Duetta 86: A used boat test of an affordable touring boat for kids and family
Alexander Worms
· 15.11.2024
Brown? Why are the decorative stripes, superstructure and deck areas brown? Okay, there's no arguing about taste and of course it was different at the beginning of the 1980s. This brown colour, however, is really exhausting. This dark, not very life-affirming natural colour in combination with the umber-coloured residual areas on deck really skilfully conceals the actually quite pleasing lines of the Duetta 86. It was also available in blue and white and still looks really nice today. But brown?
Sociologists and designers explain that in the 1970s, with the Vietnam War and the oil crisis, the bright and gaudy colours of the hippies no longer fitted in with the rather realistic zeitgeist of the time and therefore seemed out of place, leading to a trend towards more natural, earthy colours. Dehler obviously did not want to ignore this trend at the time. That's why the test boat is largely as it is: brown.
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But if you take a closer look at the ship through the colourful aberrations, you will find more amazing things. An aft cabin with two veritable beds, for example, a centre cockpit with steering column, an unusual but cosy interior including a separate toilet compartment. And, of course, the fact that it is a Dehler.
They are pleasingly robust and also well thought out, with many useful details. Back then, the Duettas were real cruising boats. They were designed by Cees van Tongeren, then an employee and later owner of Van de Stadt, the legendary design office in Zaandam, with an astonishingly wide stern. But not at all IOR in the middle of the IOR era. No mini transom, no bulge, but an elongated hull, wide aft and good-natured even when heeled. "That was a seller's ship. We started thinking about the DB 1 with the Delanta, from which Georg Nissen designed the 'Timschal' and successfully sailed regattas. My father found that exciting at the time: more sporty sailing.
The DB 1 was a thoroughbred IOR three-quarter tonner. That made the salesmen nervous. Too sporty is nice, but will anyone buy it? That's why the Duetta 86 was a real cruising boat, to reassure them," says Karl Dehler, son of shipyard founder Willi Dehler. And the salesmen kept their word. "There must have been around 1,000 of the Duetta built," he recalls. Alongside the Delanta, Optima, Sprinta and the legendary Varianta 65 series, the Duetta was the shipyard's fifth line at the time.
Used boat profile Duetta 86
- Design engineer: Van de Stadt
- Dimensions: 8.60 x 2.95 m
- Built from 1977-1984
- Quantity: approx. 1,000
- New price 1972: 35,000 DM
- Used price: approx. 10,000-20,000 €
And the 86 came in three versions: The "L" has a double berth under the foredeck. This is followed by the saloon with an L-shaped galley. The cockpit extends right up to the transom. The same applies to the "G" version. However, it does not have a berth under the foredeck. There are lockers accessible from the inside and a large sail locker accessible from the deck. Sleeping is in two dog bunks that can be reached from the inside.
The third version "A" is that of the test boat with the separate aft cabin. There are also two single berths. The cockpit slides forwards. As with the "G", there are no berths below the foredeck. However, the saloon table can be lowered to create a huge sunbathing area, but with the mast support in the centre. The suffix "S" in the designations stands for more luxurious equipment, which included the teak rubbing strake, teak in the cockpit, Treadmaster deck covering and the gas cooker.
The Duetta is not agile
It was also a special marketing campaign at the time. "At the time, it was customary to announce a new model in advertising beforehand. So we showed a drawing of the version with the largest interior space; that was the 'L' with the open bow. Now people could guess how many pieces of a sail bag we had defined would fit in the interior. Whoever was closest could win a Sprinta Sport. We received well over 10,000 entries," says Dehler. "People did the maths for pages and pages. Lawyers had to come in to make sure everything was legally sound. Every participant won one of these bags anyway. Then we packed the ship full under supervision. 630 bags went in." And even today, the ample storage space is still noticeable: in lockers, under benches, between the aft berths or right at the front in the huge cupboard.
In the cockpit of the "A" version there is a steering column with a wheel, from where the steering commands are transmitted hydraulically to the quadrant. The other versions usually have a tiller, but some have also been built with a wheel.
The version of the test boat with a wheel and aft cabin offers comfortable seating on both sides of the aft companionway in the cockpit with the back leaning against the rear of the cabin and the legs on the roof. This is 1.96 metres long, making it a good place to rest. Leaning comfortably, the wheel and foresheet are within easy reach, but the mainsheet is unfortunately not easily accessible and is attached to the floor in front of the steering column.
The genoa is used on the test boat on stays, unfortunately it is too long in the luff to push the halyard through sufficiently. Alternatively, there would be a self-tacking jib. However, the configuration with a full main and the medium-sized genoa is ideal for the ten to twelve knots of wind on the test day. The boat sets off well. It is not agile, unfortunately there is no feedback from the wheel due to the hydraulics. However, it is possible to paint right angles in the wake, despite the genoa not standing up very well. In the light gusts, a little more than five knots are possible. That's fine.
Aft cabin is the speciality
On the way back downwind, the strong sweep of the spreaders is noticeable: Unfortunately, the main cannot be opened very far. So: The Duetta 86 is first and foremost a cruising boat which, with its deep cockpit and comfortable seating, offers a cosy and pleasant place from which to sail. I like that.
The test boat is powered by a 2GM20 from Yanmar. It is described as very robust, but Farymann engines were also installed as an alternative. As always: 40-year-old, single-circuit-cooled engines have already seen most of their life. A drive that has already been renewed is therefore a big plus when looking for a Duetta.
