Moody Eclipse 33
1987
Motor sailers had long been favoured by boat buyers who valued the shelter of the wheelhouse, along with a big engine that would push the boat to windward at close to hull speed in almost all conditions. However, they also had drawbacks, mostly stemming from designs that were based on the lines of old fishing boats.
Traditional motor sailers can roll badly in a quartering sea, even if the main and mizzen are sheeted flat for stability. Their long keels also made manoeuvring ponderous and reversing a potential lottery. In addition, small sail plans meant meaningful progress under sail might only be made on a beam reach in a stiff breeze.
By the late 1980s boat design had moved on a long way and Bill Dixon put this knowledge to good use in a new range for Moody. The idea was to use up-to-date sail handling systems, including roller furling mainsails, to create a larger and significantly more powerful sail plan than that of existing motor sailers. This was combined with a modern underwater profile, with a choice of fin or efficient twin keels.
The bright and spacious deck saloon layout included an inside steering position on early boats, but later models were equipped with an autopilot with dual station controls as standard. The inside wheel was therefore removed, which freed up space for an even larger and more open plan galley. The six berth accommodation includes two double cabins, the forward of which is very spacious, plus a separate shower stall in the heads compartment.
The Eclipse 33 was an instant success and more than 250 were built over a six-year period. It is still in demand today and is one of the few boats of this era that has held its value well.