Dehler 38

[sighmoon]

Does anyone have any opinions or experience of this boat?

It'll be used for living onboard for a couple of months at a time, but sailing qualities are important too.

The appeal to me is that there's not too much woodwork to keep up with down below, and that video on youtube where they bounce a Dehler of the same generation off the rocks. Oh, and the wife likes the look of it.

I can imagine the saloon has little legroom with the engine box in the middle. The headroom is also a bit lower than boats of a comparable size, but I'll be able to stand up to wash up or chop vegetables.

 

[Boat44]

Chartered one in the Solent some years ago. Was great fun, went like a witch I loved sailing her.

Wouldn't be my first choise as a live aborad, as she is a race boat, and hence general lack of volume below. You have already mentioned head room.

Would suggest you look at some alternatives at the other end of the spectrum, just to make sure you are geeting the boat you want and you can live with the compromises. The other end of the spectrum will have bags of volume, be very comfortable down below but sail like a pig.

Try chartering a couple of boats. If you are going to be living aboard for periods of time, I would spend some time up front checking a few different options out.

Nice choise of boat though!