© SAIL, January 2001, by Tom Linskeyn and Bill Springer

GO-FAST CRUISER German builder Dehler gives speed under sail a high priority in their line of racer/cruisers, and the powerful, generously canvased Dehler 39 has jets galore. Designed by the grand-prix raceboat firm of Judel/Vrolijk, the boat's high-performance underbody sports an aggressively bulbed, 6-foot, 6-inch-deep iron and lead keel (a full-race deep keel is available) and an ultra-high-aspect-ratio 6-foot-deep spade rudder. The triple-spreader fractional rig is tunable (that big mainsail can be flattened when the breeze pipes up), the deck hardware is properly sized and top quality, and the cockpit is laid out for efficient sailhandling--efficient enough that even a racing crew won't complain. For offshore work the cockpit could use more drainage (there's only one scupper) as well as foot bracing for crew on the bench seats. Safety on deck, though, is above average; Dehler boats feature the most effective anti-skid of any builder; a rubberlike coating that is applied after the boat is out of the mold, the anti-skid is grippy on boat shoes and gentle on exposed flesh, such as knees and knuckles. We sailed the Dehler 39 in 10 to 15 knots of wind, flying a blade jib and full main, and upwind the boat hit 6.5 knots at an apparent-wind angle of 30 degrees in flat water. Broad-reaching, the speedo stayed easily above 7 knots and occasionally nudged into the 8-knot range. The 39's racing pedigree was evident in the balanced helm that responded quickly to subtle movements of the enormous 60-inch grand-prix-racer style wheel. In these conditions, the 39 felt like a controllable thoroughbred. Belowdeck the Dehler 39 features a contemporary look--high-gloss lacquered cherrywood, polished stainless-steel sinks, and molded white fiberglass areas in the head/shower. The two-cabin layout allows two couples to cruise in grand style, with plenty of below-cockpit, accessible stowage. The saloon can seat about eight at the fold-out table, and there are seaberths for three. Berth sizes are generous in both the forward and aft cabins, although (as is true on many other production boats) the aft cabin needs more ventilation; the addition of cabin fans will help. The floorboards are locked down for safety, and the batteries are properly secured and accessible. The navigator is well looked after; the chart table is a spacious 30 inches by 24 inches, with effective lighting, plenty of billboard space for electronics, and stowage for charts, hand-held gizmos, and the inevitable owner's manuals. The galley sinks and seacocks are well located, but the cook may wish for more braceability when under way, the stove needs to gimbal more deeply, and the galley could use a trash-can arrangement. Engine soundproofing and access are above average; the fuel filters and impeller can be reached in a seaway without dismantling the entire engine cover. Wiring and plumbing throughout the boat is well-executed, clearly labeled, and reasonably accessible. The Dehler 39 is a fast, responsive, classy package that, given the euro's faltering performance against the dollar, is a real performer when it comes to the pocketbook, too. This is a boat that, with the right sail inventory and crew, can be raced against the best of them and cruised faster than the rest of them.--Tom Linskey/Bill Springer