Premier Group took over the Moody operation at Swanwick Marina on the Hamble River. The moorings fell neatly into their marina portfolio, but the famous Moody brand of luxury sailing yachts, once built by Marine Projects in Plymouth, did not. First, production was moved closer to home to Halmatic’s facility within the VT shipyard in Portsmouth, but a series of price hikes breeched the boundaries of economic sense. Moody was transformed into a brokerage sales department, and there the story might have ended.
But three years is a long time in the marine industry, not least with the fast-expanding Premier Group, which moved quickly to take over selling the American-built Island Packet range of blue water sailing cruisers from the defunct Opal Peters Marine, to line up with their existing Elan and more recently acquired Cranchi dealerships. Sales division had become a major force within the British Marine Industry. All that was lacking was the Moody brand name. That was put right this month with the launch of the Moody 45DS, a radically shaped sailing cruiser built by Hanseyachts AG in an ultra-modern factory on the Baltic, close to the Polish border. This is very much a partnership launch between Premier and the German builder, which also produces the Fjord powerboat range, and will undoubtedly lead to more Moody offerings in the future.
The Moody genre is maintained, with lines designed by Bill Dixon who has been shaping the wanwick-based range since the 1980s. In more recent times, Bill has made a name for himself designing large superyachts, and many of the lessons learned in that arena have been scaled down into this purposeful 45-footer. Her deckhouse produce a shape that potential owners will either love or loathe. Their womenfolk however, will undoubtedly see her as a super safe vessel, with her table hull, deep protective bulwarks, large covered cockpit and easy access as important plus points.
The deciding issue however will almost certainly be her interior. Styled by Mark Tucker and his seven-strong team at Design Unlimited, based just along the road at Fareham, the interior is very much home-from-home with lavish furnishings and every labour-saving device incorporated. Tucker and his team have built up a reputation for for large powerboats such as Sunseeker and have certainly injected a refreshing, innovative approach to this sailboat interior.
To all intents and purposes, the Moody 45DS is a scaled down superyacht designed for a discerning group who aspire one day to own a boat twice this size. What other yacht in this size range can boast a stern garage big enough for a dinghy and windsurfer, a full-width deck saloon with glass sliding door giving access to a covered cockpit; an engine room that even I, at 6ft 3in, would have to trouble working in, and deep cockpit lockers big enough to stow bicycles in?
The design team are keen to emphasise that this 45DS is not a motorsailer; that her lines and high aspect three-spreader rig are designed to provide a sparkling performance under sail, but I have a strong sense that many owners is extremely stable, has a powerful 110hp engine option and plenty of protection. This is a yacht to enjoy pottering about, weekend cruising and passage making to France and the Channel Islands, rather than cruiser/racing around the cans at weekends. Her motor sailing credentials are a defi nite asset.
“The motor sailing aspect is simply a perception, but this is no low-rigged powerboat,” says designer Bill Dixon. “She does in fact have very sleek lines and is very responsive under sail. Sailors will appreciate her performance.
Michael Smidt from Hanseyachts commissioned the design. He saw the lines we produced for an 82ft motorsailer with a vertical stem and stern and said, ‘I want it like that.’ What he also wanted was the main saloon on the same level as the cockpit. The brief was as simple and difficult as that.”
The high bulwarks and solid stainless steel handrail around the teak-laid deck provide a reassuring sense of safety, and with a doorway adjacent to the cockpit that hinges down to the waterline to provide a solid step up, getting on and off this yacht either in the marina or mooring could not be easier. The cockpit has deep protective coamings and a cover across that retracts whenever the weather point on the 45DS, and being free of ropes and winches, will be well used. A central table with glass leaves opens out to make this a good dining area too. The business end of the boat is raised up to provide a clear view over the deckhouse from the twin pedestal heel positions either side. Sheet winches and headsail furling controls are all push-button and close to hand. The raised deck area across the wide stern provides room for the aft garage. This is accessed via a hinged transom bathing platform and cockpit floor that opens up to give access to a dinghy, outboard and other toys.
“Integrating the deck saloon into the design was quite a challenge,” says Bill. “We had to make sure that the helmsman can see round it, over it and even through it. It is also the heart of the boat, with a well-equipped galley and dinette that, with the out into the cockpit. We think it is quite unique on a boat this size.”
Her interior styling is also unique, the layout providing much more than one would normally fi nd within a 45ft yacht. It was designed by Mark Tucker’s team at Design Unlimited, and Mark admits: “Developing this in a modern classic style that existing Moody yacht owners will appreciate as much as new buyers was quite difficult to achieve, but we have still finished up with a decent-sized owner’s cabin forward, with ensuite facilities and two more double cabins amidships.”
The idea of having the master popularised in the Mediterranean, where large yachts are invariably moored stern-to, in order to insulate the owners from the noise of late night revellers and the footfall of early risers. I’m not sure that this will work as well on a yacht of just 45ft length, but the cabin is spacious enough for a large double bed, dressing table and en suite facilities. What I did like was the smoked glass roof light running the full length of the cabin, which makes the area so bright and breezy.
This Moody is designed for short-handed sailing. She has a furling, self-tacking jib, and the fully battened mainsail has lazy jacks to make reefing simple. The mainsheet tacks down to the top of the deck saloon, so there are not even ropes running around the place to worry guests. This is push-button sailing at its best and, with the cockpit affording elements, those not directly involved in the nitty-gritty of sailing needn’t even get wet. Now that’s what I call a proper gentleman’s yacht.







































