Design and Construction
The Moody 64 displaces about 66,000 pounds, with that displacement intended to cushion the ride. Of that, 22,000 pounds is ballast concentrated in a bulb at the foot of the standard 8-foot-6-inch fin keel. A 6-foot-6-inch keel could also be specified.
Her ballast-to-displacement relationship is .33, her displacement-length ratio is around 185, and her sail-area-displacement ratio is 17.05. Together, those figures describe a heavy, steady hull with enough sail area to keep moving in modest air.
The hull is hand-laid fiberglass, cored with inch-thick end-grain balsa set in polyester bonding paste. Solid laminate is used around every through-hull penetration and at the stem, keel, and skeg. The deck is bonded and mechanically fastened to an inward-turning hull flange, with Monel rivets driven through an aluminum backing plate to provide the mechanical fastening.
A laminated teak caprail finishes the deck-edge bulwark above a full-length rubrail. Below the waterline, the boat has a partially exposed, skeg-hung rudder and a propeller offset slightly to starboard. Hulls were offered in blue, white, or burgundy gelcoat.
Rig, Deck, and Handling
The Moody 64 carries a high-aspect masthead cutter rig on an 88-foot mast. Triple aft-swept spreaders support cap shrouds, upper and lower intermediates, and aft lower shrouds.
A fine bow and minimal wetted surface keep her lean forward, and she carries most of her 17-foot beam from amidships straight back to the transom, providing great form stability without a bloated entry.
The cockpit has twin 42-inch wheels, each with a bench seat and padded hip rest. Steering is by Whitlock, with a half-horsepower Whitlock Mamba autopilot drive. A standard 15-horsepower Sleipner bow thruster helps with close-quarters maneuvering.
On the foredeck, a large 36-inch-diagonal hatch sits just aft of the inner forestay. A Lewmar 3000 vertical anchor winch handles the ground tackle.
Performance Record
The design’s performance credentials aren’t merely theoretical. Cruising World reported that hull number one won Class A in the 2002 Atlantic Rally for Cruisers and finished fourth overall against a fleet of longer Oysters and Swans. She covered the 2,680-mile route from Gran Canaria to St. Lucia in just under 13 and a half days, sustaining 200 miles per day in the process. That result came from the first hull off the line, giving the crossover concept a genuine performance record rather than just a marketing claim.
Accommodations and Onboard Systems
Roel De Groot designed the interior in collaboration with Dixon. Carrying the beam aft creates generous living space on a single level, while the cabin sole is finished in simulated teak-and-holly veneer.
From the factory, the helm and navigation station were equipped with a Raymarine instrument package, Furuno radar, and chart plotters. A Lewmar power windlass can be operated remotely from the helm. Stainless-steel dinghy davits are standard, supporting the tender without cluttering the stern.
Engine and Tankage
A 230-horsepower turbocharged Yanmar diesel provides propulsion. The standard equipment also includes the 15-horsepower Sleipner bow thruster and half-horsepower Whitlock Mamba autopilot drive described above.
Tankage is substantial, with roughly 528 gallons of diesel and 360 gallons of water for long, independent voyages.
The Verdict
The Moody 64 is a thoughtfully engineered crossover cruiser that demonstrates a heavy, beamy hull needn’t be slow. With the right rig and systems, two sailors can manage this 63-foot yacht—but they need to be very capable. Her construction is detailed and purposeful, and her 2002 ARC result is a meaningful credential.
Pros
- Dixon’s crossover concept delivered real transatlantic speed, including a Class A win in the 2002 ARC
- Balsa-cored hull with solid laminate at all penetrations and keel structures
- Deep, beamy, stable platform with 22,000 pounds of bulb ballast on a fin keel
- Serious standard equipment, including a bow thruster, autopilot drive, and Furuno and Raymarine electronics
Cons
- Requires two very capable sailors; this isn’t a casual shorthanded boat
- The standard 8-foot-6-inch draft limits access to some cruising grounds unless the 6-foot-6-inch keel was specified
