FIRST TEST MOODY 41DS

Adopting a fresh approach to deck-saloon design, the Moody 41DS is an exceptionally roomy cruiser that pushes a lot of boundaries

- David Harding

Enthusiasts of deck saloons often reckon there’s something missing if a boat doesn’t have one. After all, especially in higher latitudes, why wouldn’t you want to able to sit inside and see out? Whether you’re enjoying the view of the anchorage or scanning the horizon on the passage, you stay warm and dry and within easy reach of the cockpit – which is still there for when you want to be outside. What’s not to like?

Pursuing this logic has led to the launch of many a deck-saloon yacht over the years, but none quite like the Moody 41DS. This new Moody has taken the ‘one-level living’ approach found on multihulls and motorboats and applied it to a 12m (40ft) monohull. You walk straight into the deck saloon from the cockpit with no steps or companionway to negotiate. From the inside, thanks to the full-standing headroom and large window area, you have an uninterrupted view so you can cook, sit at the chart table or just relax while staying in touch with the outside world.

It’s the same concept as on the Moody 45DS, which we tested in 2008, but most 40-something-foot deck saloon cruisers (and even those substantially longer) have the deck saloon at a lower level than the cockpit.

ACRES OF SPACE