Yachting Monthly - November 2015

There’s no anchor locker on the

foredeck. The chain simply drops off the

windlass gypsy and down through a hawse

pipe to a locker in the forepeak below.

Her transom has a small step and a long,

one-piece hinge-down boarding ladder,

accessed through a rail gate. It’s not big

enough to shower on, even if there is one,

which there wasn’t as standard.

Living aboard

Spacious accommodation is the highlight

of this boat and the reason she’s so sought

after. First, there’s the roomy U-shaped

saloon seating area, which is raised up to

offer panoramic views through the large

deckhouse windows. The twin-leaf table

folds out to seat six for meals and dropping

it down makes a double berth measuring

1.2m (4ft) wide by 2.05m (6ft 9in) long.

There’s bags of stowage underneath and

behind the seatbacks, but no lockers above.

On the port side facing the galley is a

very roomy heads with a separate shower

stall, seat, aft-facing loo, good stowage,

moulded sink and shower tray and both

hatch and vent above. Having two doors

means crew can enter the heads from

either the galley or forward cabin. The

latter is the master suite and contains

a 2m long double vee-berth, 1.82m wide

at the head, and 28cm at the foot. It also

has two big clothes lockers and stowage

in lined bins beneath the berth, although

Geoff has modifi ed the foremost section to

take his bow thruster.

There’s ample space for dressing in the

forecabin and more if the infi ll is removed.

The headroom here is 1.75m (5ft 9in) and

there’s a large forehatch above.

The aft cabin, to starboard, also has

a roomy double berth measuring 1.82m

x 1.45m (6ft x 4ft 9in) and 2m standing

headroom in the small dressing area.

Stowage is in one tall locker, half hanging

rail and half shelved. A large panel gives

excellent access to the engine.

Chart table

Opposite the saloon seating,

to starboard, there’s the

inside steering position (Mk

1 models only) and/or a large

navigation area. Having the

wheel means you also get a

large instrument console,

which is good, but it does

isolate the cook from the

saloon somewhat, given that

the galley is down two steps.

There’s a small outboard-

facing chart table in the Mk1

model, but you have to lower

the navigator’s seat to use it

properly. The Mk2 boat has

a much bigger chart table

with a pull-out stool and

instrumentation above.

Galley

Headroom in the saloon is a healthy 1.88m

(6ft 2in), but in the fi rst metre of the galley

it is 8ft or so thanks to the high coachroof,

dropping then to 1.80m (5ft 11in) in the

forward half. The galley is bright and well

equipped with a hatch above for ventilation

and excellent bum/back support for use

at sea. There’s room for a full-size cooker

with a big oven, a deep sink and drainer,

and plenty of stowage for food, crockery,

cutlery and cooking utensils. A large, easily

accessible front-opening fridge sits in the

forward end of the saloon seating, leaving

what worktop there is unhindered by a

fridge lid. Mi Amigo has two water tanks

under the sole, but one tank is standard.

Maintenance

Engine access is very good. For day-to-day

servicing you can remove the top steps of

the companionway or open a side access

panel in the aft cabin. For total access you

can unscrew the bottom step and remove

a second panel to port, giving all-round

accessibility.

Water pumps, fi lters and so on are

reached by lifting the saloon sole panels.

80 http://www.yachtingmonthly.com NOVEMBER 2015

USED BOAT TEST

Key

cruising

features

The Mk1 has both internal and external

wheels, but the Mk2 has no wheel

below, only an autopilot control

Far from being fat and sluggish, she has the lines

of a regular sailing yacht and a good turn of speed

The foredeck slopes

gradually and has a very

effective moulded non-slip

The Moody Eclipse

had Kemp in-mast

furling as standard

Her raised coachroof

and big windows allow

plenty of light below

There are numerous stout

handrails on deck allowing

you to move around safely

The raised saloon seating offers a panoramic view outside

and big windows make it bright, even on overcast days

Having two steering wheels means she can be

controlled from below in warmth and comfort