{"id":157402,"date":"2025-04-16T06:59:28","date_gmt":"2025-04-16T05:59:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/?post_type=review&p=157402"},"modified":"2025-04-16T07:00:09","modified_gmt":"2025-04-16T06:00:09","slug":"moody-ds48-review-ambitious-cruising-plans-look-no-further","status":"publish","type":"review","link":"https:\/\/www.yachtingworld.com\/reviews\/boat-tests\/moody-ds48-review-ambitious-cruising-plans-look-no-further","title":{"rendered":"Moody DS48 review: Ambitious cruising plans? Look no further"},"content":{"rendered":"

Many new launches these days aim to be lighter, faster and more open. Not so the Moody DS48. From the moment you scale the boarding ladder (via steps which fold out from the solid guardrails to surmount her deep bulwarks), and set foot on the recessed side decks, this is a boat that you are most definitely in, rather than on.<\/p>\n

High topsides, muscular bow sections and a formidable deck house make the Moody DS48 an imposing yacht, even from the pontoon. Set all 165m2 of canvas and with 21 tonnes of boat in full motion, it becomes even more formidable.<\/p>\n

The Solent is normally an ideal test ground for sea trials; sheltered enough to play in, yet with strong tides and a decent fetch that can kick up a steep chop. But when it came to testing the new Moody DS48, designed for long-distance passagemaking, nothing less than a Channel crossing would do. I joined the boat at Lymington in the morning, and with our crew of five decided that dinner in Alderney would make for a fitting goal \u2013 so with a booking made for 2000hrs at the Braye Beach Hotel, we had some miles to make.<\/p>\n

For the Moody DS48 the company has continued its long association with Bill Dixon, who has a reputation for drawing seaworthy, high volume hulls with a good turn of speed. DS stands for Deck Saloon, the first of the range being the DS45 launched in 2007, and followed by the Moody 41DS<\/a>. The newest 48 is an evolution of the concept.<\/p>\n

Simon Coles, senior designer at Dixon Yacht Design says, \u201cWe set out to draw a boat that maximised the inside-outside feeling of single-level living, while handling the extra displacement from all the kit people want with them on a world-cruising boat.\u201d He also explains how the aft shape is designed to cope with the added displacement \u201cwithout dragging the transom\u201d, and that the relatively deep forefoot should prove sea-kindly.<\/p>\n

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Large hull with generous displacement moves through the gears easily using the self-tacking jib. Photo: Richard Langdon\/Ocean Images<\/p><\/div>\n

Stately progress<\/h2>\n

Slipping Lymington, we were soon in the grip of a strong ebb, whipping us out past the Needles with little more than 5 knots of true wind from the south-east, but thanks to the 150hp Yanmar, we were making more than 9 knots over the ground.<\/p>\n

Once clear of the Isle of Wight, we had near 10 knots from the south east allowing us to shape a course straight for Alderney. All being well, the tide would slosh us west, then east, before plonking us just outside Braye spot-on slack water.<\/p>\n

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The high topsides include a full length soft chine. Photo: Richard Langdon\/Ocean Images<\/p><\/div>\n

With a fetch ahead of us, the optional 87m2 overlapping genoa set beautifully, giving useful extra drive compared to the self-tacking jib, while being more versatile than a Code 0. As with most boats equipped with a self-tacking jib, the mast is positioned well forward, with a large mainsail. Our test boat had in-mast furling fitted, with full vertical battens in a cruising laminate main.<\/p>\n

As the breeze built, boat speed climbed from 6 to 8 knots, touching 9.5 knots over the ground with a knot or so of tide helping us along. After making smooth and stately progress across an unusually flat English Channel, the clouds closed in and the first rain squall picked the wind up to 20 knots, drenching us in the process. We swapped from genoa to self-tacking jib and continued on an almost entirely even keel.<\/p>\n

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