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Dehler 41 Rollout Continues
Without question the most exciting development in the Dehler universe in 2011 was the launch of the hotly anticipated Dehler 41, follow up to the beloved Dehler 39. In typical new-release fashion, those of us outside the innermost design sanctum waited with bated breath as the boat evolved from concept, through various exterior and interior plans, through the launch of the prototype in April. We've been tracking the project in this space since it's inception, excitement building as each update pointed toward a boat that would be a genuine step forward.
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Miles4Justice, Making A Difference in the Fight for Human Rights
One of the very first Dehler 41s delivered this summer has a very special role to play, as Miles4Justice, sailed by a Dutch team whose mission is to build awareness and raise funds to fight human rights violations around the globe. Good on 'em.
In late July, an annual tradition was born with the first Miles4Justice Cup, sailed out of Enkuizen, The Netherlands. A match race-style regatta between national teams, the Miles4Justice Cup is sailed by and for military servicemen and women wounded in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Check out the Miles4Justice website by clicking here, for further information, as well as photos and video of the Cup.
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Now that we're seeing the production results, we're not just excited about the new design, we're confident Dehler and Judel/Vrolijk have yet again combined efforts to make magic happen. The 41 has the makings of a keeper; a highly refined, beautifully-finished and -detailed piece of modern design. It's all executed in that precise, no-nonsense way we only really associate with Dehler. Love at first sight? Hyperbolic? Perhaps, but there's plenty to get excited about here.
Beginning with a sigh of relief that what we have here is a boat that looks like what our eye says a boat should, and a nicely shaped and proportioned one at that. Why the tinge of surprise? Because we live in a time when builders are probing every corner of every little market niche looking to make a claim, often doing little more than out-weirding the next guy. Jaundiced rant over before it starts. We just think this boat is going to stand up and continue looking good twenty years from now while others, um, won't. Back to the facts, at least as we see 'em.
Foundation for the Dehler 41 is a long-legged hull form, characterized by short overhangs and powerful sections. The drawings, in their oversimplified way, show only general shapes and distribution of volumes that follow the accepted ORC/IRC-derived norms.
We'd caution not to be fooled into seeing another Plain White Sloop, as this highly refined shape begins with a waterline length that's a full two or three feet longer than other modern 40/41-foot designs (click here for a brief comparison of specs). The results of this generous footprint: performance potential and Dehler's characteristic rock-solid motion and tracking, along with the displacement required by a distance cruiser. With a Displacement/Length ratio of 148 (with standard keel), Dehler 41 is relatively light for her length, a nod to this highly evolved hull. Racers will enjoy getting out of the gates quickly while discerning cruisers will appreciate having first choice in the anchorage. Everyone will relish in this powerful shape.
Read on...
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Demo Daze: Dehler 32RS
"Daze" is right. So compelling is this package that if I could, I'd snap up this neat little pup for myself. The boat in question is a Dehler 32RS, built in spring 2010 as a demonstration of the lightened, regatta-ready RS package for the 32.
At the heart of the 32RS is a structure and interior that utilizes a hull and deck cored in closed-cell foam, as well as gorgeous foam-cored teak-faced interior joinery, for a net weight savings of about 400kg (880-or-so pounds). This platform is married to the 32's available racing keel, a modern T-bulb giving the boat a draft of about 6.5 feet. From there, the 32RS was outfitted with a suit of North 3DLs, full complement of racing deck gear, Tacktick instrumentation and a host of other niceties. The result is a neat "gentleman's racer" that doesn't compromise the "gentleman" part (case in point: the decidedly non-racy but oh-so-nice-to-have heating system).
The 18th of the popular (over 50 delivered) Dehler 32 made, this RS spent part of summer 2010 and 2011 in several key European regattas (for ratings mavens, she has a GPH of 649 under ORC, which oughta work out to upper-90s or low-100s in most PHRF fleets). Retired now from her demo duties, the 32RS is back at Dehler, indoors and really seriously available, to the tune of about $90,000 in savings, versus building this boat from scratch. Yes, this turn-key racer-cruiser, with a comprehensive list of very special goodies, is roughly the price of entry in a basic new Dehler 32 (a strong value in it's own right). Check out the links below for more information about this one-of-a-kind opportunity:
Complete Technical Data and Inventory
Dehler 32 General Information
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Brokerage Focus: 1998 Dehler 41DS
Our second pre-sailed Dehler this time 'round is this delectable morsel from the San Francisco area. Spindrift is an ultra-rare 41 Deck Salon, built in 1998 and purchased by her one-and-only owner in 2000. She's being offered for sale at what we must observe (scream from the podium, actually) is a remarkable value. We can't think of "more" boat per dollar on the market right now, made more amazing by the fact that this is a very special boat at any price.
Unfamiliar with the Dehler 41DS? Fair enough, as not many were made during a production run from 1996 until 2004, and the total number in North America is in the single digits. Here's your chance.
What we've been missing is without question one of the most innovative designs ever put into production, and a boat so intensely focused on her mission that we're again tempted to throw out the word, "perfect." Fifteen years after her introduction and she is still ahead of her time, which is either a huge compliment to the 41DS or a sad statement about how boats have evolved.
Leaving that where it lies, the Judel/Vrolijk-designed 41DS begins with a powerful and nicely-balanced hull form, carrying a bit more displacement than the more commonly known Dehler "racer/cruisers." This is a stiff, long-legged hull with a great motion in a seaway and tremendous performance potential (personal record to date: 13.4 knots, during a show delivery I'll never forget). With a fully-self-tending sailplan and Dehler's Central Winch System, placing all sail controls within reach of the helm, the 41DS is also humorously-easy to sail. That such capabilities come so effortlessly still seems like a novelty... we've not experienced anything like the 41DS before or since. Really.
Click here for more, including a host of magazine reviews with their own superlatives.
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 Hey, What are You up to in Late January?
As Dehler's home town show, Boot Dusseldorf (January 21-29, 2012) is the Dehler Enthusiast's dream, often comprised of the full model range, and our best opportunity to get our ducks in a row for spring. Less than two hours' drive away, the yard in Freienohl is within easy reach, and we often stop by whenever attending the big Boot. And big it is, hall after sprawling hall of boats of every stripe, equipment manufacturers, clothing, etc, etc, etc. It is hands down, far and away, the most all-encompassing boat show we've ever set foot in, a midwinter boating-themed playground that every sailor should attend once. Check out the Boot 2012 website, here.
So, what say you, Dear Boat Hunter? Dusseldorf 2012 is our next great opportunity to poke and prod the latest wares from Dehler and every other major or minor builder in the western world. Drop me a line if you'd be interested in joining me at the show, coupled with a jaunt over to the Dehler yard. Sooner the better, more the merrier.
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