said:
Okay, mobo sale going through so now starting to get serious about looking at yachts. Always liked the look of the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey DS 40 - not the current swoopy window job but the last version with 'proper' windows along both sides and the front of the coachroof.

Found a 2002 version on a Brokers site and on the same site is a 1991 Moody Eclipse 38 at the same price. Both deck saloons but with an 11 year age difference the Moody looks a little dated. The Jeanneau looks to be better equipped with up to date electronics etc.

Is the the Moody a much better quality boat? Will it sail better and be more seaworthy?

I know boat values are subjective and that the depreciation curve tends to flatten out after a time but I am wondering why the parity in asking price and is the Jeanneau still on its way down (depreciation wise).
Click to expand...
Jeanneau for me, the prob with the Moody is that its old! Old as in its ancillaries will be well worn, headlinings starting to go, things like that. The engine will probably have a load more hours on it, the basics will be Ok BUT the engine mounts will probably be well rusted/sagging, things like that.
Stu
 
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I haven't sailed either but I do know that the Eclipse is not the world's greatest performer under sail - I have a feeling that if all else is equal the Jeanneau will be more enjoyable.

- W
 
The Moody would cost new about 50% more than the Jeanneau which explains why they are no longer made. Not hugely successful saleswise in their day but well regarded and rarely come on the market hence the high price asked. You can see the difference between the two in the displacement. The Moody is heavier, although lighter than some of its predecessors and may well be more capable in heavy weather.

However, its accommodation layout is rather odd with two big loos and the radar arch (if fitted) is visually challenging. As you say looks a bit dated, but the key thing is the extra 11 years use may mean that it is getting a bit tired, and much of the equipment such as the engine, electronics and domestic fittings may be obsolete or coming up for replacement.

Both boats are aimed at the same market and the Jeanneau has been very popular. Either would be a good buy and the choice likely to depend on peronal feelings rather than any clear functional differences.
 
Thanks guys...conflicting views it would appear.
I take the point on age and things needing doing. As a mobo type I had a 70's boat, an 80's boat and a 90's boat so quite used to maintaining and upgrading but the thought of a newer boat is appealing!
 
Tranona said:
The Moody is heavier, although lighter than some of its predecessors and may well be more capable in heavy weather.
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On our round Ireland trip in 2004 we were some three hours quicker than an Eclipse on a rough 90-mile passage up the West Coast (beam reach in a F6 with big Atlantic swells). Our boat is a 27ft Albin Vega. I can't believe the Jeanneau couldn't have done better - they just look like a more seakindly boat.

Which one do you like best from the point of accommodation layout?

- W
 
Twister_Ken said:
I rather thought it was a good seller, at least by Moody's standards. Or am I getting confused with the smaller Eclipse?
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Yes, the 33 was a smash hit by anyone's standards but the larger two less successful in terms of numbers.

Good write up on the Eclipse 38 in this month's S*****g T****y. Probably the same boat as usually only one or two on the market at any one time.
 
webcraft said:
Which one do you like best from the point of accommodation layout?

- W
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Never been convinced of the need for two loos on a boat that size, particularly if geared towards a mature couple (unless of course they argue and need somewhere to hide!)

Space could be much better used for other things and judging by the threads on here about bogs, shower pumpouts, holding tanks etc the least you have the better.
 
although with two loos... if one breaks you still have the other in the meantime.

Regarding age.. I know a 2002 boat sounds new but with all the hoses now being 9 years old they'll be up for gradual replacement soon as well.. fuel, water, bilge pump outlets etc...
 
Moody vs Jeanneau

Although not perhaps a direct answer to the OP question, we sold our Moody 346 earlier this year and seriously consider the Eclipse 43 as a replacement. Great boat, and very tempting having become used to the bullet proof construction of our Moody.

In the end though we bought a Jeanneau 43DS. We did look hard at the 40DS, (and the Moody 40/42 of the same vintage) but were put off only by the second aft cabin - it's no more than a sleeping berth and I fear my crew would have mutinied had I tried to convince them to live in it!

You could do a lot worse than chat it through with another experienced Moody owner and broker, John Rodriguez of JR Yachts. He was a great help to us in finally settling on the Jeanneau. It's newer, it's fast and well built.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Best wishes

Julian
 
Martin_J said:
although with two loos... if one breaks you still have the other in the meantime.

Regarding age.. I know a 2002 boat sounds new but with all the hoses now being 9 years old they'll be up for gradual replacement soon as well.. fuel, water, bilge pump outlets etc...
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Well my boat is 2001 and for the first 7 seassons was on full time charter work. I don't recognise any of those problems - not that they are a big issue anyway.

