Moody 336 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

The 336 was designed around a distinctive three-cabin arrangement, and that layout dominates what you will encounter when browsing brokerage listings. The arrangement places a forecabin forward with two singles convertible to a double, a full-width saloon in the centre — notable for its U-shaped settee to port and the centrally mounted drop-leaf table that opens across the full saloon width — and a sizeable aft cabin accessed through a door off the galley. This aft cabin is generously proportioned by the standards of a 33-footer, incorporating an L-shaped settee, vanity desk, and large double berth. The navigation station sits to starboard aft of the saloon, and the heads compartment, fitted from the factory with a pressurised hot and cold water system and shower, occupies the space between the nav station and the forecabin. Two-cabin variants do appear on the used market from time to time and should not be dismissed, but the three-cabin configuration is considerably more prevalent and tends to be what most buyers are seeking.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Used examples are typically well equipped, reflecting the boat's reputation as a long-term liveaboard and bluewater passage maker for its original owners. Autopilots, chartplotters, radar, and a cockpit dodger are commonly fitted across most of what comes to market, and heating — whether diesel or gas — is a frequent inclusion, unsurprising given the boat's British origins and the cool northern-European seasons in which many were sailed. Biminis are also widely found.

Beyond the core electronics and comfort gear, owners over the years have added equipment that reflects how they used the boat. Spinnakers and gennakers appear with some regularity, as do asymmetric kites, suggesting a proportion of owners who pushed the 336 beyond its baseline cruising role. Swim platforms are a frequently seen addition, as are solar panels — a practical upgrade for boats used as extended cruisers or occasional liveaboards. Dinghy davits and life rafts are present on a meaningful share of listings, pointing to boats that have seen genuine offshore use. Electric winches are a less common but not unusual owner upgrade, appreciated on a boat of this weight and sail area when sailing short-handed.

What to Inspect

The 336's fibreglass hull is generally considered sound and requires no unusual structural attention, but any boat of this age warrants a thorough survey regardless of cosmetic condition. Osmotic blistering should be investigated below the waterline; boats that spent extended seasons in warmer waters or sat on moorings for long periods without proper antifouling care are the most susceptible. The Perkins Perama M30 diesel fitted to most examples is a proven, simple engine, but seals, hoses, and heat exchanger condition all need close attention at this service age. The Volvo 2003 found in some earlier boats is equally long-lived but equally dependent on maintenance history.

The bilge keel option, which reduces draft substantially, is attractive for shoal-water sailing, but the keel-to-hull joint and keel bolts on bilge-keel examples deserve particular scrutiny; any signs of movement, staining, or stress cracking around the keel roots should prompt further investigation before purchase. Fin-keel boats should have keel bolts inspected in the same manner. Deck hardware, including stanchion bases, chainplates, and any deck-stepped fittings, warrants careful checking for delamination or weeping around fasteners — a common finding on any well-used British production cruiser of this era. Standing rigging should be assessed for age and any signs of fatigue at swaged terminals; the masthead rig geometry means loads are straightforward but inspection remains essential. Running rigging and sail inventory condition vary widely depending on how recently a boat has been prepared for sale, so assess these independently.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The 336 came from a relatively modest production run, which keeps used supply moderate but reasonably stable. The largest concentrations appear in the United Kingdom, with a meaningful number having found their way to Greek waters and a smaller but established presence in Australia.

For a buyer, the 336 offers a lot of usable boat: a genuine aft cabin in a 33-footer, an offshore-capable hull, and a robust engine specification, all from a well-regarded British yard. The things to carry into any viewing:

• Confirm bilge or fin keel and verify keel bolt condition and joint integrity
• Review the full engine service history and check hoses, impeller, and heat exchanger
• Commission a full osmosis survey if the boat's antifouling record is unclear
• Inspect all deck hardware and chainplate areas for signs of delamination or water ingress
• Check standing rigging age and terminal condition throughout
• Assess the heads and galley plumbing — pressurised systems of this vintage often need refresh
• Verify heating system function if the boat is destined for northern or year-round use
• Confirm electronics and autopilot are operational and not simply listed as present