The Moody 36S Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Moody 36S, an aft-cockpit version of the Moody 36, was designed by Angus Primrose and built in the UK by Marine Projects Ltd.

A Moody 36S

Published Specification for the Moody 36S

Underwater Profile: Fin keel with skeg-hung rudder

Hull Material: GRP (Fibreglass)

Length Overall: 36'0" (11.0m)

Waterline Length: 30'0" (9.1m)

Beam: 12'4" (3.8m)

Draft: 5'0" (1.5m)

Rig Type: Masthead sloop

Displacement: 14,700lb (6,668kg)

Designer: Angus Primrose

Builder: Marine Projects Ltd (UK)

Year First Built: 1981

Year Last Built: 1983

Number Built: 19

Published Design Ratios for the Moody 36S

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 13.4

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: Not published

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

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 243

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

4. Comfort Ratio: 25.1

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: 2.0

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 36S

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of just 13.4 suggests that the Moody 36S will need a stiff breeze to get her going. In light conditions, unless you've got plenty of time on your hands, motor-sailing may be the way to go.

2. In the absence of a published Ballast/Displacement Ratio for the Moody 36S we are unable to make any meaningful assessment of her stiffness under sail.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 243, tells us the Moody 36S 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 25.1 suggests that crew comfort of a Moody 36S 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 2.0 indicates that a Moody 36S 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.