“The driving experience of this boat is phenomenal”


...was what Motor Boat and Yachting said about our DALE 23 when they got behind the helm for the first time.

But without wishing to blow our own trumpets too much, that was exactly what we set out for it to be. Together with TT boat designs we worked tirelessly, pulling on all the experience of five decades of building boats with the finest of sea-keeping reputations, to create a unique high speed boat with the very highest level of secure sea-keeping, stunning performance and the most exhilarating handling.

Now we’re turning everything we know and everything we learned from the DALE 23 towards three new and very bespoke high
performance models, the DALE D34, the DALE Nelson 34 Open and the DALE Classic 34...

DALE D34

This boat perfectly illustrates the DALE way of approaching a truly bespoke build – some ‘bespoke’ builds start from a production boat with adapted layouts or finishes, but when we say ‘truly’ bespoke we mean we started with nothing more than a blank sheet of paper.

For the owner, this exciting phase of the build has been a familiar one – his previous boat was ‘Dynamic’, our first ever Classic 45, built to his exact tastes and requirements.

This time round having been ‘wowed’ by the abilities of the 23, the brief was for the same levels of performance and handling with ‘classic’ styling and day boat accommodation (with the possibility of occasional overnighting) – particularly with generous head room for a tall family.

The fact that the boat will have a DALE badge on the side is enough to ensure the highest standards of build, fit out and finish.

The starting point was the hull – to achieve the primary objective of this boat, all the lessons learned on our highest performing full planing hull have been brought into play. Everything from then on – the superstructure, accommodation and styling – has been carefully thought out so as not to compromise any aspect of the hull’s abilities, but at the same time of course, designed to meet the owner’s requirements.

At the moment this project is at the 2D sketch stage and will soon move into 3D computer modelling to allow us and the owner to get a better feel of the shape and internal layout and to see how everything marries together. We will then move on with the owner to decide on fit out details, materials, colours and finishes, but the one thing we can guarantee before we even start is that every detail will be built with ‘the difference that is DALE.’

DALE D34 at a glance

  • 34ft (10.4m) full planing hull but with the benetits of fine entry forward hull sections
  • Also available with 33ft hull (shortened cockpit) and 35ft hull (extended cockpit) - see images at the top of the page
  • DALE 23 levels of exhilarating handling with ‘Nelson’ levels of sea-keeping and ride
  • Single engine installation from 150hp – 370hp or twin engine installation from 2 x 150hp – 2 x 260hp
  • Anticipated performance of 35 knots+
  • Options for open backed or enclosed wheelhouse
  • To berth forward accommodation with heads, shower and galley
  • Sociable cockpit layout with ample seating and table

More news and more images will be added to this page as the design develops so please come back regularly.

Looking for your own bespoke build?– We can design and build any leisure or commercial vessel up to 65ft (20m).

Contact Mike Reynolds on 01646 603112 or 07879 481717 or e-mail: info@dalenelson.co.uk