Moody 45 DS

The missing link

I'm the next generation of yacht owner and I've got a confession to make: I have grown accustomed to push-button contrivances, the latest must-have contraptions and the very best in creature comforts afloat.

A manual yacht like the old Passage 33 we had moored out the front, with more strings than a harp, ageing rigging and flogged sails, basic 12V systems, a manual-pump head, scant water and few luxuries, no longer floats my boat.

Instead, I want ease of handling so I can sail shorthanded - things like electric winches, in-mast or in-boom furling and/or a self-tacking headsail - whiz-bang electronics including an autopilot to steer my course, and a lot more mod cons for liveaboard luxury.

This way, I can appease my lifelong crew and sail away for more than just a day. And usage is the single most important thing when buying any boat. You want to be out there, on the water, a comfortable and happy family afloat.

It's this very thinking - the mindset of a potential new generation of soft sailors at both ends of the age spectrum - that's behind the dashing new Moody 45 Deck Saloon that debuted at the Sydney International Boat Show in August. At the time of writing, four of the $900,000 yachts had been sold to people ranging from 38 to 70-plus years of age. And, dare I say, here's a wind-driven conveyance that could revolutionise the cruiser market and, expectedly, at least one powerboater was among those shaping up to jump ship, offering his boat as a trade-in, and preparing to join the sailing fold, we're told. In this respect, the Moody 45 DS is way more powerful than under sail alone.

"We think she will capture sailors, catamaran owners accustomed to indoor-outdoor living areas and powerboaters equally," announces Peter Hrones from Windcraft, the Australian importer of Hanse and Moody yachts. The latter is an English yard acquired in recent years by the giant German, Hanse, and, I should add, much to the chagrin of some blueblood British sailors who flagged the end. But how wrong were they!

The change of ownership is directly responsible for creating this cutting-edge cruising yacht. Hanse's principal, Michael Schmidt, is a progressive businessman and savvy designer reshaping the sailing landscape with his thoroughly modern Hanse yachts. The story goes that Schmidt gave Moody's naval architect, Bill Dixon, carte blanche aka a white-sheet of paper. That was like waving a red rag to a British bulldog and Dixon jumped at the opportunity to build his ultimate cruising yacht. Even my powerboating crew approves. Five-star sailing all the way.

Meantime, as an aside, there's an absolute wealth of information out there concerning Moody Yachts, which began when a boat was built in the courtyard of a house at Swanwick on the River Hamble in the mid-1800s and which ramped up production from 1934 onwards. Similarly, long-standing Moody designer Dixon is a stalwart, with an impressive portfolio of production and custom power and sailboats to his credit. I guess this is why there's more than a whiff of the superyacht about the Moody 45 DS.

See www.dixonyachtdesign.com

With standard-issue retractable (to reduce drag) Maxpower bowthruster and optional sternthruster, decamping is child's play. After which, the upgraded 110hp Yanmar diesel with shaft drive and folding prop - a 75hp Yanmar is standard - takes the Moody 45 DS motors to 8.7kts. According to my calculations, this is smack on hull speed.

You might also notice the optional Vetus electronic shifts - nice bits of gear - at three separate helm stations: port and starboard helms in the cockpit and the pilothouse. Along with an autopilot indoors and out, the 45 DS is a true deck saloon yacht that lets you cruise places and stay dry while doing it indoors. Press the auto-tacking buttons on the pilot and the yacht will tack itself. The self-tacking headsail makes sure of that.

But when motoring, seven knots is the sweet spot where you will consume, wait for it, just 4lt/h. Thus, with a 600lt diesel supply you can safely motor for about 1000nm. This is doubly attractive when you consider that more and more powerboaters are pulling on the reins and running at similar speed to save fuel using much bigger engines.

Underwater, there is a standard cast-iron fin keel with bulb and 4300kg of ballast that draws 1.99m. But there is also a shoal-draft option by way of a telescopic keel whose draft ranges from 1.55 to 2.20m. Above the deck towers a deck-stepped Selden twin-spreader alloy mast, sprayed in black two-pack for extra visual effect. Not that the Moody 45 DS needs makeup.

