More standard equipment
Its basic price of 160,900 euros (excl. VAT) places this starting line contender at a fairly high standard, but the quality is there, on deck and hull as well as inside. At this price, it will be impossible for him to claim a podium without a significant optional preparation. Nevertheless, certain equipment such as AGM batteries, hot water, a Selden mast, LED lights and lighting, mahogany woodwork, the delphiniere and a Quantum performance sail set as well as a two-bladed folding propeller are on the programme from the start. The navigation pack including the minimum equipment is essential as well as a B&G electronics pack.
Options from cruising to competition
Depending on whether you start with the SQ version or the lighter SQ Competition, there will be an influence on the choice of options. For the cruiser-racing version (SQ), a higher aluminium mast supporting a mainsail with horn and downwind sails to exploit the benefits of the dolphin can be fitted with electric winches to avoid too much force. A pack well adapted to make beautiful regattas at the weekend. To complete your program and go for a ride, the cruise pack, with the bathing platform, teak in the cockpit, electric windlass, additional batteries, will be the union minimum. A whole bunch of other comfort or prestige options are available to personalise your boat: wood essence, multimedia, hull colour, luxury upholstery... The list is long and will easily culminate in a final bill of more than 280,000 euros (excluding VAT). For the pure competitors, get out of it all. The Competition pack includes bigger but lighter "race" winches, a deeper rudder blade will effectively complement an even more slender carbon rig, a high performance sail set, T-keel with lead bulb and lighter Lithium batteries. Of course, no Flexiteek on deck, no bathing platform, no large engine and all the extra domestic comfort, but the final price will not be far from a cruising version at around 250,000 euros excluding VAT
What about the competition?
The positioning of the Dehler 38 SQ is atypical on the market. Large production models such as the Océanis 38.1 the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 389 the Dufour 390 the Hanse 388 or the latest Bavaria C38 are limited to cruising only, but with a better habitability. Just a little more expensive, the SQ 38 offers higher quality features and a racing programme that is just as accomplished as the leading top-of-the-range brands: X-yachts with its XP 38, Grand Soleil and Solaris with the 37, present even more luxurious and sophisticated models, but the price is at least a third higher. JPK with the 38 Fast Cruiser and IDB Marine with the Malango 1088 offer the opposite alternative. Lighter, wider, they are very efficient and much less expensive than the Dehler, but also 30% cheaper. Finally, the Dehler 38 SQ has already sold 17 units since the summer of 2020 and will take over from the 350 units sold since 2014 of the first 38.
