The Moody 45 Classic Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Moody 45 Classic, a light displacement fractional sloop, was designed by Bill Dixon and built in the UK by A. H. Moody & Sons Ltd.

A Moody 45 Classic sailboat under full sailA Moody 45 Classic

Published Specification for the Moody 45 Classic

Underwater Profile: Bulb fin L-shaped keel & spade rudder

Hull Material: GRP (Fibreglass)

Length Overall: 46'0" (14.0m)

Waterline Length: 40'0" (12.2m)

Beam: 13'9" (4.2m)

Draft: 7'3" (2.3m)

Rig Type: Fractional sloop

Displacement: 25,353lb (11,500kg)

Ballast: 7,319lb (3,320kg)

Designer: Bill Dixon

Builder: A. H. Moody & Sons Ltd (UK)

Year First Built: 2010


Published Design Ratios for the Moody 45 Classic

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 24.7

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 28.9

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 176

4. Comfort Ratio: 28.5

5. Capsize Screening Formula: 1.9

read more about these Key Performance Indicators...

Moody 45 Classic interiorDeck layout and interior options for the Moody 45 Classic

Read more about the latest sailboats in the Moody range...

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Moody 45 Classic

1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 24.7 suggests that, in the right hands, the Moody 45 Classic will have enough performance to leave most other sailboats of similar waterline length well astern. 

2. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 28.9 would usually mean that the Moody 45 Classic would have a tendency to heel uncomfortably in a gust, and need to be reefed early to keep her sailing upright in a moderate breeze.

However, as she has much of her ballast concentrated in a bulb at the foot of her keel, she's likely to be considerably stiffer than her published Ballast/Displacement Ratio might suggest.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 176 tells us the Moody 45 Classic is a light displacement sailboat. If she's loaded with too much heavy cruising gear her performance will suffer to a degree.

4. Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio of 28.5 suggests that crew comfort of a Moody 45 Classic in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a coastal cruiser with moderate stability, which is not the best of news for anyone prone to seasickness. 

5. The Capsize Screening Formula (CSF) of 1.9 indicates that a Moody 45 Classic would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0. 

Other sailboats in the Moody range include:

A Moody 33S sailboat at anchorThe Moody 33S


Any Questions?

Is the Moody 45 Classic still in production and, if not, when did production end and how many of these sailboats were built?

The Moody 45 Classic is no longer in production. Production started in 2010 and ended in 2014, when Moody Yachts was acquired by Hanse Yachts. The exact number of Moody 45 Classics built is not known, but it is estimated to be around 50.

What is the history of the builders of the Moody 45 Classic and is the company still in business?

Moody Yachts was founded in 1827 by John Moody, who started building fishing boats in Swanwick, England. The company evolved into one of the most respected yacht builders in the world, producing many iconic models such as the Moody 33, the Moody 54, and the Moody DS series. In 2005, Moody Yachts was sold to Premier Marinas, who hired Bill Dixon as the chief designer. In 2014, Moody Yachts was acquired by Hanse Yachts, a German company that also owns Dehler, Fjord, and Sealine. Hanse Yachts continues to produce sailboats under the Moody brand name, but with a different design philosophy and style.

What sailplan and rig options, if any, are available for the Moody 45 Classic?

The Moody 45 Classic has a standard fractional sloop rig with a self-tacking jib and an in-mast furling mainsail. The sail area is 123.4 m² (1,329 sq ft), which gives the boat a sail area/displacement ratio of 24.6. This indicates that the boat has relatively high performance potential. 

What is the difference between the standard (or owners) version and the charter version of the Moody 45 Classic?

The standard (or owners) version of the Moody 45 Classic has three cabins and two heads: a master cabin forward with an en-suite head and shower, and two aft cabins that share a head and shower. The charter version has four cabins and two heads: two identical cabins forward with shared access to a head and shower, and two identical cabins aft that share another head and shower. The charter version also has a smaller galley and less storage space than the standard version.

What keel options, if any, are available for the Moody 45 Classic?

The Moody 45 Classic has two keel options: a standard composite iron/lead keel with a draft of 2.20 m (7.22 ft), or an optional shallow composite iron/lead keel with a draft of 1.85 m (6.07 ft). Both keels have a bulb shape that lowers the center of gravity and improves stability.

What is the Moody 45 Classic like to sail?

The Moody 45 Classic is a responsive and agile sailboat that can handle various wind and sea conditions. The boat has a balanced helm that provides good feedback and control. The self-tacking jib and the in-mast furling mainsail make sailing easy and convenient. The boat can reach speeds of up to 9 knots in moderate winds. The boat also has good seakeeping qualities and can cope with rough seas without compromising comfort or safety.

What is the average cost of a secondhand Moody 45 Classic?

The average cost of a secondhand Moody 45 Classic depends on several factors such as the year of manufacture, the condition of the boat, the equipment installed, and the location of the boat. Based on some online listings , the price range for a secondhand Moody 45 Classic is between €250,000 and €350,000.

What other sailboats have been created by the designer of the Moody 45 Classic?

Bill Dixon is a renowned yacht designer who has created many successful sailboats for various brands such as Moody, Hylas, Taswell, and Discovery. Some of his notable designs include the Moody 54, the Hylas 49, the Taswell 58, and the Discovery 55.

The above answers were drafted by sailboat-cruising.com using GPT-4 (OpenAI’s large-scale language-generation model) as a research assistant to develop source material; to the best of our knowledge, we believe them to be accurate.


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