In my experience when looking for a replacement the mid 80's boats I looked at (that is 15 years older than mine) mostly products of the major UK builders of the era all need substantial refits to bring them anywhere near the standard of my boat. I only saw one (a Moody 376) that I would seriously consider - but it was priced 20% higher than the typical and sold the day after it went on the market.

You can't get away from the fact that 20 year old boats were not always as well bulit or finished as you imagine and the extra years of use has not been kind to them. There are of course exceptions, but really well maintaned and up together boats rarely come on the market and sell very quickly. On the other hand there is a much greater choice of more modern designs, particularly from the boom years of 2001-2006 which should be in very good condition.
 
Last year I had to choose between one of several modern AWBs and an old, solid heavy displacement yacht (an HR35 Rasmus). I went for the latter.

My point is: I'm sometimes inconvenienced by lack of room and gizmos, but it's a very special feeling to have a yacht under you which you know is built solidly for comfort and safety and to survive almost anything Neptune throws at it. There's an enduring satisfaction in that.

I like the DS range, but I would suggest the build quality simply doesn't compare with the Moody. I would buy the Moody over the Jeanneau without a second thought, then I'd kit her out just right and spend decades knowing she'll take me wherever I want to go.

WindyOut
 
May be a minor point but when you have had as much trouble as me with Volvo engines/clutches/saildrives/propellors it becomes major - what engine has each got.

My current Jeanneau 43DS (7yrs old) has done more hours on its Yanmar than my 2 previous boats put together on their **** Volvos. So far in 14yrs its Yanmar £0 v Volvo £14,000. Thats in 14yrs experience and 3 boats bought from new.

Volvos after sales attitude of our problems with a "did not want to know" did not help either, can't comment on yanmar as we have had no problems!

When considering buying current boat Dufour, X boats, Acona & Elan were also considered but the deciding factor was no Volvo parts in the Jeanneau 43DS.

We charter our boat out and the whole charter fleets experience for reliability and rugged construction was also taken into account in our final decision!

We have friends that bought a secondhand 40DS and they have now sailed to the Med twice and are currently in Sicilly. I think they post under ChrisRog (or the other way round!) on scuttlebutt you could try a PM but they don't often visit here as they are too busy sailing.
 
Greg2 said:
Okay, mobo sale going through so now starting to get serious about looking at yachts. Always liked the look of the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey DS 40 - not the current swoopy window job but the last version with 'proper' windows along both sides and the front of the coachroof.

Found a 2002 version on a Brokers site and on the same site is a 1991 Moody Eclipse 38 at the same price. Both deck saloons but with an 11 year age difference the Moody looks a little dated. The Jeanneau looks to be better equipped with up to date electronics etc.

Is the the Moody a much better quality boat? Will it sail better and be more seaworthy?

I know boat values are subjective and that the depreciation curve tends to flatten out after a time but I am wondering why the parity in asking price and is the Jeanneau still on its way down (depreciation wise).
Click to expand...

You should contact JR Yachts (www.jryachts.com). He is a specialist broker in Moody's and blue water cruisers, but he also is Moody owner....
 
The Jeanneau is by far the faster sailing boat. I seem to remember that the DS out-performed the standard version in a YM test. Can't see any good reason to buy the Moody when you have a much better boat in prospect.
As for prices , I was offered a new DS40 with bells and whistles for £126K at the Southampton Boat Show in 2003.What do you pay now for the same boat.....£115K....not bad depreciation.
 
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I wouldn't be overly concerned with the "new" and "old" arguments. You can get new boats that are a complete mess, and old boats that are in absolutly mint condition.

Define the qualities and features you are looking for; find the boats that meet that and then look at individual examples. They will vary widely and it will come down to what is on the market at the time for what price and what compromises you are willing to make.

But, if you had a straigh comparison between the two yachts, with the same quality/level of kit etc etc; Moody hands down. What will be around and still be in demand in 10-20 years?
 
SHUG said:
The Jeanneau is by far the faster sailing boat. I seem to remember that the DS out-performed the standard version in a YM test. Can't see any good reason to buy the Moody when you have a much better boat in prospect.
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Shug,

Bit of sweeping comment especially if you have ever owned a Moody or in my case surveyed both Moody's and Jeanneau's.....I would say the Moody's are much heavier built and may not be as brisk but provide for many owners a much more rewarding ownership...
 
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