The Moody 47 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Moody 47, a moderate displacement cruising sloop, was designed by Bill Dixon and built in the UK by A. H. Moody & Son Ltd.

This Moody 47 is cutter rigged but most were masthead sloops

Published Specification for the Moody 47

Underwater Profile: Fin keel & skeg-hung rudder

Hull Material: GRP (Fibreglass)

Length Overall: 46'6" (14.2m)

Waterline Length: 38'9" (11.8m)

Beam: 14'8" (4.5m)

Draft: 6'9" (2.1m)

Rig Type: Masthead sloop

Displacement: 27,500lb (12,474kg)

Ballast: 11,000lb (4,990kg)

Designer: Bill Dixon

Builder: A. H. Moody & Son Ltd (UK)

Year First Built: 1982

Year Last Built: 1989

Interior layout

Published Design Ratios for the Moody 47

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 16.5

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: 40.0

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

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 211

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

4. Comfort Ratio: 28.9

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: 1.9

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 47

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of 16.5 suggests that the Moody 47 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 40.0 means that the Moody 47 will initially stand up reasonably well to her canvas in a moderate breeze, but she's likely to benefit from a reef in the main to avoid heeling uncomfortably in a gust.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 211 tells us the Moody 47 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 28.9 suggests that crew comfort of a Moody 47 in a seaway is similar to what you would associate with the motion of a coastal cruiser with moderate stability.

5. The Capsize Screening Formula (CSF) of 1.9 indicates that a Moody 47 would be a safer choice of sailboat for an ocean passage than one with a CSF of more than 2.0.