boatmike
Well-Known Member
Thanks Guardian, all very relevant points. I agree. Mike
Moody v Westerly
- Thread starter boatmike
- Start date
Thanks Guardian, all very relevant points. I agree. Mike
CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
Well-Known Member
The Moody 346 is a very very nice yacht. The comparison between Westerly and Moody is like comparing BMW with Mercedes. I prefer Moodys and Mercedes, its personal preference.
Kelpie
Well-Known Member
A 346 was the first boat we viewed when we decided that we were seriously looking to upgrade.
Tbh we were a little disappointed, especially with the galley. The part of it that has good headroom is very small, and most of it stretches down the walkthrough which has only stooping headroom.
I do think that a centre cockpit design at that sort of size brings compromises- you just can't squeeze in a decent walkthrough.
We also viewed a 37, a 376, and a Westerly Sealord.
The 37/376 is a much larger feeling boat that the 346, and from what I have read it is all rond a better option, but obviously is more expensive. Nice looking boats, but for our purposes (long term liveaboard) the stowage space just wasn't there.
The Sealord is another size up and really felt huge. It uses more old fashioned joinery without the interior mouldings, which I quite liked. It gives you larger openings into lockers, for example. Overall impression was of solidity.
We never got as far as viewing any AWBs, because nothing came into our price range, although a few were close. I think we might have been disappointed by the stowage in these boats, as most of the space seems to be given over to big cabins and cockpits. But if you're not actually planning on living aboard, that surely makes a lot of sense?
Tbh we were a little disappointed, especially with the galley. The part of it that has good headroom is very small, and most of it stretches down the walkthrough which has only stooping headroom.
I do think that a centre cockpit design at that sort of size brings compromises- you just can't squeeze in a decent walkthrough.
We also viewed a 37, a 376, and a Westerly Sealord.
The 37/376 is a much larger feeling boat that the 346, and from what I have read it is all rond a better option, but obviously is more expensive. Nice looking boats, but for our purposes (long term liveaboard) the stowage space just wasn't there.
The Sealord is another size up and really felt huge. It uses more old fashioned joinery without the interior mouldings, which I quite liked. It gives you larger openings into lockers, for example. Overall impression was of solidity.
We never got as far as viewing any AWBs, because nothing came into our price range, although a few were close. I think we might have been disappointed by the stowage in these boats, as most of the space seems to be given over to big cabins and cockpits. But if you're not actually planning on living aboard, that surely makes a lot of sense?
laika
Well-Known Member
Isn't it more ford vs vauxhall (or rover if we're being generous)?
boatmike
Well-Known Member
Can I just be clear here. If the original post was not properly understood I have a relatively cheap mud mooring in Portsmouth harbour, which I would like to keep as I can walk aboard at any state of tide and go sailing whenever so long as I leave and return 2 hours either side of high tide. As I am retired this suits me well. I love sailing and want to sell my Aquastar 33 that was bought to go through the French canals (done that) and buy a boat that I can just enjoy sailing and socialising aboard locally but will still mean I can potter off to the Isles of Scilly when I want to. I am also used to sleeping in a nice big double bed (that's enough detail but you get my meaning) So a centre cockpit bilge keeler of up to 36 ft or so seems to meet my needs but no one builds boats like that anymore. So pointless telling me to buy a boat with nearly 6 ft draught or one that is too small to swing a cat in. My original thoughts of a mooderly are not set in stone. I would like to have a cat but my experience tells me a cat needs to be 37ft minimum to sail reasonably (although perhaps a nice smaller one might be the answer if i can find one in my budget) Perhaps even a lifting keel boat like a Northshore might work but I am put off by people who say drying out on a mud mooring shoves mud up the keel..... So I am still looking for suggestions guys. Max spend £50k.........
Pasarell
Well-Known Member
I had the great pleasure of meeting Mike today. I'm also now the proud owner of a watermaker so maybe his budget has increased a little!
