Design and Construction
The hull is solid, hand-laid fibreglass. A fin keel carries 4,500 lb of iron ballast against a displacement of 11,200 lb, giving a ballast ratio of just over 40 percent. With a 27ft 9in waterline and 11ft 8in beam, the design has moderate displacement length.
The 346 measured 34ft 6in overall and retained the same 5ft fin-keel draught, showing how little the hull changed. Its skeg-hung rudder favours protected steering over clean hydrodynamics.
Rig and Handling
The 34 is a masthead sloop with a modest sail-area-to-displacement ratio. The emphasis is on steady cruising rather than sparkling performance in light air. Its fin keel and skeg-hung rudder provide directional stability and some grounding protection.
The centre cockpit sits high enough to clear the walk-through passage below. That arrangement trades some perceived motion for more cabin volume.
Accommodation
The centre-cockpit layout provides a walk-through passage to the aft cabin, borrowing headroom from the raised sole. Three-cabin owner layouts were common, while the raised deck gave the boat a roomy saloon for its size.
The 346’s aft cabin was smaller than that of the later Moody 35, which gained a larger aft cabin in 1990.
Known Issues
Mild-steel keel bolts can corrode when water from engine or mast leaks collects in the deep keel-stub sump. The resulting corrosion can cause scaling and wastage.
The chainplates pass through the balsa-cored deck. If their sealant fails, water can rot the core and delaminate the deck. Bilge-keel versions may also show hairline gelcoat cracks at the corners of the keel recesses due to flexing during groundings.
Inside, the vinyl headliner can sag as its foam backing degrades in heat and humidity. The mechanical steering system also needs attention: wear in the linkages and rudder-shoe fasteners can produce play if the system isn’t greased.
Refits and Ownership
The original engines are heavy marinized blocks with increasingly scarce parts, so repowering is common. In-mast furling mainsails trade some upwind efficiency for convenience.
An owners’ association at moodyowners.org supports both models across the 419-boat population.
The Verdict
The Moody 34 and 346 are pragmatic, volume-efficient centre-cockpit cruisers whose appeal exceeded expectations in the 1980s. They reward owners prepared to accept modest light-air performance in return for protected steering and a walk-through cabin.
Pros
- Centre-cockpit, walk-through layout with unusually generous headroom for the boat’s size
- 419 boats built, supported by an active owners’ association
- Skeg-hung rudder and fin keel provide protected, stable steering
Cons
- Keel-bolt corrosion caused by water pooling in the sump requires inspection
- The balsa-cored deck around the chainplates can rot if the sealant fails
- Parts for the original engine marinization are increasingly scarce
