YMs Sept 2017 Moody 31 Review-Critical or Fair

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ski

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I am downsizing from a Bowman 36 and have been searching various bilge keel boats. The Moody 31 looks a possibility and talking to current owners they feel that the YM review was unduly critical. Such phrases as "A touch skittish" and "This is primarily a young persons boat-and a touch too wild for the senior sailor" do not inspire confidence. Yet the YM gives 5 stars for coastal hopping and 5 stars for creek crawling.

I would be very glad to hear views from other Moody 31 owners
 
Have you thought of approaching the Moody Owners association - they have a website and you can obtain a guest password I recall if you don't wish to take the plunge and join up .
 
I have not read the article, but a friend loves his Moody 31. I think the reviewer was expecting a slightly tamer boat, but I doubt it is any more skittish or different to many other boats of this size.

Ski, I hope you have the Westerly Fulmar bilge keel on your list as this is a lovely class to sail, but I am biased as I own a fin version.
 
Haven't seen the review so not sure which 31 model it is. I have sailed the Moody S31 (which was somewhat sportier than the earlier 31) but would not recognise that description at all. Certainly the S31 is a great boat, sails well, reasonably heavy displacement (by racing standards). Nice boats - and I just don't recognise the "too wild" comment at all tbh
 
I did hear a similar view when chattng to a crew that had just stepped off one they'd chartered. Best bet is to see if you can get on one for a sail or two and form your own judgement.
 
ski said:
I am downsizing from a Bowman 36 and have been searching various bilge keel boats. The Moody 31 looks a possibility and talking to current owners they feel that the YM review was unduly critical. Such phrases as "A touch skittish" and "This is primarily a young persons boat-and a touch too wild for the senior sailor" do not inspire confidence. Yet the YM gives 5 stars for coastal hopping and 5 stars for creek crawling.
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All reviews are subjective. Go and have a sail, make up your own mind.
 
We thought hard about Moody 31MKII's before getting a bilge keel Fulmar which we've had for 7 years now, mainly based on the Fulmar rig being slightly more manageable with a fractional jib and the more spacious feel in the main cabin of the Fulmar. SWMBO wasn't keen on the aft cabin she felt was claustrophobic under the cockpit. ON the Fulmar we use forepeak which we find is good for us although neither of us is overly long.
In all honesty I don't think there's much to chose between the Moody 31 and the Fulmar but definitely worth looking at IMHO.
 
Well, I bought my Moody 31 when I was 55, and still have her 10 years later. I certainly wouldn't describe her as "skittish"! She's a good solid sailing boat, with an easily driven hull. She responds quickly to changes in wind strength, and does require a hand on the tiller, or a tiller pilot. Accommodation is good for UK waters; she sleeps 4 in comfort and 6 if they're good friends! The only times she's scared me have been when I've done something silly, such as not reefing. She likes to be sailed upright, and it pays to reef early - you won't lose speed, and you will have a much more pleasant experience.
 
Spyro said:
I suspect owners will say they are fantastic boats. :)
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I suspect you are right :-)

Like Arctic Pilot we have had ours for 10 years and think she is ideal for the two of us creek crawling down the West Country or popping over to France and the Channel Islands.
 
Blimey, skittish and wild never thought of mine as that.
I have had one for 8 years a bilge. As others have said reef early if you have the 150% genoa or you can hang on to it if racing and fight the helm and you will squeeze a little more speed out of it. She balances perfectly if sails are balanced, I just extend the auto pilot to about 5% beyond centre and don't turn it on, the boat keeps a good straight course unless down wind it will wander a little.
Can't really fault them, not had any repairs, do fancy upgrading to a 336 soonish though as family grows but probably won't.
 
I have never sailed a Moody 31; they cost too much when I bought my Sadler 29 in 1987. The only one I have socialised with, and bear with me on this, was owned by a lovely chap called Derrick (I think he spelled it that way) who sailed it with his wife. We met him in Brunsbuttel as they were on their way home from cruising Denmark to Christchurch, where he was bosun of the YC. They regarded this journey as a matter of routine, in spite of the fact that he was 77 and had had multiple knee replacements. You won't be surprised to hear that he had navigated Lancasters in the war, including the Peenemunde raid. Their Moody seemed to suit them fine.
 
A friend has a Moody 31, albeit a fin keel, and seems very pleased with it. I cannot comment on the sailing qualities, but the Fulmar, to me, does feel a considerably more spacious boat if you don't need an aft cabin, and I would agree the aft cabin on the Moody appears a bit of a dungeon.
 
I was surprised by that review, which was of a bilge keeler. Mine is a fin. Yes it is very manouverable, yes it does heel over but it is not skittish. I've had mine 11 years since I was 60. The comment that older sailors might find it a handful was lost on me. it is a bit livelier than an Oceanis 31 that I crew on sometimes but I don't regard that as a negative.

I saw the author, Dick Durham, waiting at the bus stop with his kit bag last week ( on the way to collect his new boat) and after initial hellos I was about to talk to him about the review when his bus turned up. Bah.
 
In 1987-88 I used to demonstrate for sale the Moody31s, both versions with fin and twinkeels. The fin keeler was the more heavy on the helm and appreciated a reef early; the twin keeled was also weighty when the wind rose but I never had to reef one,seldom necessary for a demo sail. One two keel version I did sail, with the wheel steering, was very good even in blowier conditions, never transmitted a lot of weather helm on the wind.
Both versions have excellent manoueverability ahead and astern- part of my demo included figure of eights between two buoys on tiller and wheel; too much angle of either would give a' kick' as a warning to reduce this when going astern.
I liked the 31 but preferred the wheeled/fin 336 for better layout below and performance, at an increase of cost of course.
I've not yet sailed a Fulmar but have always wanted to.

ianat182
 
johnalison said:
I have never sailed a Moody 31; they cost too much when I bought my Sadler 29 in 1987. The only one I have socialised with, and bear with me on this, was owned by a lovely chap called Derrick (I think he spelled it that way) who sailed it with his wife. We met him in Brunsbuttel as they were on their way home from cruising Denmark to Christchurch, where he was bosun of the YC. They regarded this journey as a matter of routine, in spite of the fact that he was 77 and had had multiple knee replacements. You won't be surprised to hear that he had navigated Lancasters in the war, including the Peenemunde raid. Their Moody seemed to suit them fine.
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Are you sure he was only 77 I am 75 born in 1942 ?
Mike
 
AntarcticPilot said:
Well, I bought my Moody 31 when I was 55, and still have her 10 years later. I certainly wouldn't describe her as "skittish"! She's a good solid sailing boat, with an easily driven hull. She responds quickly to changes in wind strength, and does require a hand on the tiller, or a tiller pilot. Accommodation is good for UK waters; she sleeps 4 in comfort and 6 if they're good friends! The only times she's scared me have been when I've done something silly, such as not reefing. She likes to be sailed upright, and it pays to reef early - you won't lose speed, and you will have a much more pleasant experience.
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I'd say that's spot on. I've sailed a 31 a few times, and owned an S31, the latter being 'skittish' downwind in a blow if you don't hand a reef or two, but the 31 certainly is not 'skittish' nor 'a handful for older sailors'. I wondered what planet DD is on when I read the review.
 
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