Design and Construction
The Moody 42 is solidly constructed, and her high displacement together with a sail area/displacement ratio of 16 place her firmly in the cruiser bracket rather than the performance racer end of the spectrum. The Dixon design produced a displacement-to-waterline comparison more favourable than the earlier Moody 40, while the rudder is semi-balanced and hung from a half skeg, a configuration that keeps the helm light but positive while increasing the integrity and strength of the rudder mounting. Her slightly overhanging bow is a practical detail that helps protect the stem when retrieving ground tackle.
Rig and Handling
All sail controls are within easy reach of the helmsman, and the large, low-cut genoa is paired with a headsail furling drum set a foot or so above the deck, clear of the anchor. Those attributes make the yacht easy to sail singlehanded and an easy, satisfying boat to handle overall. Although she is not a flyer in light airs, she keeps powering on in heavy seas and can stand up to her sail plan even when slightly over-canvassed. Stiff and well able to stand up to her sail, she also shows a gentle motion at sea, which contributes to safe, secure and comfortable living on long passages.
Accommodations
The cockpit sits a long way above sea level, which aids seakeeping but severely restricts visibility forward from the wheel. Comfortably four can sit in the cockpit, or six with two behind the wheel, while below decks the saloon caters for six dining or eight for a drink. She is very comfortable to live on both under way and at anchor, and there is dedicated space for a good-size navigation station with ample room for instruments. Long-term cruising gear fits without resorting to lashing items to the rails, and the afterdeck provides room to sunbathe, shower or inflate a dinghy.
Deck and Equipment
The deck is ample and uncluttered, with a flat foredeck carrying twin self-stowing anchor bow rollers and a powerful electric windlass feeding a deep chain locker that holds at least 196 ft of heavy chain and a further 65 ft of warp. Guardrail gates and two wide, deep steps give safe access to the water, and a deep fold-down boarding ladder completes the swim-and-dinghy interface. The raised cockpit and clear deck paths underline her blue water intent without sacrificing the social spaces a family cruiser needs.
The Verdict
The Moody 42 is a thoughtfully realised Dixon cruiser that trades outright light-air speed for seakeeping, volume and singlehanded manageability. Her construction and ballast placement give reassuring stiffness, and the semi-balanced rudder on its half skeg is a quiet strength. The principal compromise is the restricted forward view from the raised cockpit — a consequence of the very sea-keeping height that makes her so secure offshore.
Pros
- Solid construction with bulb-keel ballast and a strong skeg-hung semi-balanced rudder
- Easy to sail short-handed; all controls at the helm
- Roomy, secure accommodation with proper nav station and stowage for cruising kit
- Comfortable motion and ability to keep driving in heavy seas
Cons
- Severely restricted forward visibility from the raised cockpit
- Not quick in light airs despite the generous sail plan
- Ballast ratio lower than some comparable cruisers
