The Moody 34 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Moody 34, a centre-cockpit masthead sloop, was designed by Bill Dixon and built in the UK by Marine Projects Ltd.

A Moody 34 sailboat at anchor in Falmouth Harbour, Antigua

A Moody 34 cruising sloop

Published Specification for the Moody 34

Underwater Profile: Fin keel & Skeg-Hung Rudder;

Hull Material: GRP;

Length Overall: 33'5" / 10.2m;

Waterline Length: 27'9" / 8.5m;

Beam: 11'8" / 3.6m;

Draft: 5'0" / 1.5m;

Rig Type: Masthead sloop;

Displacement: 11,200lb / 5,080kg;

Designer: Bill Dixon;

Builder: Marine Projects Ltd (UK);

Year First Built: 1983;

Year Last Built: 1986;

Number Built: 165

Owners Association: Moody Owners Association

A bilge keel version was also produced, with a draft of 3'9".

Published Design Ratios for the Moody 34

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 16.6

Less than 16 would be considered under-powered;
16 to 20 would indicate reasonably good performance;
Over 20 suggests relatively high performance.

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 40.2

Under 40: less stiff, less powerful
Over 40: stiffer, more powerful

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 234

Under 100: Ultralight
100 to 200: Light
200 to 275: Moderate
275 to 350: Heavy
Over 350: Ultraheavy

4. Comfort Ratio: 22.3

Under 20 indicates a lightweight racing boat
20 to 30 indicates a coastal cruiser
30 to 40 indicates a moderate offshore cruising boat
40 to 50 indicates a heavy offshore boat
Over 50 indicates an extremely heavy offshore boat

5. Capsize Screening Formula: 2.1

Under 2.0 (the lower the better): Better suited for ocean passages
Over 2.0: Less suited for ocean passages

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Moody 34

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 16.6 suggests that the Moody 34 will, in the right conditions, approach her maximum hull speed readily and satisfy the sailing performance expectations of most cruising sailors.

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 40.2 means that the Moody 34 will stand up well to her canvas in a blow, helping her to power through the waves.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 234, tells us the Moody 34 is a moderate displacement cruiser, which means she'll carry all your cruising gear without it having a dramatic effect on her performance. Most of today's sailboats intended for offshore cruising fall into this displacement category.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 22.3 suggests that crew comfort of a Moody 34 in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a coastal cruiser with moderate stability, which is not encouraging news for anyone prone to seasickness.

5. The Capsize Screening Formula (CSF) of 2.1 indicates that a Moody 34 would not be the wisest choice of sailboat for ocean passage-making owing to the lower resistance to capsize in strong winds and heavy seas that is associated with sailboats with a CSF of 2.0 and above.