The Dehler 38 is well-powered with enough sail area to move in light air, with a quick, snappy motion best suited to day sailing, and respectable in club racing.
Hull Speed
The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length.
With a waterline of 31.5′, the Dehler 38 tops out around 7.5 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √31.5′ LWL = 7.5 kts
Performance Ratios
Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.
PHRF Rating
93s/nm
Cruiser/racer — competitive in club racing, comfortable cruising.
SA / Displacement
19.1
Powerful cruiser/racer — quick in light air, reef early when it pipes up.
Ballast / Displacement
23.1%
Light ballast — tends to be tender; reef earlier than the numbers suggest.
Displacement / Length
173
Moderate — a good balance of speed and load-carrying ability.
Comfort Ratio
19.4
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Capsize Screening
2.17
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Pounds/Inch Immersion
1lbs
Weight needed to sink the hull one inch — loading sensitivity.
Motion & Offshore Suitability
Two ratios that matter most when you're planning passages — how the boat feels in a seaway, and whether the hull geometry is suitable for open ocean.
Comfort Ratio
19.4
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Under 20 — Snappy, racing motion
20–30 — Acceptable coastal
30–40 — Good offshore comfort
Over 40 — Very comfortable offshore
Capsize Screening Formula
2.17
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Under 2.0 — Acceptable for offshore
Over 2.0 — Coastal / protected waters
PHRF Fleet Position
Where the Dehler 38 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Racer 0–90
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
Frers 38
75s/nm
Dehler 38
93s/nm
Cruiser/racer — competitive in club racing, comfortable cruising.
Baltic 39
102s/nm
Estimated Speed by Wind
Rough boat speed estimates at different true wind speeds and points of sail — derived from hull speed, SA/D, and displacement, not measured polars.
| Point of Sail |
6 kts TWS |
10 kts TWS |
15 kts TWS |
20 kts TWS |
| Close-hauled40–50° |
3.2 |
4.0 |
4.5 |
4.7 |
| Close Reach60° |
3.8 |
4.8 |
5.4 |
5.6 |
| Beam Reach90° |
4.7 |
5.9 |
6.6 |
7.2 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
4.3 |
5.5 |
6.1 |
6.7 |
| Run150–180° |
3.5 |
4.4 |
4.9 |
5.1 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (7.5 kts),
SA/D (19.1), and empirical efficiency curves — not instrument-measured
polars. Real-world speed varies with sea state, bottom condition, sail trim, and current.
Speeds in gold approach hull speed;
bold gold means near or at hull speed.
Wind Range & Comfort Envelope
Estimated wind ranges for comfortable sailing on the Dehler 38 — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.
Ghost
Sweet Spot
Reef
Heavy
0–6 kts
6–16 kts
16–24 kts
24+ kts
Ghosting
0–6 kts
Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.
Sweet Spot
6–16 kts
Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.
Time to Reef
16–24 kts
Time to shorten sail. Reef the main, swap to a working jib.
Heavy Weather
24+ kts
Storm conditions. Storm jib or bare poles. Seek shelter if coastal.
How It Compares
Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Dehler 38.
|
Dehler 38 |
Baltic 39 |
Cr 390 |
Frers 38 |
Sabre 38 Mkii |
Sweden Yachts 38 |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
38.7 |
38.8 |
38.7 |
38.5 |
38.7 |
38.7 |
| LWL |
31.5 |
32.7 |
35.4 |
30.1 |
31.4 |
31.2 |
| Beam |
12.5 |
12.6 |
11.7 |
12.8 |
12.3 |
12.7 |
| Displacement |
12 |
18 |
15 |
14 |
16 |
16 |
| Ballast |
2 |
7 |
7 |
6 |
6 |
— |
| Sail Area |
627 |
732 |
839 |
727 |
691 |
741 |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
93 |
102 |
— |
75 |
— |
— |
| SA/Disp |
19.1 |
17.1 |
21.4 |
19.6 |
16.9 |
18.5 |
| Bal/Disp |
23.1 |
43.3 |
45.8 |
44.5 |
39.1 |
— |
| Comfort |
19.4 |
27.7 |
25.6 |
23.2 |
27.4 |
25.7 |
| Capsize |
2.17 |
1.92 |
1.86 |
2.10 |
1.93 |
2.00 |
| Hull Speed |
7.5 |
7.7 |
8.0 |
7.4 |
7.5 |
7.5 |