Dehler 38 Sailboats for Sale

Layouts on the Used Market

Owner three-cabin arrangements are more common on the used market, but both three-cabin and the eight-berth version with twin aft cabins are available, and ex-charter examples are common. The three-cabin cruising layout sleeps six with a forward V-berth, convertible saloon settees, and an aft double, plus a single aft head with shower. The alternative eight-berth layout gives two aft cabins each with its own heads but squeezes those cabins into the drawn-in stern, puts the saloon well forward, and leaves only a tiny hanging locker; the saloon also reads small for a 38-footer. Either way the interior is bright from large windows and hatches, with a port galley and opposite nav station.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Most boats on the market carry a short-handed setup with electric winches, autopilot, and a chartplotter as commonly fitted gear, making solo or two-person handling realistic. A swim platform is also commonly fitted. Often-seen upgrades include heating, radar, AIS, solar, and asymmetric or standard spinnakers for downwind cruising; teak decks are also often present. Less common but possible owner additions include an inverter, wind generator, bow thruster, cockpit shower, and life raft. For a buyer, the high-value clusters are power and energy — solar and sometimes a wind generator ease anchoring outages — and sail-handling automation through electric winches and autopilot, which matter more than creature comforts on a light racer-cruiser.

What to Inspect

The structural story is reassuring: the hull is fiberglass with Kevlar reinforcement in high-stress areas and an integrated alloy space frame, and reviewers describe high Dehler build quality. The known items to verify are cosmetic and wear related. Teak cockpit trim and often-seen teak decks should be checked for softening or caulking failure. The IOR-derived hull is not forgiving when it cuts up rough, so inspect the fin keel-to-hull joint and spade rudder bearing for impact or electrolysis signs. Confirm the alloy space frame shows no corrosion at visible penetrations, and exercise the emergency tiller access hatch in the cockpit floor for free movement.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

These boats typically appear in France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain, Denmark, and the United States. For a buyer, the short list is: choose layout by berth count and head arrangement; verify teak and hull-deck structure; confirm the electric winches, autopilot, and chartplotter function; and sail her in a breeze to judge whether the racy helm suits you.