Dehler CWS system any good?

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Last of the kids goes off to Uni this year and old father time is taking his toll us parents. So we're starting to think about the next phase of our sailing aspitations with a little less racing and daysailing/weekending and a going a bit further afield. So a new boat is tempting me.

I'm leaning towards a Dehler 36 at the moment but they all seem to have the CWS central electric winch system. It can't be that good an idea or every boat would have one. Anybody sailed with the CWS and is it any good or a major hinderance?

Cheers.:rolleyes:
 
One of my friends has a 36 with it and both races and cruises. Never hear him complain about it and always difficult to beat him when racing.

Yoda
 
I have a 36CWS and find it very good. It is a shock going on a boat with manual winches. The main drawback is the friction through the blocks and they have to be kept lubricated. I really cant imagine going back to hard work! However, there is a Dehler 36DB which was a racing version. Taller mast, deeper keel and hard work. There is one of these for sale opposite me in Hythe Marina.
 
Re Moody Nick: 2 winches are easier to get at !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The single CWS winch is right in front of the helmsman and NOTHING could be easier to get at than that.

Excellent system with just one drawback: the beam that supports the winch and all the sheets and halyard ends is substantial and, with short legs it takes a big step to climb over it.
 
Pardon my ignorance - but:
1. How much power do the winches use?
2. Is there a manual backup to that you can still do sailing without >5knots wind and no solar power?
Or do you go from marina to marina for perpetual shore power?
Told you I was ignorant!!!!
 
maxi said:
Re Moody Nick: 2 winches are easier to get at !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The single CWS winch is right in front of the helmsman and NOTHING could be easier to get at than that.

Excellent system with just one drawback: the beam that supports the winch and all the sheets and halyard ends is substantial and, with short legs it takes a big step to climb over it.
Click to expand...

Yes because with the single winch there is a great big thing between the helmsman and the winch, called a wheel. ALso, rope handling on two separate winches is easier than just one. That's only from my experience of sailing on a friends 37CR for a season or two, and thinking about buying one.

You are happy with your own arrangement, so that is fine too.
 
All that clobber in front of the very substantial binnacle and wheel combine to make the cockpit a nightmare imho....

Which is why I didnt buy one... I just didnt think it was a comfortable or safe layout...

Sometimes simple is good..... The useable harbour space in the cockpit is poor..
 
Two point raised earlier. One was the power needed etc. is substantial but well within the capability of the large battery bank and the hefty cables. The other is stepping over the plinth. There are a couple of drop down seats in some models which make stepping over easier. In practice, it does not seem to be too much of a problem. I agree about loss of harbour space except that we use these seats as well.
The 35CWS also had two winches.
It all depends on how much money you have, ours is the older Van de Stadt design. Built like a tank with everything well engineered but not excessively heavy. No cheap shroud fixings here! Also did not cost the earth, ours was bought in Holland on Sep 11 2001.
 
IMHO no boat under 60ft needs powered winches. Possibly ok if you only sail round local buoys but certainly not ok if you intend to go further affield. Why on earth should you need them? Save your power to run the fridge and keep the G&Ts cold.

Even if you have a large enough battery bank, you can still drain it and all power taken needs to be replaced by about 150%. Will you run you main engine or just install a generator, which will start on demand. Sorry KISS.
 
aspects

Well, there are many opinions here, not all seem to be experience based.

A usual mainsail on most boats > 35 ft is heavy to set, in particular fully battened. Certainly, can be one. But with age ... electrical assistance is very good to have. (Remember Chichesters last sail ? ). I would like to see a single guy hoisting a main on a 60 ft boat!

Energy consumption is low, power is high. The winch is just used very short time. Has nothing to do with fridge.

Most of the Dehler CWS do have smaller winches for the jib. Works fine.

The Dehler CWS is a design of the mid 1980-ies. The design makes it possible to sail rather large boats single-handled. The larger ones as 38, 39, 43 are all easy to sail single-handled. Modern systems are not better!
(and if you look carefully on eg Dehler 43 system and compare with many modern boats it is clear that they have copied the concept).

Ah, and then there was the cockpit size. Have a look for yourself. Cockpits of the 35 --- 43 ft Dehler CWS are not small, in any way. Even if helmsman part is not included, cockpits are sufficient for most.
Have a look for yourself.

There is a solid beam which divides the cockpit. It is not easy to pass from main part to aft, but not difficult either.
The advantage is the the helmsman is in full control of the boat.

Compared to most other boats it is a dream to sail. Then, the are fast as well.

A note on the racing Dehler 36: it is not for family sailing. Overpowered, and not so comfortable. But it is really fast.
http://www.ybw.com/forums/images/icons/icon7.gif

/J
 
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MoodyNick said:
Yes because with the single winch there is a great big thing between the helmsman and the winch, called a wheel. ALso, rope handling on two separate winches is easier than just one. That's only from my experience of sailing on a friends 37CR for a season or two, and thinking about buying one.

You are happy with your own arrangement, so that is fine too.
Click to expand...

The NI built Ruffians were the first I remember having a single winch system. But they had a tiller rather a wheel. I thought it would be a good idea for a central cockpit boat where the sheets are winched behind the helmsman.
 
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