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Interior |
"Going below" and "standing watch" take on entirely new meanings aboard the Dehler 41 Deck Salon, highlighted as it is by the raised salon and navigation station. Exceptional visibility in all directions gives the 41DS panoramic views at anchor, and a dry, warm spot to stand watch when the going gets less comfortable. The designed-in ability to safely operate the boat from inside is a distinction of the Dehler compared with most other deck-salon-style yachts. The balance of the interior is ideally laid-out for long-term comfort, with generous and well-thought-out spaces, excellent built-in storage and access to systems. The owner's cabin is forwardmost, and features a large island double berth with storage beneath, hanging lockers and good natural light and ventilation. The spacious head and shower is next aft, to starboard, with access from the owner's cabin or via the galley. Arrayed longitudinally along the port hullside, opposite the head, the galley is a secure workspace with excellent storage. Aft of the raised salon, to port, is a second very comfortable sleeping cabin. Two steps above it all is the 41 Deck Salon interior's focal point. A huge wraparound settee with dining table (drops to form an additional double berth) consumes the starboard side of the salon. With a backrest at the height of the large windows, visibility whether at rest or underway is spectacular. Opposite the dinette sits the forward-facing navigation station, which includes secondary engine controls cleverly hidden under a hinged portion of the chart table. In a nice case of having one's cake and eating it, too, heavy weights-- the engine, batteries, tanks-- are all placed beneath the salon's sole, near the boat's center, where their weight has minimal effect (yes, you feel the difference). The raised salon also creates volume for massive amounts of storage, easily accessed immediately beneath the cushions. Miscellaneous interior features and factory options:
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Galley |
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Electrical |
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Engine & Mechanical |
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Electronics/ Navigation |
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Hull & Deck |
Hull and deck are hand-laminated sandwiches utilizing an end-grain balsa core, multidirectional fabrics and hydrolysis-proof polyester resins. Through-hulls are placed in groupings, within areas of solid layup, while the deck features laminated-in aluminum backing plates for all hardware. Of note: the hull and deck are fully 'glassed together whilst in their molds, creating a fully-unified, failureproof structure. For more about Dehler's construction methods, visit our factory tour here. The Dehler 41 Deck Salon's deck plan features the same innovation and careful attention to detail as the interior. Beginning at the stem, the anchor locker features a novel pivoting anchor roller with "captive" Bruce anchor, allowing true push-button launch and retrieval via the Lewmar electric windlass. Immediately aft of the anchor locker is a large, fully gasketed sail locker, with the dedicated chain locker below. While the large cockpit is ideal for entertaining, it's also a singlehanded sailor's dream come true, as all sail controls-- main halyard, reefs, outhaul, jib sheets, vang-- are led via underdeck channels to two 2-speed Harken powered winches, placed within reach of the helm. Furthering the ergonomic focus on the helmsman is the custom sterring pedestal, wherein the wheel's spokes are bent to create a large and usable space for electronics, engine controls and even a secondary set of buttons for the winches. In the Owner's words, "Regarding living with Spindrift, there has only been one negative (not really). The boat is so easy to sail, with electric winches and self tacking jib, that there is virtually nothing for crew (guests) to do. No jib sheet handling, no winch grinding (you can grind them if you really want the exercise). Mostly they have to enjoy the sail, and take turns at the wheel (if I don't have the autopilot on!). There is not even that much for me to do, it almost sails itself." The cockpit conceals astonishing storage in a huge locker to starboard and two lazarettes in the quarters. On centerline aft is a dedicated liferaft and LPG locker. The pretty reverse transom includes molded-in, teak-treaded steps and a rugged folding swim ladder. Hull and deck features and factory options:
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Sails & Rigging |
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Safety |
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Comments |
We love the Dehler 41 Deck Salon. Judel/Vrolijk and the innovators at Dehler imbued this bluewater-capable cruiser with the genes of a thoroughbred (don't say "motorsailor"), rock-solid poise, balance and almost-unbelievable ease-of-handling. Far more than a novelty, this deck salon actually functions as a pilothouse-like place to safely operate the boat, while the balance of the interior has been deftly and logically designed around the demands of life aboard. Spindrift was purchased as a new demonstration yacht by her original and current owner in 2000, and sailed primarily on San Francisco Bay. She's one of only seven Dehler 41 Deck Salons known to be in North America as this is written, and of perhaps fifty or sixty in the world... a rare gem. |
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Further Reading (pdf) |
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| Dehler Yachts US | 773.843.2497 | 773.843.2670 fax | email us |