Performance cruiserr

While we all may lust over the Grand Soleil 46.3, the Dehler 29 is closer to reality for most of us. The 29 is in many ways a smaller version of the Grand Soleil. It's a racy-looking boat with plumb stem and wedgelike deck with the real emphasis on comfort.

This design offers three keel configurations. There is the racing keel drawing 5 feet, 11 inches, the standard keel drawing 5 feet, 3 inches and the shoal-draft swing keel drawing 4 feet. The hull profile is thoroughly modern-looking with minimal rocker and maximum hull depth pushed aft. The plan view shows a very wide transom. The D/L is 163. Plumb stems look fast and may be an effective way of stretching sailing length, but they do pose a problem when you have to raise the anchor.

The rig is fractional. I don't have I, J, E and P, but using the mainsail area combined with the area of the 100-percent jib I get a sail area of 452 square feet and an SA/D of 20.55. This is on the modest side for a small racer, but it's a good number for a fast family cruiser. I like this type of rig. It's very similar to the rig on my boat. The main is the big sail, making jib selection less important. The mainsheet traveler is in the middle of the cockpit where it can be easily adjusted by the helmsman. The highly swept spreaders make runners unnecessary. Of course, the problem with spreaders swept this much is that you begin to impale the mainsail when the sheet is eased. Good spreader chafe patches on the mainsail are a must for this type of rig. Swept spreaders are a good way of teaching you not to sail dead downwind.

This is an appealing interior. I like the wrap-around dinette. The nav table appears to be too small. The head is spacious and includes a wet locker. The quarter berth double is adequate, but the V-berth double goes so far forward that it ends in a point. I've slept in berths like that (recently on one of my own designs) and they are not comfortable. There is only room for one foot. You wake up feeling like the dog slept on your feet all night. It might be okay if you are married to a midget.

The appeal of this layout to me is the inviting settee arrangement. The galley is on the big side for this size of boat. The finish details of this interior are impressive. The boat has a nice warm look and feel to the interior. Maybe I'll just throw my sea bag and guitar case up on the V-berth. I like to keep my guitar easily accessible so I can grab it when the impulse strikes. When I cruise alone I imagine I have a wonderful singing voice. My dog has never complained.

This is a really good-looking boat. That's important. I think "you are what you sail." When you pull into a harbor, people will make value judgments about you based on the boat you are sailing. It's not fair, but it is inevitable. I think this 29 will satisfy the most demanding sailor when it comes to performance;and to performing in style.