{"id":39349,"date":"2018-03-19T18:48:14","date_gmt":"2018-03-19T22:48:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/?p=39349"},"modified":"2023-05-06T16:50:05","modified_gmt":"2023-05-06T20:50:05","slug":"moody-ds-54-boat-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/moody-ds-54-boat-review\/","title":{"rendered":"Moody DS 54 Boat Review"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\n Moody DS 54 Boat Review<\/span>\n Photo courtesy of the manufacturer<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

Once upon a time, Moody Yachts was a very English company building boats in Great Britain (for nearly 200 years) that exemplified what we\u2019d expect from a longtime British boatyard. In other words, their vessels were stout and robust, quite seaworthy and somewhat conservative, with straightforward interior layouts and accouterments. They weren\u2019t necessarily flashy, but they certainly got the job done.\nThose days are long over.\nNow, Moodys are built in \u00adGermany by Hanse Yachts, which took over the brand a decade ago and has become one of the world\u2019s most prodigious, prolific and sophisticated production boatbuilders. And nowhere is this change more evident than with a model introduced to the United States last fall, the Moody DS54, the initials standing for \u201cdeck saloon.\u201d\nInterestingly, the hull of the Moody, with modifications, is the same one employed in a pair of larger Hanse offerings, the 575 and the 588, and was designed by the German naval architecture office Judel\/Vrolijk, which is best known for high-performance raceboats, including America\u2019s Cup winners. The interior was then fashioned by veteran Moody designer Bill Dixon of Dixon Yacht Design, making the DS54 a collaboration, of sorts. Even so, this is definitely not your grandpa\u2019s Moody.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s evident from the boat\u2019s powerful lines, with a straight stem forward, a long waterline and commanding topsides, dotted with six windows in the hull to each side. The pilothouse is relatively low and sleek, with an eyebrow overhanging the forward window. Teak decks are standard; the foredeck is low and flush (there are fitted cushions that make a cozy daybed), and leads to a solent setup with twin Furlex furlers on the bow. The double-spreader Seld\u00e9n rig incorporates a self-tending staysail. There\u2019s a substantial bulwark topped by a stainless-steel handrail, both of which make wandering up the side decks a safe and comfortable experience. All in all, it\u2019s a quite handsome and imposing profile.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

One of the signature features of the design is the spacious cockpit with a pair of long settees sandwiching a large, foldable table, all of which can be closed off in inclement weather with an overhead retractable soft Sunbrella Bimini; it can also be rolled back when the sun shines. There are twin wheels, each fronted by a set of large pods with engine and (bow and stern) thruster controls, sailing instruments, chart plotters and so on. Large and comfortable helmsmen\u2019s seats are situated all the way aft. All sailing controls and running rigging are led aft to port and starboard Lewmar winches just forward of the Jefa Steering pedestals. The transom folds down hydraulically to create a substantial swim\/\u00adboarding platform. To top it off, there\u2019s even a nifty retractable passerelle for Med mooring.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\"Moody <\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\n
\n Much like a contemporary catamaran, the cockpit and the main saloon on the Moody DS54 are on the same level and accessed through sliding glass doors.<\/span>\n Photo courtesy of manufacturer<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

The cockpit and the main saloon are each situated on the same level and accessed through sliding glass doors, much like on a catamaran. There are several different accommodations plans from which to choose, including either a galley up in the saloon or one down a set of five stairs, out of the way of the central living space (our test boat included the latter). Either way, there\u2019s a generous U-shaped settee to port with an adjacent dining table, and a spacious navigation station to starboard with all the tools (including autopilot controls) necessary to make it a tidy indoor steering station. The owners suite is forward; a double cabin is aft. There\u2019s also a guest cabin in the middle of the boat (or two cabins if you opt for the galley-\u00ad\u00adup arrangement).<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Construction is top-notch, with a fiberglass layup that employs isophthalic gelcoat and vinylester resin with a \u00adbalsa-core sandwich above the waterline. The keel is iron and is available in a shoal or deep-draft configuration. A\u00a0state-of-the-art CZone \u00addigital switching and monitoring system is the hub of the electrical system, instruments, gauges and so forth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

The DS54 impressed our Boat of the Year judging team. Said judge Ed Sherman: \u201cThis is part of that new genre of deck-saloon models where they\u2019ve actually decided, \u2018OK, we want people in the main saloon to be able to look out the windows and see the world around them versus looking through a skylight when you\u2019re buried deep down in the bowels of the boat.\u2019 That layout always annoyed me. It seemed totally illogical. But Moody has figured it out. It\u2019s a nice all-round view up there.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

