Design and Construction
Morgan Yachts styled the Moorings 60 as a substantial monohull with a solid fiberglass hull and solid fiberglass deck, a construction approach that avoids the core-saturation worries of balsa or foam-cored sisters. The fin keel and skeg-hung rudder arrangement is straightforward cruising geometry, and the 6.67-foot draft quoted in the standard data sits within the observed 6.66 to 6.96-foot range that shifts with load anchor. Her ballast ratio of 32 percent and displacement-length ratio of 214 place her firmly in the heavy, load-carrying end of the cruising spectrum, while a capsize screening value of 1.62 and a comfort ratio of 44.24 describe a hull tuned for steady motion offshore rather than sparkling acceleration.
Rig and Handling
The Moorings 60 carries a ketch rig with a total sail area of 1,400 square feet and a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 14.62, a moderate figure that suits a heavy hull carrying generous ballast. Her theoretical hull speed runs to 9.5 knots, and the wetted surface of 839 square feet together with an immersion rate of 2,755 pounds per inch tell you she sits deep and moves ponderously when loaded. The length-to-beam ratio of 3.79 confirms the broad, stable platform. For ground tackle and sail handling, the jib and genoa sheets run 59.9 feet at 5/8-inch diameter, the mainsheet stretches 149.8 feet, and the spinnaker sheet 131.8 feet, all at the same 16 mm diameter anchor — dimensions a buyer should keep in mind when replacing running rigging on a worn example.
The Verdict
The Moorings 60 is a heavy, stable offshore ketch from the early 1980s, built by Morgan Yachts with conservative solid-fiberglass construction and a lead-ballasted fin keel. Her moderate sail plan and high displacement suit her to loaded passagemaking rather than light-air sprinting, and her documented dimensions give a clear picture of a serious cruising hull.
Pros
- Solid fiberglass hull and deck with lead ballast and fin keel
- High stability and comfort ratios for offshore cruising
- Generous beam and displacement for accommodation volume
Cons
- Heavy displacement and modest sail-area ratio limit light-air performance
