The Moody Eclipse 43 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Moody Eclipse 43, a deck saloon cruising yacht, was designed by Bill Dixon and built in the UK by Marine Projects Ltd.

This Moody Eclipse 43 is fitted with a 'Solent Rig' - she's not a cutter.

Published Specification for the Moody Eclipse 43

Underwater Profile: Fin keel and skeg-hung rudder;

Hull Material: GRP (Fiberglass);

Length Overall: 42'6" (13.0m);

Waterline Length: 36'1" (11.0m);

Beam: 14'0" (4.3m);

Draft: 4'10" (1.5m);

Rig Type: Masthead Sloop;

Displacement: 23,000lb (10,433kg);

Designer: Bill Dixon;

Builder: Marine Projects Ltd (UK);

Year First Built: 1989;

Year Last Built: 1991;

Number Built: 38;

Owners Association: Moody Owners Association;

Published Design Ratios for the Moody Eclipse 43

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 15.7

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: 38.0

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

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 219

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

4. Comfort Ratio: 27.8

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 Eclipse 43

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1. A Sail Area/Displacement Ratio of just 15.7 suggests that the Moody Eclipse 43 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. A Ballast/Displacement Ratio of 38.0 means that the Moody Eclipse 43 will have a tendency to heel excessively in a gust, and she'll need to be reefed early to keep her sailing upright in a moderate breeze.

3. A Displacement/Length Ratio of 219, tells us the Moody Eclipse 43 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 27.8 suggests that crew comfort of a Moody Eclipse 43 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 Eclipse 43 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.