Design and Construction
The 29's hull profile is thoroughly modern, with minimal rocker and maximum hull depth pushed aft, capped by a very wide transom in plan view. That snub bow translates into a long waterline of 26 feet 3 inches on a 28-foot 8-inch hull, while a flat forefoot keeps the wetted surface to a minimum for a boat of her type. The hull and deck are hand-laid and cored with end-grain balsa, then laminated together while still in the mold — the Dehler monocoque method of the classic era, producing a continuous fiberglass bond without through-bolts. The cast-iron keel is externally fastened to glassed-in steel floors, and the rudder stock is solid aluminum carrying a balanced rudder blade. Three keel configurations were offered: the racing keel drawing 5 feet 11 inches, the standard narrow fin at 5 feet 3 inches, and a shoal-draft swing keel at 4 feet.
Rig and Handling
Her rig is a Dehler trademark 7/8 fractional sloop on a double-spreader anodized aluminum spar, with inboard shrouds led to single-pod chainplates and highly swept spreaders that make runners unnecessary. Each chainplate ties to a stout stringer on the hull, and the wire terminal ends use swage fittings; a rigid vang is standard, as is the "Quick Reef" slab-reefing system led to the cockpit. All sail-control lines are led aft, and the mainsheet traveler sits mid-cockpit where the helmsman can trim it directly. The performance envelope follows the form: she sails best on her lines without excessive heel, should be fast off the wind, and will likely pound upwind in a chop. Under the standard 110-percent headsail with a reefed main, test sailors clipped along near 7 knots on a broad reach, and under the 10-horsepower Volvo diesel with saildrive she steamed near 6 knots.
Deck and Cockpit
Tiller steering is a rarity among 29-footers, and the Dehler's can fold back or be removed to free cockpit space dockside. The molded nonskid offers good traction, a small molded rail drew a tester's particular approval, and the four mooring cleats are husky. Deck hardware — rope clutches through self-tailing Lewmar winches — is of high quality, and most deck fittings are backed with aluminum plates molded into the deck. There is a large locker to starboard, a self-draining external anchor locker, and a split stern pulpit giving access to the stern ladder; the standard boat, however, has no hardware for anchoring off the bow.
Accommodations
Below, the standard interior is trimmed in mahogany with impressive finish detail and a warm feel, though the test boat showed the optional cherrywood. A molded fiberglass sole with wooden insets sits over a molded liner that encapsulates the mahogany-faced plywood bulkheads. The forward cabin is divided from the saloon by a small partial bulkhead and privacy curtain; the V-berth double runs so far forward it ends in a point, and one reviewer found only room for one foot and little comfort there, though the builder describes the bunks as long enough to sleep comfortably. The head to starboard is surprisingly spacious with a wash basin and a locker that doubles as a wet locker. The saloon's semicircular seating handles up to six, around a good-size table that folds out on both sides, and a step in the sole takes some getting used to. The port-side galley is functional with a single sink, pressure water, and a two-burner Origo pressureless alcohol stove, its cane locker-fronts a distinctive touch. Opposite sits a small nav station with the electrical panel above. Aft, tucked to port under the cockpit, is a legitimate double berth with a small wardrobe.
Known Issues and Ownership Notes
The standard boat's lack of bow anchoring hardware is a built-in limitation rather than a fault, and the V-berth's pointed forward end is an accommodation compromise noted by a reviewer rather than a defect.
The Verdict
The Dehler 29 is a purpose-built Judel/Vrolijk performance cruiser that punches above her length: a long-waterline hull with minimal wetted surface, a fully led-aft fractional rig with easy cockpit reefing, and a tiller-driven cockpit that stays uncluttered. The interior is more finished and more voluminous than her 29 feet suggest, with a real aft double and a spacious head, though the pointed forward berth is best for one. She is a 1997 German Yacht of the Year that still reads as modern.
Pros
- Long LWL from snub bow with flat forefoot minimizes wetted surface
- Monocoque hull-to-deck lamination with balsa core and glassed-in steel floors
- All lines led aft, mid-cockpit traveler, standard rigid vang and cockpit reefing
- Folding/removable tiller, quality Lewmar hardware, aluminum-backed deck fittings
- Spacious head with wet locker, legitimate aft double, warm mahogany trim
Cons
- Will likely pound upwind in a chop
- Pointed forward V-berth uncomfortable for two per reviewer
- Standard boat lacks bow anchoring hardware
- Small nav station opposite a compact galley
