Moody 346 Sailboats for Sale

The centre-cockpit format was a deliberate design choice, not a compromise. It places the crew well inboard and away from the water, and the deep, secure cockpit gives a reassuring sense of security at sea. The trade-off is a somewhat elevated seating position that produces more motion than a low aft-cockpit arrangement, and the single small wheel makes reading the headsail luff slightly awkward. The mainsheet traveller sits just behind the helm on the aft coachroof, which is commendably easy to reach, though trimming the main while steering under autopilot means a short walk aft. These are known characteristics of the type, not defects — buyers coming from aft-cockpit designs should sail one before committing. The Bill Dixon hull retains a skeg-hung rudder rather than the spade rudders becoming fashionable at the time, a choice that gives the boat predictable steering and a degree of protection for the blade, though close-quarters manoeuvring requires more planning than a spade-rudder alternative.

Layouts on the Used Market

The standard arrangement puts the larger aft cabin at the heart of the proposition: an offset double berth to port, a corner settee to starboard, a generous floor area, and access to a heads compartment that on the 346 gained an option of entry from both the walk-through and the aft cabin — a refinement over the Moody 34. The L-shaped galley sits in the walk-through passage aft of the saloon, freeing the main cabin for a proper dining area. Forward, the forecabin carries a V-berth double. A good-sized chart table faces aft and uses the end of the starboard saloon settee as a seat.

Owner three-cabin layouts are the more commonly encountered configuration on the used market, though the two-cabin arrangement with a larger heads compartment is also available. Both work well; the two-cabin version suits a couple who want to use one cabin as a proper sea-going workshop or sail locker, while the three-cabin layout suits families or charter situations where privacy matters. Inspect whichever layout you find carefully for signs of modifications — some owners have altered joinery in the walk-through, which affects both access and stowage.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Boats on the used market are typically well-equipped, reflecting the 346's popularity as a serious cruising platform whose owners have invested in her over the years. Chartplotters, heating systems, and autopilots are commonly fitted across the fleet. Biminis and dodgers are widely seen on boats offered for sale, a practical response to the centre-cockpit's exposure to the elements. Radar and AIS installations are widely seen, as are life rafts and hot water systems. Electric winches and inverters turn up frequently, often as owner upgrades rather than factory fits.

A furling mainsail conversion is a common owner upgrade — the standard slab-reefing mainsail is straightforward to use but some cruising owners have preferred the convenience of a furling system, particularly for shorthanded sailing. Solar panels, a spinnaker, dinghy davits, and an EPIRB are less universal but appear on a meaningful portion of listings, typically on boats whose owners have set them up for extended offshore passages. When evaluating a particular boat, treat the presence of a recent EPIRB, a life raft with a current service certificate, and a well-maintained autopilot as genuine value-adds rather than assumed inclusions — verify service records for all safety equipment.

On the sail inventory, old and misshapen Dacron cloth will induce weather helm, especially when the cloth stretches in gusts, while a boat with recent quality Dacron or laminate sails will heel less, be easier to steer, and move more efficiently to weather. The sail inventory is one of the single most important variables between otherwise similar examples.

What to Inspect

The 346's construction quality is generally solid — Moody had a well-earned reputation for producing durable GRP hulls — but any boat of this age warrants thorough survey attention to specific areas.

The keel-to-hull joint deserves careful inspection regardless of which keel option the boat carries. A large number of owners opted for bilge keels, making the bilge-keel version a common find; these give shoal draught of around 3ft 9in and the ability to take the ground upright, but the twin attachment points should be checked for cracking, weeping gelcoat, and any signs of movement. Fin-keel examples should similarly have the joint inspected for stress crazing. The 346's ballast-to-displacement ratio gives the boat good stiffness, but without a bulbed keel the centre of gravity is not especially low by modern standards, so any compromise to keel integrity is a serious concern.

The Thornycroft diesel engine — typically a 35hp unit — was a reliable workhorse in its day, but these engines are now at an age where a full service history is essential and where wear items including heat exchangers, impellers, and injectors should be assessed carefully. An engine survey from a qualified marine diesel engineer is money well spent. Check the raw-water cooling system, shaft seals, and stern gland for their current condition.

The walk-through passage to the aft cabin is an area where moisture can accumulate over years of use. Inspect the joinery and any underlying structure for damp, particularly around the galley where sinks and plumbing fittings have had decades to work on surrounding materials. The heads compartment, conveniently positioned aft near the companionway, should be checked for hose integrity and any sign of seacock corrosion or stiffness.

On deck, the coachroof windows are a potential point of water ingress on boats of this era — check the sealant condition carefully, and look for any staining on the headliner below. The centre-cockpit arrangement puts the mainsheet traveller and associated hardware on the aft coachroof, which sees considerable load; inspect the mountings and the surrounding laminate. Standing rigging on a boat in this age bracket should be assessed for age, fatigue, and the condition of swaged terminals, and chainplates warrant close attention where they pass through the deck.

The modest sail area means the engine gets a genuine workout in light airs, making its reliability and service history more important than on a more highly canvassed design.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The Moody 346 circulates primarily in the United Kingdom — where the Moody name carries strong brand recognition and the owners' association remains active — and across Mediterranean sailing grounds, particularly Greece, Turkey, and France, where British centre-cockpit cruisers of this era found a natural home. Examples also appear in the United States, though less frequently. The UK remains the most liquid market, with the widest choice and the most active network of specialist brokers familiar with the type. Buyers on the continent will find listings in Mediterranean marinas, often on boats whose owners have cruised them south over successive seasons.

The 346 is a realistic proposition for a couple looking for a proper offshore cruiser with genuine privacy and good sea-keeping manners, or for a family wanting to spend serious time aboard. It is not a fast boat — the modest sail area-to-displacement ratio means patience in light winds and a willingness to motor — but it is a comfortable and capable one with a following of experienced owners.

Before making an offer, work through this checklist:

• Commission a full out-of-water survey by a qualified marine surveyor with experience of production GRP yachts of this era
• Verify keel-to-hull joint integrity and, on bilge-keel examples, the condition of both attachment points
• Obtain full engine service history; budget for a diesel specialist assessment regardless
• Inspect walk-through joinery, galley area, and heads compartment for damp and rot
• Check coachroof windows, mainsheet traveller mountings, and all deck hardware for sealant integrity
• Assess standing rigging age and chainplate condition
• Examine the sail inventory in person — a tired headsail or stretched main significantly affects the boat's performance and value
• Confirm life raft service date, EPIRB registration and battery status, and safety equipment condition
• Contact the Moody Owners Association before purchase for model-specific guidance and to connect with experienced 346 owners