Deck Saloon and Accommodations
The defining move is to put the saloon and galley in the deck house and align them on the same level as the cockpit, so the social core of the boat flows straight out to the helm anchor. Below, the layout yields three staterooms, two of them essentially amidships, and two heads, with a spacious-looking master cabin forward in the bow. Modular furniture components let the original specification be mixed and matched to a degree, so that beneath the fixed hull structure an owner could tailor the lower arrangement more than is typical of a production cruiser.
Construction and Build Provenance
Above the sheerline the boat carries a calf-height bulwark around the deck, and separately the design features solid stainless-steel rails atop substantial bulwarks to help keep crew aboard. The catamaran connection is taken further in the hard top that extends over the cockpit from the deckhouse roof, sheltering the forward part of the working area anchor. The shift to German construction under Hanse ownership is a clean break from the brand’s long British production history, and the 45 DS embodies that transition in both its build site and its contemporary deck-saloon styling.
Cockpit, Steering and Rudders
Twin wheels are connected to twin rudders, and the wheels are mounted just aft of the extended coachroof that covers the forward six feet of the cockpit. That geometry keeps the helmsman close to the protected saloon forward while leaving the after cockpit open. The arrangement is a deliberate step away from the single-wheel, separate-cockpit norm of earlier Moody cruisers, leaning into responsive twin-blade steering beneath a sheltered helm.
Foredeck and Stowage Solutions
The builder claims a dedicated locker in the foredeck for stowing a cruising spinnaker, and describes an innovative method to stow the anchor out of the way yet keep it readily deployable. These details aim to keep the bow clean and free of trip hazards, consistent with the deck-saloon ethos of uncluttered, secure circulation.
The Verdict
The Moody 45 DS is a bold reinterpretation of the bluewater cruiser as a one-level living platform, executed with secure deck protection and modern twin-rudder handling. Her polarizing looks divide opinion, but the layout and construction discipline are coherent.
Pros
- Saloon, galley, and cockpit on one level for genuine indoor-outdoor flow
- Solid stainless rails atop substantial bulwarks for deck security
- Twin rudders with twin wheels for responsive control
- Innovative foredeck stowage for spinnaker and anchor
Cons
- Striking styling that period testers said could be loved or hated
