Design and Construction
The Optima 106 sits low and quiet in profile compared with its Dehler 34 sibling: significantly less freeboard, a superstructure markedly lower, and a flat-bottomed hull with a narrow stern and a small integrated bow ladder forward. The hull is solid fiberglass with a solid deck, and the lead ballast gives the boat a high ballast content that underpins its composure. Reviewers noted a less resistant hull than the 34 and a smoother underwater body, but the flat hull and narrow stern were counted against it as a trade for the lower, drier cabin trunk and reduced windage. The lower freeboard and flat sections place the crew closer to the water, so the boat feels smaller than her length suggests.
Rig and Handling
As a fractional sloop the Optima 106 carries plenty of sail area for her weight, with a 27.8 m² mainsail and 32.8 m² genoa contributing to a sail-area-to-displacement posture the German review scored at 24.9, and a sail-carrying capacity of 4.9 in comparative terms. Trimming devices are simple, which keeps short-handed control manageable. Flying the spinnaker demands a boom rigged with topgallant and downhaul plus sheets led through barber haulers, so the offwind setup is more hands-on than a modern asymmetric. On a crosswind in around 12 knots she sails well and quite high, though she lacks a larger genoa to extend that range; she sails her course stubbornly, is a little less sensitive than the 34, and is the wetter of the two. Her surfing characteristics are poorer than the 34’s, a direct consequence of the narrower stern and reduced aft buoyancy.
Accommodations
Below, the Optima 106 trades volume for her low profile. She has much less space below deck aft and a smaller cockpit than the Dehler 34, and less space overall in both the cockpit and the cabin. The toilet and galley were located aft, a layout that survived into the renamed 34. Period reviewers praised seaworthy saloon berths, a successful room layout, and clean interior fittings, but headroom is tight, a real constraint for taller owners. The lower superstructure and freeboard are the price paid for that tidy, functional interior and reduced topside exposure.
Known Issues
The original motor is only single-circuit cooled, a limitation worth noting for anyone evaluating a retained engine. The flat hull and narrow stern were flagged by reviewers as negatives alongside the tight headroom, and the wetter ride was observed against the 34 rather than as a defect.
Refits and Ownership
Optional wheel steering was offered, and the functional deck layout supports straightforward upgrades. With over 1,300 built across the Optima 101/106 and renamed Dehler 34 lineage in different versions, the Van de Stadt design has a long production footprint, though the Optima 106 name itself belongs to the 1986–87 derivation before the convention change.
The Verdict
The Optima 106 is a Van de Stadt performance cruiser that prizes a low, sea-kindly profile and high ballast stability over volume, trading aft space, headroom, and surfing for a stiff, stubborn course and simple rig control. She is a thoughtful used-classic candidate for sailors who value balance and clean layout over cabin grandeur.
Pros
- High 47 percent ballast ratio in 3.8 t displacement for solid composure
- Plenty of sail area with simple trimming devices
- Successful, clean interior layout with seaworthy saloon berths
- Functional deck layout and optional wheel steering
Cons
- Tight headroom and less space aft and in the cockpit than the 34
- Flat hull, narrow stern, and poorer surfing characteristics
- Wetter ride than the Dehler 34
- Original engine only single-circuit cooled
