Design and Provenance
Dixon conceived the 376 as a serious, offshore-capable cruiser rather than a weekend coastal boat. Moody Yachts built it during the long era of its Plymouth production partnership, with the Swanwick facility delivering a yacht of conventional cruising form.
The 376 measures just under 38 feet overall, with a 31-foot waterline and a 12.5-foot beam, and has a moderate displacement of roughly 16,250 pounds. Of that displacement, 6,500 pounds is lead ballast. Two keel configurations were available: the standard fin keel draws 5 feet 6 inches, while the optional shoal keel reduces draft to 4 feet 6 inches for thinner water.
As an update of the Moody 37, the 376’s principal change was functional and cosmetic rather than a structural redesign. The sugar-scoop stern and bathing platform reshaped the aft deck and improved swim access without, according to the source record, changing the interior arrangement.
Construction
Moody built the 376 at Swanwick in fiberglass. Its 6,500 pounds of lead ballast sits in a fin keel, while the skeg-hung rudder follows the conservative British cruising-yacht pattern of the period. The build location and Dixon’s design place the boat firmly within Moody’s recognizable late-1980s tradition of robust, practical cruisers.
Rig and Performance
The 376’s numbers describe a balanced cruising boat. Its ballast-displacement ratio of 40.0 indicates a heavily ballasted hull that stands up well to the wind. A displacement-length ratio of 240 makes it comparatively heavy for its length, while the comfort ratio of 26.2 supports the impression of a stable cruiser with a dampened motion.
Its capsize screening figure of 2.0 sits at the threshold commonly used to suggest bluewater suitability. Taken together, these ratios describe a boat intended to carry crew and cruising loads in settled comfort rather than chase regatta fleets. The trade-off is a moderate sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 16.2, which limits acceleration in light air.
Accommodation and Layout
The center cockpit places the helm amidships and leaves the aft end of the hull available for a private owner’s cabin. This arrangement favors liveaboard privacy and protected passage-making over a large cockpit for lounging. Within the 12.5-foot beam, the interior feels generous for its era.
The sugar-scoop stern and integral bathing platform improve access to the water, but they didn’t alter the accommodation plan inherited from the Moody 37.
Verdict
The Moody 376 is a thoughtful update of the Moody 37. It replaces the conventional transom with a sugar-scoop stern and bathing platform while preserving the comfortable, heavily ballasted cruising hull and aft-cabin layout beneath. Its ratios point to a stable, offshore-capable yacht suited to couples who cruise for extended periods or live aboard. The optional shoal keel also opens up shallower cruising grounds.
Pros
- Bill Dixon design with proven Moody 37 lineage and improved water access
- Heavy 40-percent ballast ratio and 2.0 capsize screening figure suggest solid bluewater manners
- Center-cockpit layout with a private aft cabin
- Integral bathing platform
- Optional shoal keel for shallower cruising grounds
Cons
- Moderate sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 16.2 limits light-air acceleration
- Displacement-length ratio of 240 indicates a comparatively heavy, slow hull form
