Considering a Dehler 34

[Jokani]

I am looking to move to a larger boat, and am very tempted with a Dehler 34, mostly for the looks and the sailing ability, but also the extra space compared to my current.

I will mainly sail single/short handed, the East Coast rivers, Thames, Medway, Orwell, and also plan trips to Holland Belgium and France.

The downsides of a D34 appear to be:

1. Draft
2. Smaller cabin
3. Very small aft-cabin

Moving up from a smaller boat, I think I can handle 2 & 3, but I'm nervous of a fin with a draught of 1.8m. But, looking at the charts, that does not seem to be too restrictive, and I can always explore by dinghy. But then again, last weekend, anchoring off Osea was bouncy with the strong easterly, so we moved in to Lawling Creek, some thing I couldn't do with 1.8m draft

I had a look around a D34 this weekend, and the cabin was actually not as small as I had imagined, but the aft-cabin was probably smaller. I think I could live with it though.

I would appreciate the views of those with knowledge of, and/or owners of a Dehler 34, things such as:

• Seakeeping ability
• Ability to manoeuvre in a marina
• Preformance with a Yammar 3GM30 and a twin blade Gori folding prop
• Did you find the 1.8m draft restriction too limiting?
• Any other points of interest regarding a D34

 

[Lucky Duck]

My first boat was a twin keeled hunter which we kept on a mooring just opposite Blackwater marina, after a few years we changed to a fin keeled boat with a draft slightly more than the D34.

The only things that I recall missing out on were being able to visit Woodbridge on neap tides and being able to use the Havengore bridge route into the Thames, other depth challenges such as crossing Swin Spitway or the shallow patch by Pye End needed to be managed but were not an issue in practice. In any case places such as the Crouch or the Blackwater you tended to arrive and leave near high water

What made up for it was that trips up and down the Wallet became a whole lot less painful, and in general we went far further in subsequent boats.

 

[Jokani]

What made up for it was that trips up and down the Wallet became a whole lot less painful, and in general we went far further in subsequent boats.

Thanks for the info. It is no coincidence that my interst in a D34 has increased since a 'painful' trip back from the Blackwater a couple of weekends ago. Didn't help myself by mis-judging the tide either!

 

[dehlerdave]

Which version of the D34 are you considering? I have had the Van De Stadt version from 1989 for 19 years so may be slightly biased but.
Seaworthyness, it is based on an ocean racer so is strong and powerful. TCF of .925 is so quick for their day. YouTube videos of boat test running into jetty at full engine speed with no damage. Internal volume not much compared to modern boats and headroom not much forward of the chart table, mind the cross beam. Sails beautifully and dry.
Under engine manoeuvres just fine ahead and astern.
I changed my engine for a new 3ym20 which is enough in all conditions, folding props are what they are, ahead ok astern not ideal and not great for stopping but its a sailboat which sails well.
1.8M, mine is 1.7 on the manufacturers documentation and in the South West is not a problem even a long way up river.
They are getting on a bit so engine, rigging, sails, electrics and electronics may all be tired but price accordingly and buy on condition. The underlying boat will be sound. Osmosis is unheard of in Dehlers of this age, other than rudders. Rudder bearings can be an issue which need cleaning regularly.

 

[Refueler]

I sailed on a D34 a while back along the Latvian coast from Ventspils to Pavilosta ... the boat was easily helmed ... felt well balanced ..

I think if owner had let me - we could have got a bit more out of her .. but it was a pleasant boat to be on. I did not stay overnight on board though. The cabins looked 'adequate' and in my mind typical of that style of boat.

If I was to look at say a Bav of similar size - the Dehler would be my choice... (i've sailed and viewed a number of Bav's including sailing a Match 35 ... awful PoS !!)

 

[Jokani]

Which version of the D34 are you considering?

Thanks for the info that is very helpful, I'm looking at a 1990 Nova .

 

[Jokani]

I sailed on a D34 a while back along the Latvian coast from Ventspils to Pavilosta ... the boat was easily helmed ... felt well balanced ..

If I was to look at say a Bav of similar size - the Dehler would be my choice... (i've sailed and viewed a number of Bav's including sailing a Match 35 ... awful PoS !!)

Thanks Refueler, that's good to know.

 

[Concerto]

Gary you could also consider a Westerly Storm. Similar performance with more internal space. They were also made with twin keels if draft is your concern. Slightly smaller and only slightly slower is the Westerly Fulmar, again available in fin and twin keels.

The Dehler 34 is a smaller volume hull than the Storm, but closer to the Fulmar. I have not sailed either the D34 or Storm, but own a Fulmar. My late parents bought a Dehler 37 (a cruising yacht) and collected if from Holland. The yard showroom had the 34 and 31 (just relased) which I looked closely at. Many clever plastic mouldings for storage or covers for blots for deck fittings.

Go and look at a selection of yachts in this size range and you will soon rule out those that do not meet your requirements. You should also look at performance builders like X Yachts, Elan, First, etc. Every yacht will be a major step up in performance and accomodation to your Centaur. Good hunting.

