Dehler 38 (Judel/Vrolijk)
Description
The Dehler 38 is a German sailboat designed by the acclaimed firm Judel/Vrolijk as a versatile performance cruiser-racer, blending competitive speed for club racing with comfortable accommodations for family coastal cruising and short offshore passages on lakes or protected waters. Introduced in 2013 by Dehler Yachts in Germany, it revives the Dehler 38 name (from the 1980s van de Stadt SQ model) with a modern hull optimized for agility, featuring a fiberglass monohull with a fin keel (bulb optional) and spade rudder for responsive upwind handling, a wide beam with chines for stability, and a fractional sloop rig for efficient sail trim and excellent light-air performance. The design emphasizes lightweight construction for quick acceleration, a low displacement/length ratio for planing potential, and a high ballast ratio for stiffness in gusts, with a comfort ratio suitable for extended weekends. Production continues as of 2025, with over 100 units built, targeting modern sailors seeking a "proven race winner with cruising options" during the post-recession cruiser-racer surge. Contemporary reviews, such as Yachting World's 2013 test, praised its "impressive performance" and value as a "fast yet civilized" yacht, noting its forgiving nature for shorthanded use and optional square-head mainsail (SQ) for enhanced power.
Construction Details
| Designer | Judel/Vrolijk |
|---|---|
| Builder | Dehler Yachts |
| Length | 38.000 ft |
| LOA | 38.000 ft |
| LWL | 33.000 ft |
| Beam | 12.500 ft |
| Displacement | 16535 lb |
| Ballast | 5952 lb |
| Max Draft | 6.500 ft |
| Year Built | 2013 |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 52.10 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 13.50 ft |
| p | 46.50 ft |
| e | 16.70 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52.10 ft | 13.50 ft | 46.50 ft | 16.70 ft | - | - | - | - |
Sails
Dehler 38 (Judel/Vrolijk) - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 46.5 ft - (14173 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 16.7 ft - (5090 mm) |
| Leech | * 48.58 ft - (14807 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88 ° |
| Diagonal | * 48.86 ft - (14893 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 6 in - (152 mm) |
| Area | * 398.13 ft² |
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Dehler 38 (Judel/Vrolijk) - JIBSAIL
| Luff | * 43.06 ft - (13125 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 17.35 ft - (5288 mm) |
| Leech | * 38.56 ft - (11753 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 114.96 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 15.52 ft - (4730 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 12.04 ° |
| Area | * 334.1 ft² |
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Dehler 38 (Judel/Vrolijk) - GENOA
| Luff | * 51.13 ft - (15584 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 21.36 ft - (6511 mm) |
| Leech | * 48.74 ft - (14856 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 20.25 ft - (6172 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4.02 ° |
| Area | * 517.69 ft² |
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Dehler 38 (Judel/Vrolijk) - DRIFTER
| Luff | * 51.13 ft - (15584 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 22.09 ft - (6733 mm) |
| Leech | * 46.9 ft - (14295 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 150 % |
| Length Perp | * 20.25 ft - (6172 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 9.03 ° |
| Area | * 517.69 ft² |
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Dehler 38 (Judel/Vrolijk) - ASYMMETRICAL
| Luff | * 51.13 ft - (15584 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 22.28 ft - (6791 mm) |
| Leech | * 47.04 ft - (14338 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 165 % |
| Area | * 854 ft² |
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Dehler 38 (Judel/Vrolijk) - SPINNAKER
| Stays | * 51.13 ft - (15584 mm) |
|---|---|
| MidGirth | * 24.3 ft - (7407 mm) |
| Foot | * 24.3 ft - (7407 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 180 % |
| Area | * 1056 ft² |
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Dehler 38 (Judel/Vrolijk) - STORMJIB
| Luff | * 29.6 ft - (9022 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 9.72 ft - (2963 mm) |
| Leech | * 25.55 ft - (7788 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 60 % |
| Length Perp | * 8.1 ft - (2469 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 19 ° |
| Area | * 119.92 ft² |
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Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite. The information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Sailrite offers this content as a service to our community, but takes no responsibility for the reliability of the data provided.