The Moody Eclipse 43 Sailboat
Specs & Key Performance Indicators

The Moody Eclipse 43 is a unique and versatile cruising yacht that combines the comfort and spaciousness of a deck saloon with the performance and handling of a sloop.

Designed by Bill Dixon and built by Marine Projects Ltd in the UK, the Eclipse 43 features a dual helm station, a solent rig, and a choice of keel options. It also offers three double cabins, two heads, a large galley, and an elevated saloon with panoramic views. The  Eclipse 43 is a rare and sought-after boat that appeals to sailors who want the best of both worlds.

'Phoebus', a Moody Eclipse 43 sailboat.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: 1988;

Owners Association: Moody Owners Association;

Read more about the current range of Moody Yachts...


Published Design Ratios for the Moody Eclipse 43

1. Sail Area/Displacement Ratio: 15.7

2. Ballast/Displacement Ratio: 38.0

3. Displacement/Length Ratio: 219

4. Comfort Ratio: 27.8

5. Capsize Screening Formula: 2.0

read more about these Key Performance Indicators...

Summary Analysis of the Design Ratios for the Moody Eclipse 43

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.


Any Questions?

What is the history of the builders of the Moody Eclipse 43 and is the company still in business?

The builders of the Moody Eclipse 43 were Marine Projects Ltd, a British company that was founded in 1957 by A.H. Moody and Sons, a family of boatbuilders since 1827. Marine Projects Ltd became one of the largest and most successful yacht manufacturers in Europe, producing various models of Moody yachts as well as Princess motor yachts. In 2005, Marine Projects Ltd was acquired by Brunswick Corporation, an American company that owns several marine brands. In 2007, Brunswick sold the Moody brand to Hanse Yachts, a German company that continues to produce Moody yachts today.

Is the Moody Eclipse 43 still in production and, if not, when did production end and how many of these sailboats were built?

No, the Moody Eclipse 43 is not in production anymore. Production ended in 1991, after only three years and 38 units.

What keel options are available for the Moody Eclipse 43?

The Moody Eclipse 43 has two keel options: a fin keel or a wing keel. The fin keel has a deeper draft of 2.05 m (6.7 ft) and offers better performance and manoeuvrability. The wing keel has a shallower draft of 1.65 m (5.4 ft) and offers more stability and less leeway.

What is the average cost of a secondhand Moody Eclipse 43?

The average cost of a secondhand Moody Eclipse 43 varies depending on the condition, equipment, location, and age of the boat. According to some online listings, the price range for a secondhand Moody Eclipse 43 can be from £99,950 to £138,040 (approximately $137,000 to $189,000).

What other sailboats have been created by the designer of the Moody Eclipse 43?

The designer of the Moody Eclipse 43 is Bill Dixon, a British naval architect who has designed many sailboats and motorboats for various brands since 1979. Some of his other sailboat designs include:

  • The Dixon Yacht Design range, which consists of custom-built yachts from 50 to 150ft;
  • The Hylas range, which consists of high-quality cruising yachts from 42 to 70ft;
  • The Moody DS range, which consists of modern deck saloon yachts from 41 to 62ft;
  • The Moody AC range, which consists of classic aft cockpit yachts from 41 to 45ft;
  • The Moody 54 DS, which is a luxury deck saloon yacht with a raised pilothouse;
  • The Moody 41 Classic, which is a traditional aft cockpit yacht with a modern interior;
  • The Moody 45 DS, which is a spacious deck saloon yacht with a large cockpit;
  • The Moody 38 CC, which is a comfortable centre cockpit yacht with a separate aft cabin;
  • The Moody 376, which is a popular cruising yacht with a centre cockpit and an aft cabin.

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.


Other sailboats in the Moody range include:

A Moody 33S sailboat at anchorThe Moody 33S


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