With an optional two-pack painted grey hull, the black stick, teak decks and the avant-garde lines and mouldings, the Moody turns heads.

But it's from astern that you get a true indication of this yacht's enormity. The 45 DS has a super-wide 4.57m beam. The Riviera 45 flybridge cruiser is just 23cm (less than a ruler) wider hence the twin rudders on the yacht.

Flying the multi-purpose spinnaker on a beam reach we reached 6.5kts in 10.5kts. But only days before, in 17 to 22kts, with 12 people aboard, nine of which were seated in the cockpit, Hrones says he saw nine knots and maintained eight to 8.5kts. As I said, that's pretty much hull speed. And she points at less than 40 degrees comfortably.

Several things contribute to the performance: the hull and deck are built of epoxy and Corecell foam and vacuum bagged; the wide beam improves buoyancy to the point the hull doesn't drag; and there's an interesting hard chine back aft that contributes to the lack of heel.

The yacht goes over only so far before firming up, as if on rails. In fact, you could sit on a lounge inside the accommodating deck saloon and watch the word drift by as you sail without so much as having to brace yourself. How cruisy.

As for setting sail, it's a no brainer. As tested, the 45 DS had a Hood wardrobe including a big, fully battened mainsail with lazy jacks, a battened self-tacking jib and an MPS with Moody insignia. However, future Moody yachts will carry North Sails. Either way, two-speed electric halyard winches make hoisting the main a cinch, while two-speed Lewmar 54 primaries and a single-line reefing system mean anyone can trim.

Rather than a traveller there is a simple block mainsheet system on the hardtop, keeping the cockpit clutter-free. You might also notice the neat mouldings around the base of the shrouds and how all the lines are contained neatly on deck and lead back to the cockpit.

Twin leatherbound wheels and a flared stainless steel rail aft assist with getting outboard and maintaining vision while steering. You can sit inboard and look forward through the glass surrounding the deck saloon, too. But if you stand near the gunwale there's an even better view when, say, negotiating busy harbours and bays. Along with the aforesaid autopilot, there was a $36,840 Raymarine electronics package including a C80 indoors and an E120 in the cockpit, plus Tridata, wind gauges, and VHF radio, of course.

The port and starboard fold-down moulded boarding steps are icing on the cake and make the Moody doubly inviting for guests. The accommodating nature of the foredeck wasn't lost on Windcraft, either, who had snap-in cushions made to create a four-person sunpad.

Back aft, there's a garage or a transverse storage hold in which you can stow a tender or RIB up to 2.8m if the sponsons are deflated. The open-ended cockpit with fold-down swim platform adds to the waterfront real estate, while cockpit seating includes twin three-person pushpit seats in the sun and long lounges that each seat four people around the lunch table under the hardtop with central electric concertina awning. How very civilised.

Storage for serious cruising supplies was abundant in lockers under the seats and a sail-storage locker up front. There were covered deck fillers and twin gas-bottle lockers for the gimballed galley stove, but a rail or bracket-mounted barbie was needed before summer.

DECK SALOON LIVING
One of the biggest gripes my crew has with yachting is the below-decks living. Whereas those on cruisers live above the water, in a saloon traced by glass, sailors usually dissolve from the decks down below into a kind of cocoon, hence the attraction of the deck saloon yacht. And it's here that the Moody is a real class act. Large saloon doors with intermediate settings (the retractable washboard at the entrance is a neat safety feature), an aft galley and saloon on the same level as the cockpit create true indoor/outdoor living and answer the call of would-be sailors.

Then comes the eye candy or, more poignantly, the designer interior from Design Unlimited, whose principal, Mark Tucker has shaped the interiors on everything from Sunseekers to a range of custom yachts and superyachts.

