Dehler 35 CWS. How will she Sail?

[DJE]

SWMBO and I are seriously considering one of these boats to replace our Sadler 29 after 15 very happy years. We like the layout below and the somewhat quirky cockpit and sail control arrangements. My nagging doubts mainly concern the very different hull, keel, and rudder configuration. Apart from the lack of space the only thing I don't like about the Sadler is the way that the windward bilge keel breaks the surface and slams when hard pressed to windward. So will the Dehler slam? And just how lively and/or difficult to control will she be in stronger winds?

The hull shape looks reasonable to my untrained eye, she is generously ballasted, and Van de Stadt are reputed to know what they are doing. Anybody know these boats?

If we can find one we would prefer the shallower draft wing-keeled version.

 

[sailorman]

contact forumite Rudolph_Hart

 

[doris]

There were two of these on the YM Triangle, both with very competent, experienced lady owners. Both owners like them and they sail very well.

 

[Bobc]

They sail beautifully. It's a good choice.

 

[jwilson]

They sail beautifully. It's a good choice.

We sold one for an elderly owner who had bought it as in his words "a mistake". His problem was that the boat was too powerful a sailing boat - too much rig for him after a fairly sedate long-keeler. He did also say though that when he had a crew it was absolutely lovely to sail, but too much for him to cope with singlehanded. The CWS system takes a lot of cockpit space and causes some clambering around, but as long as you handle lines logically and in the right order works well - not much different to current AWBs with everything led to one coachroof winch.

I dithered about buying one myself a few years ago, bought a much newer but not quite as good performance AWB instead.

 

[robmcg]

Check the rudder carefully. I have seen several with cracks emanating from the area where the rudder stock enters the blade. I believe the stock itself is aluminium and can corrode a bit. They are quick boats though!

 

[Sans Bateau]

The rudder stock is most likely from Jeffa, they make rudder stocks for just about everything.

Cutter who used to frequent the forum used to have one IIRC. The hull looks a very similar underwater profile to our Etap 35i.

 

[dgadee]

Apart from the lack of space the only thing I don't like about the Sadler is the way that the windward bilge keel breaks the surface and slams when hard pressed to windward. So will the Dehler slam? And just how lively and/or difficult to control will she be in stronger winds?

I moved from a similarly sized twin keeled boat to your Sadler to a slightly larger Dehler than you mention. No banging of keel. I sail mostly single handed and love the electric winch - easy setting of main and reefing without a sweat no matter what the wind strength. You do have to clamber over the cws bridgedeck which is a bit of a nuisance, but that's the only negative I have found (and all boats are a balance of positives and negatives) and usually I don't stand there steering anyway except when leaving/entering harbour. I have only had the boat for a few months, with F6 to gusts at the bottom of F7 the highest wind speed and it seemed fine. Not a heavy boat but seems to need wind to get it going properly. I am not sure about the self tacking headsail - mine didn't come with one and someone with a 36cws told me he was thinking of doing away with his because it banged about from side to side when he was going downwind. On the whole trip home from the south coast to Irish Sea via Orkney, though, I had many, many days of no wind and about 7 miles of headwinds so my experience is limited.

There seems to be problems with rudders - I saw one being repaired on a 35 in Grimbsy - but mine looks ok. However, water had got into the pedestal and I have just rebuilt it (replaced bearings, shot blasted and powder coated) so it looks well now. It took a goodly bit of work to do this - not a minor operation. Everything else I've found wrong on the delivery trip home has been relatively minor and more to do with replacing items at the end of their lives (batteries, kicker gas strut, etc.)

ps - looking for a spinnaker in case anyone has one unused.

