The fact that Karl Dehler can sail has been known ever since he became world series champion in the IOR three-quarter tonne class with the DB 2 "Positron". He then achieved another masterpiece in 1993: He won the Kieler Woche with the Dehler 35 CWS "Sporthotel". Of course, this is a good thing from a sailing point of view. However, the fact that victories on the regatta course do not necessarily harm a brand and generate more sales was also recognised in Sauerland.
At the time, Dehler was on the way to becoming much sportier. However, the boats remained cosy and, above all, innovative. This also applies to the 35, which has a winch on the cockpit coaming to which almost all the lines required for sailing are led. Thanks to lever clamps, one winch serves so many lines.
Used boat profile of the Dehler 35 Cruising
- Type: Dehler 35 Cruising
- Design engineer: Van de Stadt
- Built: 1993-1996
- Quantity: 280
- New price ready to sail 1993: 77.000 €
- Price today: 50 to 70,000 €
This is a further development of the Central Winch System (CWS), which Dehler had already introduced years earlier. However, a single winch in the centre of the cockpit has to perform all tasks, which also generates more friction due to more deflections, which meant that the winch could only be easily operated electrically. "The solution below deck on two winches with lines guided on the coaming worked so well that we later implemented it at Hanse," reports Karl Dehler, who worked at Hanseyachts until his retirement.
Also interesting:
The cranked steering wheel is just as innovative. It is built around the steering column. This means that the steering column is large enough to accommodate a whole range of instruments, including the gear lever for the diesel. This can be conveniently operated without having to reach through the wheel.
Another attempt at innovation was a ladder that allowed access to the forward cabin through the deck hatch. Together with a small table, it was intended to create a separate living area. The buyers obviously didn't like this: This detail was omitted when the 35 CWS was upgraded to the 35 Cruising.
Sporty from the large series: the competition of the Dehler 35 Cruising
- Bavaria 35 Match
- Dufour 34 Performance
- First 36.7
- Hanse 350
Most of the white surfaces have also been completely replaced with mahogany. This makes the interior appear less cool and more cosy. Light-coloured upholstery helps to take the edge off the dark wood. The hull windows also did not survive the model change; they were replaced by another hatch in the superstructure. The small windows particularly enhanced the forward berth: You could look out onto the water from there. When asked about an incident this summer off the Belgian coast in which one of these windows fell out, causing a heavy inrush of water, Dehler points out that the adhesives were not particularly UV-resistant at the time. Buyers must take a close look at the joints around the windows. If cracks appear there, the panes should be removed and re-glued.
As with almost all used boats, the rudder bearings on the Dehler are typical weak points. Replacement is not difficult if the blade has been removed - this is necessary for the lower bearing - and spare parts are still available. If you can, buy a model number larger than 254, as self-aligning bearings have been fitted instead of the plain bearings previously used. This is a clear advantage, also in terms of steering feel.
Simply fast
The Kieler Woche victory made it clear that the Dehler is a force to be reckoned with. And she also put her all into the test. A yardstick value of 96 also testifies to a very sporty ship. The Winner 10.10, which acted as a camera boat during our test, was just able to keep up in the fresh five-strong winds on the IJsselmeer. It has a shorter waterline but a deeper draught, as the test boat was equipped with a short keel.
What was striking was how easy it was to call up the power. The owner sailed the boat alone and usually sat on the helm bench with one hand on the wheel. The two electric winches (extra), both of which can be operated from either side, ensure very comfortable trimming and therefore high speed. The Dehler also exudes a great deal of composure when in the pushers - no sun shots, no unexpected running out of the rudder. It makes you want to cover long distances right away.
Of course, the various trimming devices help here, with which the powerful main can be kept well in check, also thanks to the flexible 7/8 rig. During the test, however, it is time for the first reef. This reduces the pressure, which, however, is generally not very high; the whole thing with a nice, crisp directness at the wheel and the arse end - modern boats often can't do any better. The colleagues who tested the boat in 1993 attested to the hull's "pleasant sea behaviour because the foredeck is not too shallow" - a fact that was thoroughly appreciated and therefore confirmed on the choppy IJsselmeer on the test day. The Dehler 35 Cruising is therefore an all-round good sailing boat.
Pretty red
The test boat in solid wood is quite cosy below deck if you like it boaty. Standing heights of 1.85 metres are not particularly generous. On the other hand, the berths are 1.90 metres long, measured at 30 centimetres wide at the feet, by 1.60 metres at shoulder height forward, and 2.08 by 1.65 metres aft. It's a relaxed place to sleep. Otherwise, the layout is classic: toilet room to starboard aft, even with an oil locker, in front of which is a sat nav at right angles to the direction of travel. Large L-pantry to port, saloon and foredeck. Thanks to intelligent hatches, there are plenty of useful storage spaces everywhere. That fits.
Good hull-deck connection
Dehler and Van de Stadt built and designed with great care. The hull and deck are butt-joined, laminated on the inside and covered with a rubbing strake on the outside. This is stable and tight, but means that all the furniture could only be installed after the deck had been fitted - which took many man-hours.
This was good for the owners, but bad for the shipyard, which hardly earned anything from the ships. Dehler went bankrupt in 1998. The outcome is well known. Nevertheless, they still built good ships. One of them is the 35 CWS or Cruising. They are ideal for older couples who want to travel in style, even with their grandchildren on board, or for regattas in a club.
The connoisseur looks for the larger machine. Whether hull windows or which extension is ultimately a matter of taste. If there is still some budget left, it is worth taking a look at the keel joint and the hull windows.
Info for buyers
Model history
At first, the 35 was called the "CWS". It had a ladder in the foredeck, narrow windows in the hull and a white interior set off with mahogany mouldings. The Cruising has a complete mahogany interior, two winches on the coaming and no hull windows, but another hatch in the superstructure
The Dehler 35 Cruising in detail
Technical data of the Dehler 35 Cruising
- Designer: Van de Stadt
- CE design category: A
- Torso length: 10,50 m
- Width: 3,30 m
- Draught/alternative: 1,80/1,50 m
- Weight: 5,1 t
- Ballast/proportion: 2,2 t/43 %
- Mainsail: 38,0 m2
- Furling genoa (105 %): 25,0 m2
- machine (Yanmar): 20 kW/27 hp
Hull and deck construction
Hull polyester solid laminate, hand lay-up method, balsa sandwich above the waterline and in the deck, solid in stressed areas
YACHT review of the Dehler 35 Cruising
Sporty and cosy, the Dehler combines both. There is plenty of space below deck and exciting solutions on deck, such as the central winch system and the steering position with wheel. Yet solidly built. A boat for more ambitious touring sailors
Design and concept
- + Long cabin superstructure
- - Balsa core in the deck
Sailing performance and trim
- + Sensitive and precise control
- + Good sailing performance even with short keel
Living and finishing quality
- + Comfortable berth dimensions
- - Wooden surfaces take some getting used to
Equipment and technology
- + Central Winch System (CWS)
- - Deck covering tends to get dirty
The article first appeared in YACHT 24/2020 and has been updated for the online version.