Seriously Mike, I don't want to get into the Westerley v Moody debate as I don't know enough about the former, but perhaps you should look at a Moody 35. Headline prices are just outside your budget but a little negotiation should get them under the line. They're much newer than the 346 so will be in better condition. My M44 is a 1996 boat in excellent condition. IMHO far nicer than the more modern Ben/Jen/Bav's I looked at for similar money
Seriously Mike, I don't want to get into the Westerley v Moody debate as I don't know enough about the former, but perhaps you should look at a Moody 35. Headline prices are just outside your budget but a little negotiation should get them under the line. They're much newer than the 346 so will be in better condition. My M44 is a 1996 boat in excellent condition. IMHO far nicer than the more modern Ben/Jen/Bav's I looked at for similar money
RobF
Well-Known Member
A good friend of mine specialises in boat interiors. He noted that the Westerly approach of offering up some plywood to the bulkheads, making some marks, making some cuts an then re-offering up was supposed to be the 'best of British BoatBuilding' most of us would disagree. The European factories had jigs to make their interior joinery building process more precise and efficient - and went onto CNC as the technology matured.
Returning to our OP. Requirements as follows:
About 35foot
Able to take to the ground
Sub £50k
Hunter Pilot range might be worth considering (supposed to be 35 footer in a 27 foot form due to the deck saloon). Ditto the larger LM range which have comfortable deck saloon accommodation and bilge keels). You may find a smaller boat easier to handle as you get older, but fully appreciate you may not believe this to be the case!
Hunter Legend have also got reasonably comfortable interiors and bilge keels, although some believe that the interior space compromises sailing performance. I think Jeanneau may do a swing keel at 35 foot - but I am assuming you're not interested in swing keels?
Hope this gives some food for thought.
boatmike
Well-Known Member
Hi again Peter. Yes indeed I have seen a Moody 35. Serious contender. I am reminded of the old joke about the guy who was looking for the perfect woman, took a long time to find her and unfortunately found she was looking for a perfect man......... Boats being like women in many ways perhaps the "perfect boat" does not exist and a compromise will have to be found. Good luck back in Greece. Fair winds!
Daydream believer
Well-Known Member
You have made a couple of points.
Sea berth, I agree that underway it is good to have a berth to enable one to sleep in the main cabin so it needs to be wide & long enough. However, that, in a lot of cases, ( but not all) just needs lee cloths added & the problem is solved. I admit I might reject a boat that I could not sleep in the main cabin at sea on at least one berth.
Chart table
because one has always had a chart table one gets used to it. But does one really NEED it. I was discussing a trip with some friends on a 45 ft boat. It had a sizeable chart table. But we actually sat round the horseshoe saloon table with the chart fully unfolded where we could all see it to discuss the cruise. The chart table could not be used.( apart from a "man drawer" for odd bits that seem to collect ) When the owner decided to plot the route on his plotter, he did not actually use the chart table but sat on deck at the helm & entered the info on one of the 2 plotters. Do you really need a table in front of the switch bank? Do you really need a table in front of the VHF & audio controls & plotter if there is a decent seat arrangement?
On my boat the chart table is taken up with a Yeoman but in port (when not on my own) I have to fight to stop any crew dumping their gear onto it.
If I want to plot a course, I move the plotter (which is on a long lead) to the more comfortable saloon table, where I can lay out pilots etc. & work there.(no chart table is ever big enough) I prefer charts so they get laid out on the table, where I also fill in the log.
In the end I cannot help wondering why I actually have one, or if it is just a relic from my past, that I find handy even if I never need it
Roger52
Well-Known Member
There was a detailed review of the 346 in, I think, the June 2017 Yachting monthly. It was very favourable and was said to be one of the best bilge keel boats the tester had ever sailed.
Graham376
Well-Known Member
Problem with some horseshoe seating is that even with a lee cloth, there's not enough length to lie down. Both our settee berths are fitted with lee cloths (as is the quarter berth) and fine for 6ft + a bit. Chart table a must for me as I prefer to navigate on paper, not plotter - that's more for confirmation of position, along with radar in poor viz and at night. Chart table doubles up as computer and work table when not sailing.
Graham376
Well-Known Member
Although not as generous storage capacity as some, it's a bit deceptive and we find it quite adequate for living aboard for 6 or more months p.a. although bikes live in forecabin (or quarter berth if visitors on board) when sailing. Cockpit locker huge, big enough for 4 or 5 smallish illegals
