Moody Yachts


Moody
Owner HanseYachts AG
Produced by HanseYachts AG
Country Germany
Introduced 1827
Website www.moodyboats.com

Moody is an English brand for sailing yachts. It is originated in the former Moody shipyard in Swanwick that was founded in 1827 by John Moody. Since 2007, the brand belongs to German yacht builder HanseYachts AG, Greifswald.

History

Repair yard and timber construction (1827–1964)

Moody's jetty in Swanwick (2007)
Moody 54 DS (since 2014)

Moody's origins date back to the 19th century. In 1827, the boat builder John Moody founded a shipyard company in Swanwick on the banks of river Hamble, which dealt in particular with the repair and overhaul of fishing boats.[1] When John Moody died in 1880, he left the business to his son Alexander who started to build small Dingies also.[1]

More than a century later, in 1935, the Moody shipyard produced first sailing yachts in timber construction. The first model, the Vindilis, was designed by T. Harrison Butler.[1] The service operations continued beside to the boat building. Little by little, the site in Swanwick was expanded so that the company could build larger yachts as well. In addition to the shipyard, the continuously leading Moody family raised a marina.[1]

Sailing yachts made of plastic (1965–2004)

In 1965, Moody started to produce GRP sailing yachts which were appreciated for their comfort and long distance suitability soon. With designs of naval architects like Laurent Giles, Angus Primrose and Bill Dixon, Moody developed into a leading European manufacturer of sailing yachts.

The world oil crisis 1973 and the following slump on the powerboat market prompted Moody to join together with David King from Marine Projects (Plymouth) Ltd, the manufacturer of Princess motor yachts.[1] The cooperation of the two companies was very successful. They produced up to 400 sailing yachts per year, 27 to 64 ft in length.[1] Bill Dixon and Angus Primrose were responsible for the design of all models.

Due to falling sales in the sailing yacht business, the companies disbanded the connection in 2003. During their 30-year cooperation, they had developed 39 models and sold 4,233 boats.[1] In search of new production halls, Moody found a new partner with the VT Halmatic Ltd. A new model series was launched, consisting of the models Moody 49, Moody 56 and Moody 66.[1]

Shutdown, sale of the brand, restart in Germany (2005–present)

In 2005, the founding family sold the yard to Premier Marinas Ltd, Swanwick. A year later, the production was discontinued. In 2007, German HanseYachts AG, Greifswald, acquired the brand and started to produce newly developed Moody sailing yachts.[2][3] Furthermore, HanseYachts appointed Bill Dixon as naval architect for all new Moody models.

Model lines

Until the brand's takeover by HanseYachts, Moody was known for its comfortable centre cockpit yachts. As of 2007, Bill Dixon developed on this basis two still comfort-stressed model lines with significantly modified concept:

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Moody, David (2007). The Moody Legacy – An Illustrated History 1827–2005. Warsash: Warsash Publishing. ISBN 0948646853.
  2. ↑ Rieker, Jochen (March 30, 2007). "HanseYachts kauft Moody". Yacht online. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  3. ↑ Lewis, Gareth (April 6, 2007). "Moody production is in German Hanse". Southern Daily Echo. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  4. ↑ Schüpbach, Lori (December 2008). "Modern Times" (PDF). marina.ch (December 08/January 09): 38–42.
  5. ↑ Pillsbury, Mark (March 25, 2014). "Moody Aft Cockpit 41". Cruising World. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
  6. ↑ Gunkel, Fridtjof (January 22, 2014). "boot-Premieren, Teil V: Moody 54 DS". Yacht online. Retrieved July 24, 2017.
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