Moody 46 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

Owner three-cabin layouts are the more common on the used market, but both are available, and ex-charter examples are common. The center-cockpit design gives more room underneath for a massive aft owner’s stateroom with island queen berth and ensuite head, while the front houses a guest cabin with a V-berth and second head; most models also come with a third bunk room or office. Foregoing a walkthrough transom, you’ll need to climb a ladder to get on the boat from the water, which is a layout constant across the fleet. Headroom averages about 6.5 feet, and the galley sits low along the aft walkthrough to aid cooking in seas.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

On the used market these boats commonly carry a chartplotter, autopilot, teak decks, life raft, EPIRB, bow thruster, furling main, self-tacking jib, heating, electric winches, bimini, swim platform, cockpit shower, dinghy davits, radar, AIS, and spinnaker. A watermaker, solar, code zero, gennaker, asymmetric spinnaker, freezer, hot water, dodger, or circumnavigation outfitting are less commonly seen and typically reflect owner upgrades rather than factory standard. Most models feature a windlass and anchor setup suitable for extended stays at anchor as well as stern davits and arches for solar panels and dinghies. The standard powerplant is a 75- or 100-hp Yanmar diesel, centrally mounted under the cockpit sole.

What to Inspect

The keel uses mild steel keel studs instead of stainless steel, and while in most cases this corrosion is only cosmetic and can be wirebrushed away, persistent stud rusting or water squeezing from the keel joint when the boat is resting on her keel may indicate a serious problem mild steel keel studs. Owner reports note that the teak decking and veneer should be monitored and bonded anywhere they may be delaminating at sharp bends and corners, and that the windows will likely need periodic rebedding every 10–15 years. The 6-hp bow thruster may be underpowered for some sailors, the holding tank may be undersized for longer voyages, and aft lazarettes may leak in heavy rains if not battened down. Rudder post and bearing issues have been known to occur and may require dropping the rudder for service. Because the batteries are located under the aft bunk, electrical cables to the windlass span the boat’s length and may show voltage drop.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

These boats typically appear on the markets in Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. For a shopper, the priorities are clear: confirm keel-stud condition and keel-joint dryness, check teak decking and window rebedding history, verify rudder bearing service, and assess whether the bow thruster and holding tank suit your intended voyage length. Inspect lazarette sealing and the long battery-to-windlass cable run. With those checked, the Moody 46 CC remains a compact, well-built bluewater center-cockpit cruiser worth serious consideration.

• Verify mild steel keel studs and keel joint for persistent rust or water squeeze
• Inspect teak decking, veneer, and window rebedding interval
• Confirm rudder post/bearing condition and service history
• Evaluate bow thruster power and holding tank capacity for your plans
• Check aft lazarette sealing and battery-to-windlass cable voltage drop