\u201cI think it was the first of many times we heard the word lifestyle during our dockside inspections,\u201d said judge Bill Bolin. \u201cThe company is very strong on the notion that this is a boat that caters to those who want to entertain on the boat, that are going to spend a lot of time in the cockpit, which they maximized. And with the deck saloon on the same level, you have a giant living space for playing, or entertaining, or whatever you want to do there. They did that very well.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

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\n THE COOK’S NOOK<\/strong>\nThe Moody DS54 is available with either a galley up, in the main saloon, or one down, out of the way of the central living area. This arrangement gives the cook more space to work with, and also opens up the floor plan in the main saloon.<\/span>\n Photo courtesy of manufacturer<\/span>\n\n\t\t\t\t <\/figcaption>\n <\/section>\n\t\t\n\n\n\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a good trend of opening up these side decks on new boats, and on the Moody, that was just exemplary,\u201d said judge Tim Murphy. \u201cBecause it was a deck saloon, there was a rail inboard that was just beautiful, that took you up to the mast. You couldn\u2019t ask for better, smoother handholds, with no edges. And then outboard you\u2019ve got this true rail that goes all the way around the boat. There\u2019s no other boat we\u2019ve seen that has such secure side decks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Unfortunately, we tested the boat on a light-air day with the wind never touching more than 5 knots. Even so, the DS54\u2019s performance was pretty stellar, making over 3\u00a0knots in little more breeze than that. I\u2019d love to sail this boat in a bit of a blow. I\u2019m generally not a fan of in-mast mainsails, but the one on the Moody, set on a Seld\u00e9n spar, sported vertical battens and was a good-looking sail. I also like the solent rig, which is a very versatile option for long-range cruising, providing easily managed sails no matter the conditions, light or heavy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

All in all, for a boat with a price tag north of a million bucks, you\u2019d certainly expect a first-class yacht that is a cut above your average cruiser. Moody has delivered on that promise, honoring an old name with a fresh new design that will take its owners far and wide in ample style.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n

Specifications<\/h3>\n\n\n\n\n

Moody DS54<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
<\/th>\n<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
LENGTH OVERALL<\/td>\n56\u20191\u201d (17.1 m)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
WATERLINE LENGTH<\/td>\n51\u20191\u201d (15.55 m)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
BEAM<\/td>\n17\u2019 (5.19 m)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
DRAFT<\/td>\n8\u20195\u201d\/7\u20194\u201d (2.56\/2.22 m)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SAIL AREA (100%)<\/td>\n1,739 sq. ft. (160.5 sq. m)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
BALLAST<\/td>\n15,300 lb. (6,940 kg)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
DISPLACEMENT<\/td>\n53,550 lb. 24,290 kg)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
BALLAST\/DISPLACEMENT<\/td>\n0.28<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
DISPLACEMENT\/LENGTH<\/td>\n179<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
SAIL AREA\/DISPLACEMENT<\/td>\n15.0<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
WATER<\/td>\n214 gal. (810 l)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
FUEL<\/td>\n138 gal. (522 l)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
MAST HEIGHT<\/td>\n83\u2019 (25.3 m)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
ENGINE<\/td>\nVolvo D3-150<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
DESIGNER<\/td>\nDixon Yacht Design, Judel\/Vrolijk<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
PRICE<\/td>\n$1,100,000<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n

Moody Yachts\n978-239-6598\nyachts.group\/moody.gb<\/a><\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Contemporary looks and a spacious layout are found on this cruising sailboat<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":18796,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"BS_author_type":"BS_author_is_guest","BS_guest_author_name":"Herb McCormick","BS_guest_author_url":"","hydra_display_date":"20180319","hydra_display_updated":false,"_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":"167","_yoast_wpseo_metadesc":"A boat review of the latest model\u2014Moody DS 54, from Moody Yachts.","_yoast_wpseo_title":"Moody DS 54 Boat Review %%sep%% %%sitename%%","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","arc_story_id":"O545KY4LGZAO2HPRS63IIMWW34","arc_website_url":"moody-ds-54-boat-review\/","custom_permalink":"moody-ds-54-boat-review\/","arc_subtype":"right-sidebar-full-header","arc_exclude_from_feeds":false,"sponsored":false,"sponsored_label":"Sponsored Content","sponsored_display_label":false,"sponsored_image":0,"post_right_rail":true,"post_right_rail_ad_1":true,"post_right_rail_ad_2":true,"post_right_rail_ad_3":false,"post_right_rail_ad_4":false,"post_right_rail_recirc":true,"fixed_anchor_ad":true,"post_top_ad":true,"post_off_ramp":true,"post_taboola":false,"labels":false,"apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":"\"\"","apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[167],"tags":[323,322,256,320,229,321,227,195],"acf":[],"apple_news_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39349"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39349"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39349\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18796"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39349"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39349"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cruisingworld.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39349"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}