Dehler 32

2010 May 3
This month we are going to look at three new designs in the lower 30-foot range. This will allow us to compare different design approaches while exploring a range of displacements for a given LOA. The Dehler 32 design comes from Judel/Vrolijk. The target owner for this design appears to be the sailor with a small family who enjoys cruising and the occasional club race. I think this describes many of us.

I don't have any hull lines for this design but it looks quite typical of most dual-purpose boats built today. The bow is raked a bit more than some. The stern is chopped off with minimal overhang. Freeboard is on the high side to add interior volume. The D/L varies with the model you choose. There is a "standard" model with a D/L of 168, a shoal-draft model with a D/L of 177 and a "regatta" version with a D/L of 160. Draft varies from 4 feet, 8 inches for the shoal model to 6 feet, 5 inches for the regatta version. The L/B is 3.01, so this is a beamy boat of moderate displacement. As usual beam has been carried aft to a very broad transom. The keels are cast iron T-bulbs. For fun and comparison this month I will calculate what percentage of beam max the beam at the transom corner is. For the Dehler 32 the transom beam is 78 percent of beam max. For reference, using an older boat we all should know, consider the Cal 40 designed in 1963 has a transom to beam max ratio of 46 percent.

I think we have arrived at today's version of Basic Layout A for small 30-footers. This design shows the earmarks well. There is a big double quarterberth that is enclosed. The galley is small but the nav station is generous for a 32-footer. There are hanging lockers just aft of the V-berth forward and the toe of the V-berth is not too narrow partially due to volume pushed forward with the minimal bow overhang. Access to that quarterberth will be tight but the berth itself tucks under the cockpit and is quite large.

The SA/Ds range from 20.13 for the regatta model down to 18.84 for the shoal-draft model. Spreaders are swept 19 degrees. The standard jib has a 107-percent LP. The mainsail overlaps the backstay by about seven inches. Note that the headstay is pulled aft about eight inches from the stem. Standing rigging is all Dyform.

I like this deck layout. It is designed with the mainsheet traveler spanning the cockpit just forward of the primary winches. Coamings are sculpted for comfortable seating. The transom is open and only tiller steering is shown. There is a well in the foredeck for your ground tackle.

The hull of the Dehler is cored with end-grain balsa and laid up with uni- and multidirectional fabrics with a hydrolysis-proof polyester resin. The Dehler is built to full CE certification for Category A, "Ocean."
With its impressive design pedigree this should be a rewarding boat to sail.
LOA 32'2"; LWL 29'4"; Beam 10'8"; Draft 5'9" (standard), 4'8" (shoal), 6'5" (regatta); Displacement 9,502 lbs.; Ballast 3,307 lbs.; Sail area 546 sq. ft.; SA/D 19.47; D/L 168; L/B 3.01; Auxiliary Yanmar 3YM20 21-hp; Fuel 21 gals.; Water 26 gals.
Dehler USA, 3214 S. Morgan St., Suite #2, Chicago, IL 60608, (773) 843-2497, www.dehler.us.

OBE: $131,600
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