Design and Construction
The Moody 27 has a solid-fiberglass hull and fin keel. Her 44 percent ballast ratio is higher than that of 69 percent of comparable sailboat designs, and the Moody 27 carries real stiffness for her size. A displacement-to-length ratio of 243 places her among “moderate racers.”
With a length-to-beam ratio of 2.86, she is a beamy boat. Compared with her peers, she is roomier below than 73 percent of similar designs. Wetted surface is about 236 square feet, while measured immersion is 739 pounds per inch, so she settles predictably under load.
None of this is exotic. The Moody 27 is a straightforward GRP cruiser-racer, drawn by a designer newly installed at the yard.
Rig and Handling
The masthead-sloop rig carries 319 square feet of sail. That gives a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 16.13—enough to keep the boat lively without requiring a large crew.
Her capsize screening value is 2.16, which by the accepted standard would exclude her from ocean racing. Along with a Motion Comfort Ratio of 18.1, that figure marks her as a coastal and short-sea cruiser rather than a bluewater racer. She ranks as more comfortable than 31 percent of similar designs on that index, so the ride is honest rather than exceptional.
Draft ranges from 4.66 to 4.96 feet, depending on load, which keeps her into shallow marinas.
Accommodations and Capacities
Below, the Moody 27 provides five to six berths—a generous number for a 27-footer and consistent with her beam-forward layout. Dixon used that width to give the small hull a lived-in feel, and the cabin volume is one of the boat’s social strengths.
Fresh-water capacity is 57 liters, or about 15 US gallons. That’s suitable for weekends and short tours rather than extended independent cruising.
Engine and Motoring Performance
The Moody 27 may be fitted with an 18-horsepower Volvo Penta 2002 diesel, while some boats have a 17-horsepower diesel. With the Volvo Penta, calculated maximum speed is about 6.2 knots; with the 17-horsepower engine, it’s about 6.0 knots. The theoretical displacement-hull speed is 6.3 knots.
Fuel capacity is 60 liters, or roughly 15 US gallons. These figures suggest that the engine is intended for making harbor and working tides, not driving the boat through long passages.
Verdict
The Moody 27 is a small, Dixon-designed Moody that trades ocean-racing eligibility for the qualities of a roomy, stiff, shallow-draft coastal cruiser. She makes most sense as a weekender for a couple or small family, offering more space below than her length suggests and a predictable, if not plush, motion.
Pros
- Beamy, roomy layout with five to six berths
- High 44 percent ballast ratio, giving good stiffness for a 27-footer
- Shallow loaded draft suits modest marinas
- Solid-fiberglass hull with a predictable immersion rate
Cons
- Capsize screening value of 2.16 rules her out of ocean racing
- Water capacity of only 57 liters and fuel capacity of 60 liters limit range
- Comfort index is better than only 31 percent of similar designs