The pictures hereabouts should speak volumes about that styling, suffice to say, there's mahogany joinery that doesn't look too dark thanks to the light streaming inside the panorama windows, light timber flooring, standard cream leather on the lounges, and the whole thing was lifted by red cushions. But there are joinery upgrades and you can create something more daring should you desire.

The aft galley is a winner, feeding back into the cockpit for al fresco dining on deck. There are solid Corian counters traced by timber fiddles, twin sinks with a saltwater pump as an option, three-burner gas cooktop, oven and grill, and a decent top and side-loading 130lt fridge/freezer. An additional 70lt freezer is optional. The stainless steel boxes tracing the counter were promoted as planter boxes for your herbs while you're cruising - how irresistible - and there was a pullout pantry opposite in lieu of the concealed flatscreen TV option.

Seating comes by way of a nav station to port behind the windscreen from where one person can sail and drive this yacht, and an L-shaped lounge opposite around a timber dinette that, with two cubes or ottomans, let's you host a dinner party for six. Seated, the views are captivating, opening hatches in the windscreen and hardtop assist with ventilation, while blinds provide privacy at the marina at night. But wait, there's more.

With a 6.7kW Fischer Panda generator fitted and 18,000btus of air-con in the saloon, a separate 9000btus in the accommodation, and a heating function, you can take charge of the climate and set sail in comfort any time of year. And with a 1200W inverter as standard, you don't have to cop the wrath of fellow sailors when watching a movie after dinner, while recharging the laptop or, perhaps, powering the aftermarket microwave oven. Six AGM batteries are bundled with the boat.

I jumped under the floor to check the serviceability of the 110hp Yanmar, generator, and so on. Besides room around all sides of the engine, fitted with an upgraded 110amp alternator, there was sound insulation, labelled sea strainers, good access to the fuel filter and coolant overflow bottle, and double hose clamps on the plumbing lines. You could access the lazarette via a manhole and more conveniences, such as a chest freezer and/or washer-dryer, can be mounted here. Back up top, the AC/DC panel near the companionway has breakers, generator start button and, importantly, combination fuel/water/holding tank/battery gauge.

LUXURY AFLOAT
Then comes the accommodation which, considering the extent of the saloon, amazes with three double cabins and two heads. The portside cabin has a double bed running longitudinally, tucked back under the saloon floor, with big hanging locker, opening hatch for natural ventilation and air-con. The starboard cabin is the guests' VIP, with an even bigger double bed running athwartships, hanging locker, drawers and quasi vanity or desk. A door leads to the en suite which doubles as the communal or dayhead. The heads are the top-shelf Tecma models, silent flushing, and freshwater to prevent odours.

Advance down the companionway, where the bulkheads are curved to prevent bumps at sea, and you'll find the stateroom in the bow. Wow!

Abundant skylights and opening ports bring the light and air in, there are curtains when sleeping, and the bulwarks tracing the deck ensure privacy. A generous amount of floor space, flanked by lots of cabinetry, cupboards and hanging space, lets you pull on your sailing best. And headroom is most definitely a high point.

Last but not least, the en suite has a dedicated shower stall, something you don't normally see on a yacht. And if none of these appeal, fear not, there are layout options to suit with the accommodation plan. But do test the beds: the flexible-batten support system is hard to beat because it's just so comfortable. With a few little extras and a desalinator, you're set.

My research reveals French yachtmaker Dufour had a similar concept some years ago. Only the Moody 45 DS goes further, ticking an awful lot more boxes and pressing many more buttons. In so doing, Moody has effectively broadened the appeal of yachting. If fuel prices concern you, think about this frugal cruising beauty. If she's not for you, hold your horses, Moody will launch a new 41 Centre Cockpit yacht with more classic lines next followed by a 62 Deck Saloon that's set to wow the sailing world.

Meanwhile, pardon the gushing, but the 45 Deck Saloon is my yacht of the year, perhaps the past decade, maybe the best production cruiser I've set foot aboard.

The future of sailing may be here and it might just tempt powerboaters to the canvas fold. She only heels so far, remember? Cat sailors will like that, too.

LOWS