Design and Construction
The 43 Cws came from Dehler’s long collaboration with E.G. van de Stadt. At 43 feet 8 inches overall, with an 11-meter waterline, a 13-foot beam, and a 6 foot 7 inch draught, it was a substantial cruiser. Displacement was 19,140 pounds, carried on a lead-ballasted bulb fin.
Dehler built the boat during its classic era of monocoque construction. The deck and solid fiberglass hull were laminated together inside the mold, creating a continuous fiberglass bond. The deck was also solid fiberglass, while the ballast was lead.
Its 43.68 percent ballast ratio and 1.91 capsize screen reflect a stiff, seakindly hull form of the period. Its displacement-to-length figure of 203.52 places the boat firmly among moderate-displacement cruisers, rather than at the ultra-light racing end of the Van de Stadt spectrum.
Rig, Cockpit, and Handling
The defining feature on deck was the cockpit arrangement. The boat had a cockpit arch to which the main was sheeted, eliminating the need for a central winch. Instead, there were two independent steering positions, each with an electrically operated winch and engine controls. This unusual setup was intended to reduce crew workload.
The fractional sloop rig carried a non-overlapping headsail. It wasn’t self-tacking, but it had a vertical batten to help with shape and handling, so it still required more active handling from the crew.
Period testing found the boat’s performance generally good. Reviewers did, however, note criticism that it lacked the power to drive through a lumpy sea. This was attributed to the moderate hull form rather than a deficiency in the rig. In a confused or lumpy sea, the hull could be reluctant to keep driving through chop without additional sail or a favorable angle. That was a design characteristic noted at the time, not a structural defect.
Accommodation
Below, the 43 Cws was arranged as a three-cabin cruiser, with an owner’s suite forward, two cabins aft for crew or guests, and the saloon between them. The forecabin and saloon were both roomy.
Rather than running fore and aft, the dinette sat across the boat, making the saloon feel visually and socially more open. The accommodation also included a moulded bath.
At the foot of the companionway was a spacious working and wet area. It doubled as a practical place for sail handling and cleanup and included a good chart table. The consistent compromise was the galley: functional, but small for a boat of this size and intended cruising range.
Verdict
The Dehler 43 Cws is a thoughtfully arranged Van de Stadt cruiser. Its then-novel cockpit arch, twin steering positions, powered winches, and duplicated engine controls were designed to ease the crew’s workload. Below, the clever layout provided a roomy saloon and forecabin, though the small galley remained a clear drawback.
Its solid fiberglass construction, lead ballast, and moderate-displacement hull were conventional for a substantial cruiser of the period. Performance was generally good, but the boat rewards an owner who keeps its limitations in lumpy seas in mind.
Pros
- Largest and most capable of the CWS designs
- Twin independent steering positions, each with an electric winch and engine controls
- Across-beam dinette and moulded bath below
- Roomy saloon and forecabin
- Solid fiberglass construction with lead ballast
Cons
- Lacked power to drive through a lumpy sea
- Small galley for a 43-foot cruiser
- Non-self-tacking, non-overlapping headsail requires more active handling
