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Moody

Moody 419

The Moody 419 is one of Northern Europe's most recognisable modern British cruisers. Designed by Bill Dixon for Moody Yachts and built from 2000 to 2010 — a rare deck-saloon passagemaker with Moody pedigree at 12.8 m LOA. With 3.9 m beam and about 7,424 kg displacement, the model suits couples and small crews cruising the Baltic, Skagerrak, and North Sea.

The Moody 419 pairs Dixon's deck-saloon layout with a protected helm and bright saloon visibility — a profile that appeals to North Sea owners who prioritise shelter and interior volume over rating efficiency. Low production volume keeps each listing relatively bespoke; buyers cross-shop Hallberg-Rassy 41, Najad 440, and Southerly 135 at similar LOA when they want British or Scandinavian offshore credibility without a 45-footer budget.

Surveys focus on deck-saloon window seals, Yanmar saildrive service history, and owner-added electronics loads that stress factory battery banks. UK-import hulls need documented antifouling cycles and standing-rigging invoices before Nordic insurers accept winter-storage plans.

Nordic buyers should compare asking price against documented rigging, saildrive seals, and deck-saloon seal work — cosmetic refreshes rarely replace deferred structural maintenance. Expect 95,000–240,000 kr annual baseline in Swedish marinas with realistic technical reserves.

FairHelm tracks Moody 419 listings because these hulls appear on Blocket, Scanboat, and UK brokerage sites as owners step within the premium British cruiser segment. Buyers are rarely choosing between "good" and "bad" boats — they are choosing between documented maintenance and deferred work. A new plotter or polished saloon joinery does not cancel missing rigging invoices, saildrive seal neglect, or moisture at deck-saloon windows. That is why survey discipline matters more here than brand romance.

For Nordic ownership, Moody 419 works as a capable passage cruiser when equipped for cold-water sailing: reliable heating, solid ground tackle, and a realistic technical reserve beyond berth and insurance. Compare adjacent models in FairHelm's model guides and read survey notes before committing a deposit. The cheapest asking price on Blocket is rarely the cheapest boat to own over three seasons.

When you shortlist a Moody 419, build a simple survey scorecard: deck-saloon window seals, saildrive service, standing-rigging age, and chainplate moisture mapping. Owner forums and yard quotes from Stockholm, Gothenburg, and Helsingør help you separate cosmetic refresh from structural deferral — especially on boats marketed as "ready to sail" without invoices.

At a glance

Quick facts

Production
1984–1986
LOA
12.73 m
Beam
4.01 m
Model
Moody 419

Key takeaways

  • Best for: traditional couples seeking protected centre-cockpit offshore capability
  • Common issue: bulkhead tabbing and 1980s gelcoat osmosis
  • Typical price: see FairHelm Market Index — British offshore value

Expert verdict

FairHelm rating: 7.8/10Robust British centre-cockpit with offshore intent; survey bulkhead tabbing and osmosis on 1980s gelcoat.

Vadim Nareyko, FairHelm Editorial · Last reviewed: 2026-07-12

Technical data

Length overall (LOA)
12.73 m
Beam
4.01 m
Production years
1984–1986

Typical problems

Buyer FAQ

What deck-saloon window seal issues appear on Moody 419?

Coachroof glazing loses compression after 15+ seasons; resealing runs 12,000–35,000 kr when interior headliner staining is active.

What saildrive seal service issues appear on Moody 419?

Yanmar saildrive diaphragms need documented interval service; neglected seals cause bilge water and corrosion — budget 8,000–22,000 kr for haul-out seal work.

What standing rigging fatigue issues appear on Moody 419?

Unknown rigging age is common on low-mileage UK coastal boats; budget 35,000–70,000 kr if invoices are missing.

What chainplate leak issues appear on Moody 419?

Chainplate bedding failures often show as ceiling stains — moisture mapping before purchase; rebedding runs 6,000–20,000 kr per zone.

What electronics obsolescence issues appear on Moody 419?

Factory NMEA suites age quickly; sensible refit tiers run 15,000–45,000 kr depending on integration scope.

Design History

Moody Yachts introduced the 419 in 2000 as Bill Dixon's deck-saloon answer to growing demand for sheltered cruising layouts with offshore credibility in a sub-13 m package. Dixon shaped the hull and coachroof for predictable heavy-weather manners while maximising saloon light through the signature deck-saloon profile. Production ran from 2000 to 2010; registry and brokerage sources cite approximately 80 completed hulls — a low-volume premium segment rather than mass-market charter output.

Moody positioned the 419 for owner-couples planning North Sea and Baltic passages who valued interior volume and protected helm stations over outright speed. Mid-production refinements focused on engine packages, electronics suites, and interior trim rather than fundamental hull revisions.

Surveys on Moody 419 hulls highlight three practical themes: deck-saloon window seal age, Yanmar saildrive service discipline, and owner-added electrical load. When inspected carefully and updated responsibly, the model remains a distinctive choice in the Nordic used-boat market — but buyers should treat rigging invoices and saildrive haul-out records as part of the specification, not a footnote after the asking price.

Annual Ownership Costs

Cost item Low (SEK) High (SEK) Notes
Marina berth (12.8 m class) 30,000 58,000 Stockholm and archipelago pricing
Insurance 14,000 28,000 Agreed value and offshore scope
Haul-out + winter storage 18,000 36,000 Yard policy and cradle services
Antifouling + hull care 9,000 20,000 Materials and labour
Engine / drivetrain service 8,000 22,000 Saildrive cycles and cooling
Rigging reserve 12,000 28,000 Standing rigging age
Deck-saloon / structural reserve 10,000 45,000 Window seals and chainplate follow-up
Total annual 95,000 240,000 Excludes major refit years

The Moody 419 sits in the upper-mid maintenance bracket for Scandinavian cruising yachts. Annual spend is driven by berth pricing for the 12.8 m segment, winter storage logistics, and preventive service discipline. Owners who maintain saildrive records, exercise heating systems seasonally, and refresh deck-saloon seals on a planned cycle can keep yearly costs closer to the lower range.

Budgeting should include a realistic reserve for window resealing, chainplate rebedding, and any survey-led electrical upgrades. Even well-kept boats can require periodic NMEA integration work as displays age. A practical ownership plan in Sweden is to separate predictable annual running costs from a multi-year refit reserve — especially on UK-import hulls with incomplete service folders.

Pre-Purchase Survey Checklist

Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist: Moody 419

Hull, Keel and Underwater Body

  1. Moisture-map the underwater hull; document barrier-coat or osmosis history on GRP of this era.
  2. Inspect keel-to-hull joint and rudder bearings under lateral load during sea trial.
  3. Review haul-out records for grounding damage and fairing quality at the leading edge.

Deck-Saloon, Cockpit and Hardware

  1. Test deck-saloon window seals and coachroof joints; interior stains often trace to compressed glazing.
  2. Test bedding at stanchions, tracks, and winches; open nearby interior access if damp stains appear.
  3. Verify chainplate areas internally for rust staining or soft laminate.

Rig, Spars and Sail Handling

  1. Confirm standing rigging age with invoices; missing documentation warrants conservative pricing.
  2. Inspect mast step, spreaders, and terminals for crevice corrosion or fatigue marks.
  3. Sea-trial furling and reefing systems under realistic load.

Machinery, Electrical and Systems

  1. Review Yanmar engine and saildrive service logs including cooling, exhaust elbow, and diaphragm seals.
  2. Audit NMEA integration, battery bank architecture, and owner-added electrical load against real cruising use.
  3. Check tanks, bilges, and hoses for age-related seepage.

Owner reviews