Below deck, the test boat looks quite fresh and the wooden surfaces are still intact. The saloon offers a very cosy seating area, where four people can easily fit around the large, rotating table. Lowering the table creates a sunbathing area 2.06 metres long, which is 2.03 metres wide aft and 1.48 metres wide forward. This is a very comfortable place to spend the night. The toilet room is less spacious. The door must be open if you want to get dressed again.
The galley can be covered with a shelf and serves as a navigation table. It is suspended as a whole on a semi-cardanic system. However, if the cooker stops working, there is no longer a replacement, so owners will have to come up with something.
The special feature of the layout of the Duetta 86 is certainly the aft cabin. On the one hand, this makes for a very deep and cosy cockpit and on the other, it makes the Duetta an ideal boat for families with children. They can hide away in their own little kingdom when the time comes, while the parents can stay awake in the saloon. Willi Dehler had already had the idea of a separate aft cabin when he designed the Optima. Legend has it that his son Karl and his father did not share the same taste in music. Without further ado, the resourceful Sauerland native invented the aft chamber.
Weak points of the Duetta 86
Anyone looking for a Duetta, whether in the version with two dog berths or with an aft cabin, unfortunately has a whole series of points to consider: On the test boat, moisture had apparently penetrated into the laminate in the area of the starboard dunnage through hairline cracks in the gelcoat. The area is swollen. Luckily, the jetties are supported below deck with flat steel, which is connected to the hull, so there is no immediate risk of damage to the rig, but it still needs to be repaired carefully. A lot of work.
The same applies to the mast base, which also has a wooden core that has been damaged by leaking electrical plugs. And once again: the same problem can be seen at the ends of the self-turning rail. Here too, moisture penetrated, the wood expanded and destroyed the laminate due to the resulting pressure. The copper standpipes on which the cockpit bilge hoses are attached are also a cause for concern. Although the tubes extend above the waterline, there are no sea valves. And how durable the connection between the tubes and the hull is remains questionable.
The hatch seals tend to leak over time. However, replacements are available. Duetta owners are best advised to contact the marina team in Großenbrode, which stocks many spare parts. However, the many ABS deep-drawn parts that Dehler used to work with are no longer available there. These include, for example, the complete inner shell, the washbasin in the toilet and the hatch garage. The problem with ABS is that it cannot be repaired. Then the whole thing has to be painstakingly rebuilt in GRP. Another point is the chalking gelcoat, which leaves only repainting as an option. Then perhaps not in brown. If the teak rubbing strake is worn out, it is more likely to be replaced in plastic these days. The Treadmaster deck covering is another area to pay close attention to: Replacing it means a lot of work. And then there are the rudder bearings: If the blade slaps when the engine is running, then these are worn.
The Duetta 86 is an interesting boat, certainly in the version with the aft chamber. The sailing characteristics are fine, even if the hydraulics on the rudder make it a little less fun, the workmanship is not the very best, but it is certainly good enough. Depending on the condition, sails and motorisation, a Duetta 86 costs between 10,000 and 20,000 euros today. Depending on your affinity for tinkering, this is a favourable approach to sailing. An alternative would be the Friendship 28They all cost about the same, all sail well and have similar ailments. Only the aft cabin is exclusive to the Duetta.
The Duetta as a used boat
Model history and design
The Duetta was built with balsa core, at least in the deck, with full laminate in critical areas. There are three versions, supplemented by two draughts and the "S" equipment line. The "L" version with L-pantry came a little later.
Market situation
The ships will not break down for a long time yet and many have been built. That is why there is always plenty on the market. The boat is theoretically trailerable, so it can often be found on inland waterways. However, the focus is on the coasts of Germany and the Netherlands.
What to look out for if you are interested in buying
The balsa core must not have become damp under any circumstances. The deck covering ages. If it comes loose, a labour-intensive renewal is due. The rudder bearings wear out, as do the hatch rubbers and the windows. Old single-circuit cooled engines have often reached the end of their life.
The measured values for the used boat test of the Duetta
The Duetta in detail
Technical data of the Duetta
- Design engineer: Van de Stadt
- CE design category: A
- Torso length: 8,60 m
- Total length: 8,60 m
- Waterline length: 7,20 m
- Width: 2,95 m
- Draught/alternative: 1.10 m/1.50 m
- Mast height above WL: 12,00 m
- Theoretical torso speed: 6.5 kn
- Weight: 3,0 t
- Ballast/proportion: 1,3 t/43 %
- Mainsail: 18,7 m2
- Furling genoa (150 %): 22,0 m2
- machine (Yanmar): 15 kW/20 hp
- Fuel tank: 60 l
- Fresh water tank: 100
Prices and shipyard
- Base price 1977: 35.000 €
- Used price: 10.000-20.000 €
- Shipyard: Dehler, Germany
YACHT rating of the Duetta
A good touring and family boat. Particularly suitable in the version with aft cabin if children are on board. Sufficient sailing characteristics, high safety reserves
Design and concept
Protected cockpit
Many expansion options
Sailing performance and trim
Variable sail plan
Good-natured sailing characteristics
Mainsheet guide
Hydraulic control
Living and finishing quality
Berths sufficiently large
Plenty of storage space
Various ABS parts
WC room very small
Equipment and technology
No seacocks (Plichtlenzer)
