Dolphin24.org - A Website For Dolphin Owners and Others Interested in this Classic Design

A nice rainy day to reply to emails and later go check the few tiny leaks that still have me stumped on that boat!

It's been a little over 2 yrs since I bought my Yankee Dolphin and a lot has happened. I went in with ZERO sailing or sailboat knowledge. Bought her to fulfil a lifelong dream at a late(er) age. She came with an awesome slip where there's a 10 yr waiting list, I'm a hands on gal.. I've owned salt water boats in Amsterdam, but never a sailboat. She was cheap.. ha! Let the games begin. Boy have I learned A LOT!

What history I know of her: she came to California from Florida via the canal carrying drugs, was confiscated and sold at auction where she was bought by the owner of our local Chart House restaurant some 30 yrs ago. He had her for some yrs., sold to bartender, who had her 6 yrs. HE sold her to someone who had her 15 yrs, only sailed her 3... used her as a "man cave", storage unit.

When I saw her, owner was in financial trouble, boat was FULL of wet junk, mainsail in tatters, electrical and motor shot, rigging in bad shape, hadn't been cleaned in years, growing interesting "things"....

And I fell in love and bought her. It was the "potential". Gets me every time.

After filling a dumpster and stripping her down to pretty much an empty hull, I've got her back to what she was meant to be.. a pretty little sailboat back out on the bay.

She emptied my bank account first..... new mainsail, rewired, new standing rigging, new interior cushions, refinished all woodwork, painted bottom and hull up to deck, painted interior fiberglass white, new outboard.. added a boom vang, new outhaul system, many hours scraping paint off, and polishing brightwork.

Click here for a larger image

There is a dolphin on her mainsail which she proudly flies. In this time I also learned to sail and race(crew) during the season (on another boat.)This year I may race a couple with the ol gal.I also use her as a fishing boat when it's too rough for kayak fishing. She is a fast and fun boat to sail!

This season's project will be to finally paint the deck. I took a breather last summer to just ENJOY and sail.. but it needs doing.. and I do all that work myself, so..... back to sanding!

I've met so many wonderful people throughout this adventure, a lot of knowledge and help have come my way. I'm a member of the "harbor family", it's my favorite escape. Coincidently, I'm almost directly across from that "Pacific Dolphin", owned by Frank Lugo who bought her NEW. So the Dolphins are hanging together.

I'll include a couple of pictures. I really appreciate that you keep up this website. I keep meeting people who are impressed with these boats! Now I know why.