Specification Moody 45 DSe 

LOA 13.72 m | 45'0"
LWL 12.93 m | 42'42"
Beam 4.57 m
Draft 1.99 m (standard)
approx. 1,55 -2,20 m (option)
Displacement approx. 13.6 t | approx. 29,982 lb
Ballast approx. 4.3 t | approx. 9,479 lb
Engine Yanmar 55 kW / 75 HP
Fresh water approx. 800 l
Fuel tank approx. 600 l
CE Certificate A (ocean)
Rig I 18,50 m
J 5.22 m
P 18.40 m
E 6.00 m
Design Bill Dixon
Interior Design Unlimited 
 
1100 Hull

- Hull built with prepreg fibreglass fabrics in epoxy, vacuum cured with CorecellTM foam, post cured
- off white hull with single waterlines

- Options for different hull colours according to Moody colour selection
- GRP strong back
- Hull windows

1200 Deck

- Off white Deck
-Hand laid sandwich construction, thermal and sound insulated

1300 Steering System

 - Twin wheel steering system
- 2 Leather covered steering wheels
- 2 Semi-balanced, profiled rudders with alloy shaft and self-aligning needle bearings 1400 Keel

- Standard composite iron / lead keel
- Standard draft: 1.99 m
-Option: Retractable keel approx. 1,55 - 2,20 m
-Stainless steel keel bolts

2000 Deck Equipment

- Teak on side decks
- Teak on seats and cockpit floor
- Engine control at helm station stb.
- 6 retractable mooring cleats
-Self-draining anchor locker with electrical windlass under deck
- Anchor roller
-Cockpit table and chart plotter bracket
-Foredeck sail storage
-Hot & cold shower on aft deck
-Self-draining cockpit
-Storage for gas bottles, self draining
-Stainless steel swim ladder
-Self-tacking jib track integrated in the foredeck
-Mainsheet twin system
- Sheave deck organizers
-Deck jammers
-Pad eyes for gennaker
-Flush hatches
-6 flush port lights in hull
-Pulpit with LED navigation lights
-2 electric winches in cockpit

3000 Technical System

3100 Plumbing System / Fresh Water Tank

- Fresh water tanks, capacity approx. 800 l
- Water filler on deck
Hot water

- 40 l water heater, running from engine and immersion heater 230 V

3200 Draining Pumps & Bilge pumps

-1 manual bilge pump
-Electric bilge pump with automatic switch
Toilet / Head

-1 electrical toilet in owners cabin,
-manual marine toilets for other heads
-1 stainless steel holding tank with sea and deck discharge for each toilet

3300 Engine

- Yanmar 4JH4-TE, 75 HP, diesel engine
-Stainless steel shaft
- 3 bladed fixed propeller
- 1 alternator 12 V / 80 Amp.
- Fuel tank, capacity approx. 600 l
-Fuel filler on deck
- Fuel filter / Water separator
- Engine room sound insulated and illuminated

3400 Electric System

-12 V and 230 V
Batteries

-Main battery switches
-Engine battery: 12 V / 85 Ah
-Service battery bank:
12 V / 440 Ah batteries
Battery charger / Shore power

- Battery charger 12 V / 50 A
-Isolator switch
- 230 V shore supply protected with differential
breaker and distribution system
Electric switch panel 230 V

- 2 differential breakers
- Control gauges
- Voltmeter
Electric switch panel 12 V

- Switches for all onboard electrics
- Voltmeter and battery control
- Water / Fuel gauges
12 V Electric equipment

-Electrical anchor windlass
-2 Electrical winch
-Pumps
-Navigation lights
-Interior lights
-Refrigerator
Outlets 230 V

-at chart table twin outlet
-in fwd. cabin one each
-in galley twin outlet
-in saloon twin outlet
-in heads one each
Outlets 12 V

-at chart table

-at helm station

Interior lighting

-Overhead lighting in cabins,
saloon, galley and heads
-Lighting in engine compartment
-Reading lights in saloon and cabins
-Night light on companion way
- indirect lighting
- Storage room aft
Navigation lights

-LED Navigation lights
-Steaming light
-Anchor light
Navigation instruments

-Compass illuminated
-Log and depth sounder
on a combi display at each helm
and chart table

3500 Galley

- Solid surface, CoreanTM with
integrated sinks
- 3-burner LPG stove with oven,
gimballed
-Gas system and self draining LPG
bottle storage on deck
-Lockers and drawers
- Trash can
- Fridge, front and top access

4000 Interior Accommodation

-High quality marine plywood,
mahogany veneer, satin varnish
- Option: American cherry,
satin varnish
-Bulkheads
- Wooden door frames
- Wood / Sandwich doors
Upholstery

- According to Moody colour selection
Forward cabin
Main Saloon
Navigation area
Interior Concepts

- Different layouts, according to
Moody Modular Cabin Concept
Head / Shower

- Toilet and shower in forward cabin with
electrical toilet
- Toilet and shower in the aft cabin with
manual toilet
- CoreanTM solid surface with sink
-Electrical drain pump
- Mirror
-Locker & shelves
-Opening hatch

5000 Rig and Sails

-Silver anodised mast
- Boom with 2 reefing lines
- Mainsail with 2 reefs
-Self-tacking jib
-Furling system for jib
- Main halyard
- Jib halyard
-Main sheet
-Jib sheet
-Rod kicker
- Main drop system with Lazy Jacks
-Backstay adjuster manual