What rig and sail inventory came standard on the Dehler 34?

The Dehler 34 came with a fractional sloop rig, an aluminium mast and boom, and a mainsail and headsail, with specifications varying by generation. Original boats generally carried an overlapping genoa; the modern Dehler 34, introduced in 2016, has a twin-spreader fractional rig and a basic mainsail-and-jib inventory, with downwind sails requiring separate confirmation.

Identify the build year

Start with the builder's plate, hull identification and original sales paperwork. Dehler has used the 34 designation for different designs, so an equipment list headed simply "Dehler 34" can describe a substantially different boat.

• Original generation, introduced in the mid-1980s: the Van de Stadt design associated with the Optima 106 and subsequent Dehler 34 naming.
• Later boats carrying the 34 name: check the exact model designation and brochure before applying the original specification.
• Modern generation, introduced in 2016: the Judel/Vrolijk design, offered with cruising and performance equipment choices.

The launch year identifies the design family; the boat's build year and order specification identify what was supplied. Commissioning packages and dealer-fitted equipment can explain differences between otherwise similar boats.

Original rig and working sails

The original design used a 7/8 fractional sloop rig with an aluminium mast and boom. The forestay attaches below the masthead, allowing backstay tension to adjust the upper mast. This performance cruising arrangement gives useful control over mainsail shape.

The usual working sails were a slab-reefing mainsail and an overlapping genoa. A surviving boat's roller-furling system, fully battened replacement mainsail or smaller cruising headsail does not establish what the factory supplied.

For an older boat, distinguish three things:

• The original rig: mast, boom, standing rigging arrangement and sail attachment systems.
• The delivery inventory: sails listed on the first invoice or commissioning record.
• The present inventory: replacement sails and equipment accumulated over several ownerships.

A symmetric spinnaker and pole are plausible equipment on these boats, particularly those that raced. Their presence alone does not prove they were included in the standard purchase price.

Modern rig and standard sails

For the generation launched in 2016, the usual standard arrangement is a 9/10 fractional aluminium rig with two sets of spreaders, an aluminium boom and an adjustable backstay. The basic sail package comprises a mainsail and furling jib. Published specifications for this generation list Elvstrøm as the supplier of the standard Dacron package.