The Dehler 32 with wheel steering made its first public appearance at the boat show in Gothenburg - and in Germany at the Schwern Yachten open day in Wedel at the weekend. The new version seems to be a hit. "We sold the first one straight away," says dealer Jürgen Schwern.
Although Dehler designed the Performance Cruiser with an aft-mounted traveller exclusively for tiller steering, the solution with a wheel makes perfect sense. Although it costs 2800 euros extra, it also solves the problem of high rudder pressure on the tiller, which was repeatedly criticised in tests and could never be completely trimmed away.
The design is also pleasing. The Jefa pillar comes from the larger sister, the Dehler 35, and the 130 millimetre diameter wheel is not too high up in the cockpit; it is slightly recessed by means of a well. The backstay, which was originally centred, now runs to the sides via a high cockspot. The traveller has been moved in front of the steering column and extends across the benches, where it is even easier to operate than in the tiller version.
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According to Jürgen Schwern, the decisive factor for the new extra on the Dehler 32 was the desire of potential owners. "Many of those who fancied the boat simply wanted a wheel."
Jochen Rieker
Herausgeber YACHT
