BoatsMoody 48 DS

Moody 48 DS

Fractional Sloop · Fin w/bulb & Spade Rudder · First built 2023

A modern deck saloon cruiser from Bill Dixon featuring a powerful 150hp engine and a versatile shallow draft option

Designed by Dixon Yacht Design & Bill Dixon.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Hull type
Fin w/bulb & Spade Rudder

See her sail

The Moody 48 DS, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from Practical Sailor

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her moderate displacement on a moderate beam gives 39 — a sea-kindly motion in a seaway.

Comfort ratio 39
CoastalBluewater

1.77 — just under the 2.0 offshore line; her beam is modest for her weight.

Capsize screening 1.77
LightHeavy

223 — moderately heavy for her waterline, a balanced cruising weight.

Displacement / length 223
EasygoingPowered-up

16.6 — moderate power for her weight; steady, all-round performance.

Sail area / displacement 16.6

A capable cruiser that sits just inside the offshore line — coastal work with real passages in her.

  • Heavier than ~94% of boats her size on file
  • Beamier than ~92% of boats her size on file

Compared with 1632 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Moody 48 DS, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Moody 48 DS, launched in December 2023, is a 15.4-meter deck saloon sailboat designed by Bill Dixon to combine luxury motor yacht features with sailing performance. It features a single-level layout connecting the cockpit and saloon, eliminating companionway stairs.2:06 The fractional sloop rig includes in-mast furling for the mainsail, a self-tacking jib, and an electrically controlled Genoa, all manageable from twin helm stations with push-button winch controls.5:11 The vessel displaces 21,160 kg and is powered by a 110-hp or 150-hp Yanmar engine, capable of 9.5 knots under power.10:38 Under sail, it can achieve 8 to 9 knots upwind.6:49 The interior includes a dedicated navigation station with engine and autopilot controls for all-weather operation.9:38 Mechanical systems, including the fuel system, steering, and a 10-kilowatt generator, are housed in a dedicated engine room.10:44 While the design offers high-end finishes and significant living space, the exposed helm stations can present challenges with touchscreen displays in wet weather.7:53 The stern dinghy garage requires deflating a 10-foot RIB for storage.2:25 The Moody 48 DS is available with a shallow draft keel of 1.8 meters.

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen once across one channel of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

On the water

The Moody 48 DS on video

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Rig & sail area
Rig
Fractional Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
16.6
Displacement / length
223.0
Comfort ratio
38.6
Capsize screening
1.77
Hull speed
9.0 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
2579
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/bulb & spade rudder
Construction
GRP w/vinylester and balsa sandwich
Ballast type
Cast Iron
Production
Years built
First built 2023
Designer
Dixon Yacht Design, Bill Dixon
Builder
Moody, Hanse Yachts AG, Sons)

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Najad Yachts 51115.50 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA masthead sloop with a 2.4-metre draft and skeg-hung rudder, rebranded as part of the Aphrodite series in 2008
Swan 5115.62 mSame hull family0.2 m longerThe inaugural German Frers design for Swan, this masthead sloop balances a powerful 17.85 SA/D ratio with offshore comfort
Kraken Yachts 50 (Dibley)15.24 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA 15.24-metre offshore cruiser with a 19.77 sail area-to-displacement ratio for balanced performance in varied conditions
Baltic Yachts 5115.52 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 15.5-metre cruiser produced through the 1980s, offering a powerful sail-area-to-displacement ratio for its size
Dufour Yachts 4815.29 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 15.29-metre performance cruiser with a 4.85-metre beam and a 2.35-metre draft for offshore stability
Bavaria Yachts 5115.60 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA 15.6-metre masthead sloop with a 2.4-metre draft, designed for high-volume cruising and steady offshore speed

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

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The fleet has more to say

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