 

[Dutch01527]

I can not speak for the 34 but I have a 1986 Dehler Duetta 86 ( just under 29 foot). The general design and build quality are excellent. Reasonably fast and very well balanced. I would be very surprised if a 1990 34 did not share similar brand values.

Reminds me a bit of a 1980’/1990’s Mercedes. Maybe not the fastest or most exciting but it does everything well, feels like it was designed and built by real engineers and is still not showing major signs of age internally. Treadmaster needed repair externally and brown coach stripe needed a repaint but that was about it.

 

[Laminar Flow]

1.80m draft for Holland and the Waddenzee is a tad deep.

 

[Lightwave395]

I had a D35CWS for a few years, I believe an evolution of the D34 of which I've known a couple of very happy owners, it was a delightful boat and for what was essentially a cruiser, quite quick, 5th in class 70+ at the RTI race with 4 onboard, raced solo, cruised extensively around the channel, 1.8M draft never a problem (I've never owned a shallow draft boat) and was designed for short handed / solo sailing. If you could stretch to one I'd highly recommend it but they seem to have held their value very well. Pre lockdown I was vaguely considering downsizing back to another one

 

[Refueler]

The comment of holding value second hand .... always to me indicates the item may be a good design !!

 

[stu9000]

I moved from a Jaguar 27 twin keel to a Westerly Seahawk 35 fin keel.
We loved the Jag but needed a bigger boat for my increasingly hulking teenagers.
Previously an inveterate mud holer used to sailing a Caprice, Horondelle and Snapdragon 23 I was in two minds about giving up access to the peaceful upper stretches and the ability to take the ground.
I need not have worried.

The increased boat speed and a reduced tendency to bob about means we are far more likely to hop to the next river than stay in the current one. At 1.5m draft we can, on a rising tide, still get places like Conyer Creek and Faversham. The fin keel settles into the soft Medway mud without issue.

Everything is a trade off as I am sure you know.
No longer having twin keels to sit on was a small loss but this was more than offset by the reduction in leeway.
In choosing the Westerly our criteria were to have a big enough boat for the wife and 3 kids but also be able to handle it alone.
I wanted a decent aft cabin and a heavy boat rather than a 'modern' light one.
Our short list was Moody 346, Westerly Corsair and the Westerly Seahawk. At the point of purchase the Seahawk won out because it had a lot of renewed gear on board. We love it, but I have always liked the Corsair. It has the extra pilot berth and heads, but it is a slightly older boat and even one extra foot in length adds to running costs.

We love our Seahawk .
I cruise the Medway, Orwell, Blackwater and plan to do the Deben this year once we are allowed.
I took the Seahawk to Schevengingen last year which she did with confidence.

 

[Blue Fox]

1.80m draft for Holland and the Waddenzee is a tad deep.

When you stay in the bigger channels in the Waddenzee, no problem at all. Although the eastern part is somewhat different - there you need for some passages a boat that can dry out. But my boat draws 2 meter and there are very few harbours in the IJsselmeer and Zeeland I can't enter with that draft.

 

[Laminar Flow]

When you stay in the bigger channels in the Waddenzee, no problem at all. Although the eastern part is somewhat different - there you need for some passages a boat that can dry out. But my boat draws 2 meter and there are very few harbours in the IJsselmeer and Zeeland I can't enter with that draft.

Bounced in the Gatt between Terschelling and Ameland (main channel) with 1.32m draft and had to abandon approach. Spent five years in the Netherlands and there is good reason for Dutch enthusiasm for boats that float on wet grass.

 

[Javelin]

My MGrs34 draws 2.1m and we usually cross over to Holland at least once or twice a year.
Apart from my slightly bigger draft the boats are very similar and I've had some great races against D34's
I honestly have had few if any issues with my draft.
Yes I think I touch trough mud at the inner Quay at Goes and in the marina at Outdorp but not enough for us to stop going to either.
More locally I can sail in and out of Southwold 4hrs either side of HW and have got in at LW neaps.
Visits to Bradwell, Titchmarsh the Deben have all been fine.
You will love the extra stability at sea with the deeper draft and the D34 is a cracking sailer and points high and is nicely balanced on the helm.
Overpowered downwind in a qtr sea can be intersting so reef the main early and rely more on the headsail on windy down hill sails.
Rudders and rudder bearings have been an issue and chainplates need a close inspection otherwise the rig is pretty good.
I have a 2 blade folding gori prop and a 3ym 30 yanmar.
Motoring at 6.5knts at around 2500 revs and yours I expect will be very similar.
A recent trip from Southwold to Vlisingen at 6.5knts with no wind cost me £44 in diesel.
She will turn pretty much on a dime so no issues in a marina and as she probably only weighs in at 4 to 4.5t she's easy to stop.

 

[johnalison]

Dehler 34s changed a lot from the '90s designs to the post-2000s with something of a dinghy look that we see today. The earlier ones I always thought of as sporty boats for young people, being fairly plain but with limited space inside. The short waterline means that although they are fast enough round the buoys they don't match modern cruising boats as passage-makers. The newer Dehlers are clearly much faster all round but I haven't been inside one yet. I think they retain the sporty character, in the manner of X-yachts, but again, would probably suit younger sailors.