One of the oldest sailboat brands in the world
With a history stretching back almost 200 years, Moody is one of the oldest sailboat brands in the world. Comfort, uncompromising seagoing performance & capabilities, excellence in design and manufacture, an exemplary culture of shipbuilding and durability – these are the values that Moody has embodied since 1827. Four sailboat models are currently available – the most recent being the Moody DS41, which will be unveiled in January 2020 at the BOOT trade fair in Düsseldorf. This model complements the two deck saloon yachts, the Moody DS45 and DS54 both perfect for blue water live aboard cruising. Moody was acquired by HanseYachts AG in 2007.
Quick facts
- Founded in 1827, making it one of the oldest sailing yacht brands in the world
- Three models, offering a luxurious sense of space and comfort
- Three deck saloon yachts
Quality leader since 1827
In 1827, John Moody set up a repair yard for fishing boats in Swanwick, near Southampton. The fisherman’s outstanding reputation preceded him, with the condition of his own boat impressing his colleagues so much that they approached him with requests to service their trawlers. In addition to his repair services, he quickly began to build small dinghies. This laid the foundations for the company’s future endeavors in the construction of recreational boats.
The final transition from a simple repair yard to a sailing yacht manufacturer was completed around 100 years later by the founder’s grandson, Alexander Herbert Moody. His mission was to ensure that only the very highest-quality products would leave the shipyard – a mission that Moody pursues to this day. In 1935, he delivered his masterpiece: the Vindilis yacht. The customer, Harrison Butler, was so impressed that he commissioned Moody to build three more yachts. The Vindilis is still in existence, more than 80 years after it first took to water.
In the 1960s, Moody finally achieved cult status on the European market thanks to two key developments. The boat-builder was quick to recognize the potential of the then newly developed composite material GRP (glass fiber reinforced plastic). In 1965, the Solar 40 became the first GRP yacht to be built by Moody. Cruising sailors were quick to praise its offshore long-distance sailing performance and high level of live aboard comfort. In 1969, Moody unveiled its first deck saloon yacht. The Carbineer 46 offered the kind of luxurious sense of space and comfort that could previously be found only on catamarans and heralded the development, construction, and sale of deck saloon yachts – a tradition that Moody continues to this day. With renowned yacht architects such as Laurent Giles, Angus Primrose and Bill Dixon on board, the shipyard grew into a leading European sailing yacht manufacturer.
HanseYachts AG acquires Moody Yachts
In 2007, Moody was acquired by HanseYachts AG. ‘Moody expands our sailboat portfolio to include a range of deck saloon yachts and one aft cockpit yacht. I’ve been sailing a Moody yacht myself for the past ten years. My family and I love it,’ says Dr. Jens Gerhardt. In 2007, Moody began building its yachts in Greifswald. ‘The company still relies on the workmanship of skilled shipbuilders – as it did 100 years ago. After all, devotion and experience are crucial to the end result. But we also employ computer-assisted systems to ensure high-precision finishes right down to the last millimeter,’ says Sven Göbel, CFO of HanseYachts AG.
Living on one level
Moody’s range encompasses four models – the most recent being the Moody DS41, which will be unveiled in January 2020 at the BOOT trade fair in Düsseldorf. This model complements the two highly successful deck saloon yachts, the Moody DS45 and Moody DS54, which won first prize in the 2015 Adriatic Boat of the Year competition.
