Design and Construction
The hull is solid fiberglass, with a fin keel. At a ballast ratio of 44 percent — higher than 69 percent of comparable sailboat designs — and a displacement-to-length ratio of 243 that places her among "moderate racers," the Moody 27 carries real stiffness for her size. Her length-to-beam ratio of 2.86 makes her beamy, and measured against her peers she is roomier below than 73 percent of similar designs. The wetted surface runs about 236 square feet, and immersion is a measured 739 pounds per inch, so she settles predictably under load. None of this is exotic; it is a straightforward GRP cruiser-racer laid out by a designer newly installed at the yard.
Rig and Handling
As a masthead sloop the Moody 27 carries 319 square feet of sail area, returning a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 16.13 — enough to keep her lively without demanding a large crew. The capsize screening value is 2.16, which by the accepted standard would exclude her from ocean racing; that same figure, alongside a Motion Comfort Ratio of 18.1, tells you she is a coastal and short-sea cruiser rather than a bluewater racer. She is more comfortable than 31 percent of similar designs on that comfort index, so the ride is honest but not exceptional. Her draft runs 4.66 to 4.96 feet depending on load, which keeps her into shallow marinas.
Accommodations
Below, the boat is fitted with five to six berths, a generous count for 27 feet and consistent with her beam-forward layout. Fresh water capacity is 57 liters, or about 15 US gallons, which suits weekend and short-tour use rather than extended independent cruising. The cabin volume reads as the boat's social strength: Dixon used the width to give a small hull a lived-in feel.
Power and Performance Under Engine
The Moody 27 may be fitted with a Volvo Penta 2002 diesel of 18 horsepower, or in some boats a 17-horsepower diesel; with the former, calculated maximum speed is about 6.2 knots and with the latter about 6.0, against a theoretical displacement-hull speed of 6.3 knots. Fuel capacity is 60 liters, or roughly 15 US gallons. The numbers suggest the engine is there to make harbor and tide, not to drive long passages.
The Verdict
The Moody 27 is a small Dixon-designed Moody that trades racing eligibility for a roomy, stiff, shallow-draft coastal cruiser. She is best read as a couple's or small-family weekender with more below than her length suggests and a predictable, if not plush, motion.
Pros
- Beamy, roomy layout with five to six berths for her size
- High 44 percent ballast ratio, stiff for a 27-footer
- Shallow loaded draft keeps her into modest marinas
- Solid fiberglass hull with predictable immersion rate
Cons
- Capsize screening of 2.16 rules her out of ocean racing
- Only 57 liters of water and 60 of fuel — limited range
- Comfort index better than just 31 percent of similar designs
