Moody 64 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

The hull accommodates two distinct interior arrangements, and charter-oriented four-cabin layouts appear more frequently when hulls change hands — a reflection of the boat's commercial history in the Mediterranean charter trade. Owner-oriented layouts with a dedicated study or passage cabin aft of the nav station and the full-beam owner's suite stretching across the transom are also out there, but require more patience to find. In either configuration the aft owner's cabin is defined by its twin-wheel-derived headroom and a centerline berth flanked by settees, while the forward section provides crew or guest accommodation. The galley is universally the large U-shaped arrangement one step down from the saloon, and the generous nav station with forward-facing chart table is standard across configurations. Buyers with strong layout preferences should not assume interchangeability — confirm which arrangement you are viewing before making a long trip to inspect.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

At this displacement and price point, used examples arrive heavily equipped as a matter of course. Radar, autopilot, and chartplotter are essentially universal fitments, and the original Raymarine instrument package was standard from new. Watermakers, air conditioning, and heating systems are commonly found across the fleet, reflecting the boat's design intent for extended offshore passages and charter-ready creature comforts. Bow thrusters — a Sleipner unit was standard — are the norm, and electric winches are commonly found across the fleet. A furling main is frequently seen, often a later owner upgrade over the original slab-reefed setup, and freezers are frequently found alongside large fuel and water tankage.

Biminis, EPIRBs, and life-raft installations round out what buyers will commonly encounter on any well-maintained example. Less universal but far from rare are inverters, cockpit showers, and dodgers. Washing machines were offered as a factory option and sometimes appear as owner additions. Short-handed sailing setups — line-routing to the cockpit, upgraded autopilot drives, additional furling systems — represent a meaningful subset of owner upgrades on hulls that transitioned from crewed charter to private use.

What to Inspect

The construction is hand-laid fiberglass with inch-thick end-grain balsa core, using solid laminate at the stem, keel, skeg, and all through-hull penetrations. The core construction is robust in those critical areas, but any used example of this age warrants thorough moisture metering of the cored sections, particularly the deck and topsides. The bonded-and-mechanically-fastened deck-to-hull joint is a strength of the design, but inspect the caprail and flange carefully for any signs of delamination or water infiltration where teak meets laminate.

The keel carries 22,000 pounds of ballast concentrated in a bulb at the foot of an 8-foot-6-inch fin; inspect the keel-to-hull joint with particular care, probing for any cracking, weeping, or rust staining. Fin keels at this ballast-to-displacement ratio carry significant stress, and a hard grounding in a previous life may not be visually obvious. The offset propeller shaft arrangement — deliberately set to starboard to clear the skeg during removal — means the cutlass bearing and shaft alignment deserve attention from a qualified surveyor familiar with this configuration.

The mast stands nearly 88 feet and the rig uses triple aft-swept spreaders with cap shrouds and upper and lower intermediates. Rig inspection at this height requires a bosun's chair or drone survey; check spreader roots, chainplate areas, and the structural web below deck where the single inboard deck fitting transmits load. The Whitlock direct-rod steering system is durable but should be inspected for rod wear, clevis pin condition, and rudder bearing play — any slop here translates directly to autopilot load and wear. The walk-in engine room is a genuine asset for inspection access; the Yanmar runs at well under full throttle for typical cruising speeds, so low hours relative to the boat's age should be viewed with some skepticism unless supported by service records.

Push-button drawer catches throughout the interior were noted as a nuisance even when new; their condition after years of offshore use is worth evaluating, as replacement hardware sourcing for original fittings can be slow. Inspect all sea cocks and through-hulls methodically — the boat has significant systems aboard and through-hull count is high. Air conditioning and watermaker service histories are worth requesting specifically.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The Moody 64's production numbers were small, and hulls surface most reliably in Spain, Italy, and Scandinavia — particularly Denmark and Sweden — reflecting the Mediterranean charter trade and northern European brokerage networks. North Atlantic and Caribbean listings appear occasionally but require patience. Buyers outside Europe should expect to factor in delivery or transport costs from a European port of origin.

For a buyer who wants a genuinely capable blue-water passagemaker at the larger end of shorthanded manageability, the Moody 64 offers a rare combination of honest offshore performance and serious interior volume. The short production run means there are no shortcuts to finding the right hull — due diligence is essential.

Pre-purchase checklist:

• Commission a full marine survey with moisture metering of all balsa-cored panels
• Inspect the keel-to-hull joint and fin for any evidence of hard grounding
• Have the rig independently inspected aloft, including spreader roots and chainplate areas
• Verify Whitlock steering rod and rudder bearing condition
• Review Yanmar service records and engine room through-hull status
• Confirm watermaker, air conditioning, and generator service histories
• Clarify interior layout configuration before travel to inspect
• Verify life raft inspection date and EPIRB registration status
• Assess antifouling and running gear condition from most recent haul-out records
• Confirm dinghy davit and anchor windlass function under load