Designed to sit at the performance end of the cruiser-racer spectrum, the Dehler 38, launched in
1987, came with such hi-tech features as Kevlar halyards and Dyform rigging. Performance
under sail is crisp and rewarding – at least equal to a Sigma 38 – but when it cuts up rough, her
IOR racer-derived hull is not as forgivingon the helm as a pure cruising design. The pair of aft cabins each boast an en suite heads, but they only just fit into the drawn-in after sections. The rest of the eight-berth accommodation works well, with the exception of a tiny hanging locker. The saloon is well forward and on the small side for a 38-footer. As usual for Dehler, the build quality is high.

LOA 11.8m (38ft 8in), LWL 9.6m (31ft 6in), beam 3.76m (12ft 4in), draught 1.65m (5ft 5in),
displacement 5,500kg (12,125lb). Price guide: £40,000 to £60,000. YM Test Report February 1988.