She is a solid-fiberglass monohull of moderate displacement, intended as a roomy coastal and offshore cruiser rather than a lightweight performer.
Design and Construction
The Moody 36-1 has a solid-fiberglass hull and deck, with iron ballast carried in a fin keel. She measures 30.5 feet on the waterline and 12.3 feet in beam. Displacement is 14,700 pounds, while draft varies from about 5.09 to 5.39 feet depending on load—little enough to enter most marinas.
Her length-to-beam ratio of 2.92 makes her beamier than 82% of similar designs. A displacement-length ratio of 243 places her among “moderate racers,” with 62% of similar sailboats being heavier. Wetted surface is about 387 square feet, and an immersion rate of 1,289 pounds per inch means she settles predictably as stores and crew come aboard.
The capsize screening value is 2.01. That puts her outside the threshold for ocean-race acceptance, an important distinction for buyers who might otherwise mistake this cruiser for a bluewater racer.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The masthead-sloop rig carries a 506-square-foot sail plan on a 36-foot hull. Theoretical maximum speed for the displacement hull is near 7.3 knots, while calculated top speed is around 6.3 knots.
Standing- and running-rigging dimensions are well documented. Jib and genoa sheets are about 36 feet long and 0.55 inch in diameter. The mainsheet is roughly 90 feet at the same diameter, while the spinnaker sheet is about 79 feet, also at 0.55 inch. These lengths speak to a cockpit laid out for manageable trim loads with standard-diameter line rather than oversized offshore-spec ropes.
A skeg-hung rudder and fin keel give her a predictable, if not race-bred, helm character consistent with the moderate-racer classification. The record identifies the keel as a fin but doesn’t specify its subtype.
Accommodations and Tankage
The 12.3-foot beam is generous for a boat of this length and accounts for much of the Moody’s interior volume. Compared with narrower 36-footers, the hull proportions make a clear dimensional case for a spacious, three-cabin-class interior, although the available record doesn’t describe the layout in detail.
Tankage consists of 72 gallons of water and 60 gallons of diesel, supporting extended cruising without the cramped proportions of narrower boats in this size range.
Verdict
The Moody 36-1 is a late-1970s, Primrose-designed cruiser built by Marine Projects. She combines solid fiberglass construction, generous beam, substantial tankage, and modest power for predictable handling.
Her capsize screening value doesn’t qualify her as an ocean racer, and her moderate displacement won’t satisfy sailors looking for light-boat performance. As a used classic, however, her volume, ballast, and tankage make her a sensible cruiser for coastal and passage work.
Pros
- Roomy hull form, with a length-to-beam ratio that makes her beamier than 82% of similar designs
- Solid-fiberglass hull and deck
- Iron-ballasted fin keel
- Draft of about 5 feet, shallow enough to enter most marinas
- Cruising tankage of 60 gallons of diesel and 72 gallons of water
Cons
- Capsize screening value of 2.01 excludes her from ocean-race acceptance
- Keel subtype is unknown in the available record despite the fin-keel designation
- Moderate-racer displacement-length ratio means she isn’t a light-displacement performer