 

[DJE]

I moved from a similarly sized twin keeled boat to your Sadler to a slightly larger Dehler than you mention. No banging of keel. I sail mostly single handed and love the electric winch - easy setting of main and reefing without a sweat no matter what the wind strength. You do have to clamber over the cws bridgedeck which is a bit of a nuisance, but that's the only negative I have found (and all boats are a balance of positives and negatives) and usually I don't stand there steering anyway except when leaving/entering harbour. I have only had the boat for a few months, with F6 to gusts at the bottom of F7 the highest wind speed and it seemed fine. Not a heavy boat but seems to need wind to get it going properly. I am not sure about the self tacking headsail - mine didn't come with one and someone with a 36cws told me he was thinking of doing away with his because it banged about from side to side when he was going downwind. On the whole trip home from the south coast to Irish Sea via Orkney, though, I had many, many days of no wind and about 7 miles of headwinds so my experience is limited.

There seems to be problems with rudders - I saw one being repaired on a 35 in Grimbsy - but mine looks ok. However, water had got into the pedestal and I have just rebuilt it (replaced bearings, shot blasted and powder coated) so it looks well now. It took a goodly bit of work to do this - not a minor operation. Everything else I've found wrong on the delivery trip home has been relatively minor and more to do with replacing items at the end of their lives (batteries, kicker gas strut, etc.)

ps - looking for a spinnaker in case anyone has one unused.

I think you might have a 36 CWS with the single central winch. The 35 CWS has two winches, one on each coming. It also has a conventional galley and saloon whereas the 36 has the linear galley.

 

[robmcg]

Why is the helmsman isolated behind a metal dog guard? Bit unfair

 

[dgadee]

I think you might have a 36 CWS with the single central winch. The 35 CWS has two winches, one on each coming. It also has a conventional galley and saloon whereas the 36 has the linear galley.

Yes, sorry for misunderstanding. I have the 37cws with one central winch and presumed 35cws had a similar system. The 37cws has the straight saloon seating:

View attachment 45029

ps - but still looking for a spinnaker ...

 

[lpdsn]

I've a bit bigger Dehler of the same vintage (with two winches) and have sailed on a Dehler 31 & 34.

That whole generation of Dehlers are good sailing boats. Lots of sail area and well ballasted. They encourage you to turn the engine off early and to start sailing. They are powerful sailers and you do feel it when you're at the helm. Albeit they are well balanced and easily controlled, I can understand the earlier comments.

They've a large main and smaller jib, which was against the fashion of the day, but makes tacking easier. Some models have a self-tacking jib.

My rudder stock is stainless. I've not heard of any being Aluminium, but...

The classic Dehler fault is that the wrong type of nylon was used on the rudder bearings, so they swell slightly. If the rudder feels stiff better to fix it sooner rather than leave it to get worse. I dropped the rudder and simply ground out the bearings a little. The alternative is complete replacement. Do not use oil or grease as they're designed for water lubrication.

 

[Monique]

..... that the wrong type of nylon was used on the rudder bearings, so they swell slightly. If the rudder feels stiff better to fix it sooner rather than leave it to get worse. I dropped the rudder and simply ground out the bearings a little. The alternative is complete replacement. Do not use oil or grease as they're designed for water lubrication.

Marelon is a better material for this purpose

 

[syfuga]

We have a Dehler 41DS, but the principle is similar, and the hull form, keel and rudder much the same but scaled up a bit. Dehlers of a certain vintage were fast, strong, and sail well.

The 41 can be sailed easily single handed (two electric winches). The self-tacking blade jib is incredibly efficient. We have lines rigged to the track car, so that it can be constrained when running, in harbour, when heaving to, or if trying to wear the bow round tacking in light airs.

 

[dgadee]

We have a Dehler 41DS, but the principle is similar, and the hull form, keel and rudder much the same but scaled up a bit. Dehlers of a certain vintage were fast, strong, and sail well.

The 41 can be sailed easily single handed (two electric winches). The self-tacking blade jib is incredibly efficient. We have lines rigged to the track car, so that it can be constrained when running, in harbour, when heaving to, or if trying to wear the bow round tacking in light airs.

What setup do you use for downwind sailing?