Moody Yachts 49

BoatsMoody Yachts 49

See her sail

The Moody Yachts 49, on the water

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

Footage from Lady K Sailing

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 narrow beam gives 36 — a sea-kindly motion in a seaway.

Comfort ratio 36

CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 1.78

LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 230

EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 15.8

TenderStiff

32% of her weight is ballast — on the tender side; she'll heel readily and want a reef sooner.

Ballast 32%

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

Heavier than ~86% of boats her size on file
Beamier than ~81% of boats her size on file

Compared with 1880 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Moody Yachts 49, as the fleet has seen it

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

The Moody Yachts 49 is a Bill Dixon-designed cutter-rigged sailboat, built from 2005 to the present by VT Halmatic, Moody Yachts, and Halmatic Ltd. It features a fin keel with a spade rudder, measures 14.8 meters LOA, 4.4 meters in beam, and draws 2.0 meters, displacing 15,699 kg. Moody Yachts are known for robust construction and quality deck hardware, with solid fiberglass hulls in older models and cored construction in newer ones. The brand occupies a premium market segment comparable to Oyster or Discovery, distinct from production brands like Beneteau or Hunter. Older Moody models may have original Thornycroft diesel engines, often replaced with Yanmar, Volvo, or Perkins units.6:55 Buyers should assess the build quality against potential costs for upgrading electrical and propulsion systems.

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions

Weights

Ballast / displacement

31.9%

Rig & sail area

Rig

Cutter

Ratios

SA / displacement

15.8

Displacement / length

229.5

Comfort ratio

35.5

Capsize screening

1.78

Hull speed

8.6 kn

Pounds / inch immersion

2099

Hull

Hull type

Fin w/spade rudder

Construction

Fiberglass

Ballast type

Lead

Production

Years built

First built 2005

Designer

Bill Dixon

Builder

VT Halmatic, Moody Yachts, Halmatic Ltd

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.

Contest Yachts 50CS14.99 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA George Nissen-designed fractional sloop with a high comfort ratio, built for stable and capable offshore cruising

boot Düsseldorf 2026. A look at the sailing yachts on display. Which is your favourite?1:27 from Halcyon Yachts - International Yacht Delivery

Hallberg-Rassy 4814.99 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA German Frers-designed bluewater cruiser featuring a stiff 42% ballast ratio and a stable, comfortable motion at-sea motion

Hallberg-Rassy 48 - A Yacht Delivery from Bremen to Ellos. Wonderful trip on a fabulous boat!from Halcyon Yachts - International Yacht Delivery

Hallberg-Rassy 4614.78 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA German Frers-designed bluewater cruiser built for stability and comfort with a high ballast ratio and skeg-hung rudder

East Coast Long Sailing Passage - Baltimore to Fort Lauderdale 1000 Mile Sailboat Voyage from SailingBritican

Hallberg-Rassy 4914.96 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA versatile staysail ketch or sloop offering a high comfort ratio and a stable fin keel with skeg-hung rudder

Beware of ORCAS! Part 2: Sailing SOUTH through Orca Territory to Portugal | Ep 2760:21 from Distant Shores TV

Bestevaer 49ST14.97 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA 15-metre aluminum cruiser with a fixed fin keel and bulb, designed for stability and offshore performance

Should We Build a BIGGER Sailboat? Building an Aluminum Boat - Design Part 2 with KM Yachts | EP 206 from Distant Shores TV

Swan 48 - S&S14.60 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA versatile Sparkman & Stephens design available in sloop or ketch configurations with an optional tall rig

Sparkman & Stephens 48 Bluewater Cruiser Tour | Centre Cockpit Offshore Sailing Yacht Review from Practical Sailor

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.

Moody 46A Bill Dixon-designed cutter with a fin keel and spade rudder, built for comfortable, stable blue-water cruising Moody 54A cutter-rigged 16.43-metre cruiser featuring a skeg-mounted rudder and a 34% ballast ratio for offshore stability Moody 425A 12.7-metre cruiser with a 39% ballast ratio, designed for steady performance and offshore capability Moody 422A 12.4-metre masthead sloop with a 40% ballast ratio, configured with a skeg-mounted rudder for directional stability Moody 45 DSA fractional-rigged deck saloon cruiser featuring a fin keel with bulb and dual rudders for modern performance

Keep asking

The fleet has more to say

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