Dehler 34 hits the water: First look

Dehler is hoping history will repeat itself after splashing its new sporty and rather gorgeous 34. Thirty-years ago, the original Dehler 34 was launched and the yachtmaker quickly achieved recognition as a global player in the sailing world. With more than 1300 built, this was the beginning of a new era for the German marque.

The new Dehler 34 is a smart Performance Cruiser designed to combine sportiness and cruising and, just maybe, attain cult status.

After an eagerly awaited build process, the new yacht has just splashed ahead of its European boat-show circuit debuts in coming months. You can read more about the Dehler 34 background and specs here.

Stepped with a sporty 17.02m performance rig, the test sailing was said to be most enjoyable across several days of fine tuning.

The new Dehler 34 was drawn by Judel/Vrolijk & co and has benefited from our over 50 years of experience in yacht building, Dehler says, adding that the local sea is an ideal "test track".

"The short steep waves were not a problem for the new yacht and she sailed very stable and remained surprisingly dry", said Kalle Dehler, chief developer at the eponymous yard.

During sea trials, engine performance, noise below deck, manoeuvrability and ergonomics were all checked and recorded in the test protocol.

From the feedback, the new addition to the fleet looks set to take off. The Dehler teams says it's now looking forward to presenting the new sporty and modern performance cruiser with a length of 34 feet to the sailing world.

Pitched in the most active segment of the yachting market, the new 34 is
equipped with intelligent features such as a Smart Light System, the
latest B&G Zeus plotters, and a wireless entertainment system.

Dehler says a lot of focus has gone into combining the comfort of a luxury yacht and the performance of a racing yacht.

The
75cm long hull windows and extra-large deck hatch, in combination with
the sleek side windows, add to the sporty and elegant lines.

But
when you first enter the new 34, you will be surprised by the volume,
Dehler says. Headroom at the companion way is 1.88m and 1.94m below the
deck hatch.

A specially developed Dehler Uni Door Concept is
said to create significantly more space and flow than conventional cabin
doors, while a lot of focus has gone into maximising storage space as
required on a small yacht.

A wide selection of fabrics and woods installed by hand in the Dehler shipyard complete the interior.

Local Dehler importer Peter Hrones and Rick Hawkins from Windcraft met with
Karl Dehler to discuss bringing the first boat to Australia. The upmarket luxury 34 is certainly pitched at the active end of the keel-yacht market and is set to be well received on the club-racer scene Down Under.

Quick Specs: Dehler 34
LOA: 10.70m
Waterline Length: 9.60m
Beam: 3.60m
Three Keel Types: Competition T-keel with 2.10m draft; two L-shaped keels of 1.95m and 1.55m draft
Steering: Tiller or Twin Wheels
Engine: Volvo Penta 18hp with saildrive
Launch Date: August 2016 Europe.
Base Price: Expected Around $180k in Australia.
For more information on our new Dehler 34 see the website of the local Dehler agents Windcraft.