Moody S31 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

The S31 was offered with a choice of fin keel or bilge keel, and both variants surface regularly on the brokerage market. The bilge-keel version draws just under four feet and opens up shallow anchorages and drying harbours that the fin-keel model cannot access — a significant practical difference that tends to shape where these boats end up and who buys them. Owner three-cabin layouts are the more common configuration encountered on the used market, though both arrangements do appear; the defining feature of either version is the huge aft cabin, which stretches the full width of the boat. Even fitted with a full-size double berth, the aft cabin retains generous floor space and has its own hatchway leading directly to the cockpit — a detail that makes it genuinely liveable rather than a nominal extra berth. The forecabin sleeps two comfortably, and the saloon settees provide additional berths when needed. A folding transom section serves as boarding steps to the water, which makes the S31 unusually practical for swimming and dinghy handling for a boat of its era and size.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Used S31s commonly arrive fitted with an autopilot, chartplotter, heating, and AIS — the essentials for short-handed coastal passage-making that most owners seem to have prioritised over the years. A spinnaker and associated gear are also frequently part of the package, reflecting an owner base that tends toward active sailing rather than purely motoring between marinas. Hot water systems, a bimini, radar, and a life raft are often seen aboard, suggesting these boats have frequently been equipped for extended cruising from the outset. Among owner upgrades, solar panels and a furling mainsail appear with some regularity, the latter a worthwhile addition for short-handed handling given the fractional rig option's slightly larger mainsail area. Dodgers and cockpit enclosures are a frequent practical improvement, particularly on boats that have spent time in northern European waters. Electric winches, teak decks, and extended swim platforms are occasionally encountered on more extensively refit examples, though these remain the exception rather than the rule.

What to Inspect

The Volvo MD2020 saildrive unit that powers the S31 is a reliable workhorse, but the saildrive bellows — the rubber seal where the drive unit passes through the hull — is a critical component that demands careful inspection on any used example. Saildrive bellows deterioration is a well-documented failure mode and replacement is a routine but non-trivial item; confirm when it was last renewed and budget for the work if the history is uncertain. The hull is GRP construction to the standards of a mid-1990s British production yard, which means solid build quality but the possibility of osmotic blistering on bilge-keel examples that have spent long periods afloat without haulout intervals. A professional survey with moisture readings across the hull skin is essential. The twin-keel version's grounding resistance is excellent, but inspect the keel-to-hull joint and keel bolt fastenings carefully on any boat that has been used in tidal waters where regular drying-out is likely. Standing rigging on ageing examples should be scrutinised closely; original stainless wire of this vintage may be well past prudent service life even if it appears externally sound. Below decks, the interior joinery quality is good but check the aft cabin area around the cockpit hatchway for any history of water ingress, and examine the bilge under the saloon for signs of habitual water accumulation. The Volvo saildrive installation means there is no conventional stern gland to service, but it also means the propeller shaft arrangement is integral to the engine unit — confirm the drive leg has been serviced according to the manufacturer's intervals.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The S31 is most widely available across the United Kingdom, which is unsurprising given its British origins and the domestic owner base that absorbed most of the production run. Examples also surface regularly in France and Greece, where boats from the British brokerage market have migrated over the years, and a number have found their way to Australia. Buyers in continental Europe and the Mediterranean generally have reasonable prospects of locating a suitable example within a season of active searching, though the overall supply is modest enough that waiting for the right boat is advisable rather than settling for a poorly maintained example.

For a buyer prepared to commission a thorough survey, the S31 represents a practical and thoughtfully designed British cruiser with an unusually spacious interior for its length class. Before proceeding, confirm or budget for the following:

• Saildrive bellows inspection and replacement history
• Hull moisture survey, with particular attention to the bilge-keel variant
• Keel bolt and keel-to-hull joint condition on bilge-keel examples
• Full standing rigging inspection and replacement if age is uncertain
• Saildrive service interval records
• Cockpit hatchway and aft cabin for signs of water ingress
• Autopilot, chartplotter, AIS, and heating system function tests
• Life raft service certificate and expiry date