Posted: 24 May 2007 at 2:27pm
Hi

I just purchased a 1966 Dolphin 24, Hull No. 78 and am so happy to have learned about the existence of this (new?) Dolphin 24 Forum.

My boat is docked in Alameda, California. She is definitely a "good old boat," and although she sails perfectly well now, she's going to need a lot of work!

Are there any other Dolpin 24 owners in the SF Bay area? If so, please contact me.

And I'm sure I'm going to be posting a lot of dumb questions and requests for advice on the forum - hopefully the fellow Dolphin 24 folks in this Forum won't mind!

Phoebemcki


Posted: 25 May 2007 at 9:35am
Hi Phoebemcki

Welcome - and congratulations on your 'new' Dolphin! Please tell us something about your Dolphin #78's construction - ie, does it have a wood deck and cabin trunk like Dave Dugan's #79 shown at the end of Yankee Yachts in the History Section on this site? Any history about the boat and a picture would be great.

There is a lot of stuff in the Technical and Restoration Sections that might help guide your own restoration and set up efforts. You can send stuff to me at RonBreault@dolphin24.org.

Ron
Webmaster


Posted: 25 May 2007 at 9:03pm
Welcome aboard! Lots of dumb questions here! Mostly by me! My Dolpin is a work in progress, sure wish I had one of those pretty wood decks, and maybe a mizzen...
Yankee Dolphin Hull # 203


Posted: 03 Jul 2007 at 10:51am
Hey Ron
I now wonder about my Dolphin Hull #79 is listed as 68'model since Phoebemcki's Dolphin is listed as 66' model hull #78. Looks like some guess work goning on here! I suspect when #79 made its way to Dave Dugin (former owner) from west coast via Georgia to South Carolina that the registration got screwed up or could Yankee Yatch's have only built one more boat from 66' to 68'? I'am still working on name and planning restoration. Good to see all the activity on this site.

Winston Phillips


Posted: 04 Jul 2007 at 8:37am
Hi Winston
Yes, there is a lot of 'confusion' about hull#s and dates. #78 was named Spectra, I think, but I don't know if she is all fiberglass - she looks it based on photos I saw on Yahoo Photos when "Sailonchap" had her. Maybe Phoebe can tell us more about her boat? 1966 was about the time that Yankee started making their own boat from the hull up. Prior to that they built at least 4 boats on hulls supplied by O'Day. #78 might be Yankee's first all Yankee boat. #80 was the sail number on their first brochure in 1967 but she had wood coamings! See Yankee Yachts in History. A mystery...


Posted: 05 Jul 2007 at 8:29pm
Hi Folks
Yes, Hull #78 is called Spectra, although I really hate that name and am planning a proper (pleas to Poseidan and all) renaming ceremony in the next several months.

Also, I have been meaning to post some pics of the old girl, but have been too busy so far -- I promise I'll try to post some soon. In the meantime, I was planning to do a major haul-out/overhaul, but began to get cold feet when I saw that just the priority to do items would add up to around $5,000 - if I had a marine yard do most of the work.

So, I am going to try my luck and do all that I can as a true, knuckle-headed novice - this is what she needs -- any advice out there?

1) The rudder stuffing box is leaking and the bolt is stuck -- here's a dumb question - is it possible to replace the rudder stuffing packing when the boat is in the water, or am I asking for a big mess (in the form of a flood!)?

2) The chainplates are looking pretty sketchy and need to be re-glued, at least. Any experience on this or advice?

3) The centerboard is being eaten alive by rust - probably will have to be done by a yard -- has anyone else had problems with voracious rust eating entire (like the movie Jaws) chunks out of the centerboard?

4) The engine mounting block is apparently straining and weakening the transom -- think I'll try to tackle this one on my own -- again, any advice?

5) Oh yeah - the teak wood on my forward cabin hatch just split entirely in two - any tips for fixing it? I hate the thought of removing it (must o' been cuz I weigh a bit more than I used to???)

6) One final question (I know, I know -you can see that I am a real newbie) - I want to rig the boat for single-handed sailing - has anyone done this with their Dolphin?

Ok, what the heck, since I've asked you all for advice (and I'm sure there will be more cries for help coming your way), here's some pics of her -- just so you can see that she's awfully pretty and in pretty good shape overall -- and worth the TLC and effort she is. OH NO! I have NO idea how to post pics on the this site -- ah well, another request for assistance, I guess.

Thanks!
Phoebe
Phoebemcki


Posted: 05 Jul 2007 at 8:55pm
Hang in there Phoebe, we are with you!
Send your pictures as an attachment to an email to ronbreault@dolphin24.org. I'll get them up. Too late to tackle answering your questions tonight but tomorrow will have some info
Ron


Posted: 06 Jul 2007 at 6:18am
Phoebe,
I am working on a piece that maybe Ron can put on the restorations section. It includes a bit (with photos) on how I have reorganized my rigging. Basicly I have run all the lines to the cockpit area on the cabintop. This would be a good starting point. The only additions I would do to mine, are an auto tiller and a jack line in the center of the boat for a safety harness. Best off luck on the project.
Matt
Yankee Dolphin Hull # 203


Posted: 07 Jul 2007 at 4:45am
Hi Phoebe
1) The rudder stuffing box is leaking - This should be manageable without sinking the boat. Hard to advise without seeing. Talk to the 'old salts' on the dock...

2) The chainplates Careful here. On my boat the chainplates are bolted through heavy fiberglass tabbed plywood bulkheads. If the fiberglass tabs are lifting from the hull this is serious. Sometimes the plywood bulkhead is weakened due to water logging/dry rot. Get a professional to look at this if it worries you.

3) The centerboard - is it an iron board? Mine is bronze and it had some scaling/pitting that I smoothed over with a grinder. Those chunks missing are probably a prior owner trying to cut a channel though a rocky bottom with the board down. It is possible to weld/repair the board. Getting it out of the boat can be a challenge. Check out the technical section for articles on centerboards.

4) The engine mounting block is apparently straining and weakening the transom Someone else reported this kind of problem. Sounds like some fiberglassing in your future. Make sure you get a reinforcement design that will really reinforce.
5) Oh yeah - the teak wood on my forward cabin hatch just split entirely in two - Maybe it can be repaired. Wood is wonderful that way. A new one in wood is $$. An aluminum one is unthinkable

6) I want to rig the boat for single-handed sailing - This is what I do on Marionette. Looks like Matt above has something like this planned for Shambles (203) - we'll watch for it. There is lots things you can do. Go to the www.Harken.com site and check out the tech tips section - jib furling, mainsail systems, etc.

Ron


Posted: 12 Jul 2007 at 11:54pm
Give us some more info on what sails you plan on using and how your rig is currently set up. I am sure we can give you some input. The Shambles project is now posted and it is a good starting point, but some of it may be unnecessary for your needs.
Yankee Dolphin Hull # 203


Posted: 18 Jul 2007 at 12:37pm
Hi Mathews
Thanks so much for your help and advice. I looked at the Shambles photos and the Harken website, but am feeling a bit overwhelmed.

My sailplan is simple - a working main and a working jib. My jib is set up the old fashioned way, although I would love to (but can't afford) a self-furling jib. I have a genoa that I will use from time to time, as well as a storm jib, which I also imagine using. My working main can be reefed, which I will do on a regular basis.

As for how the rigging is currently set up - I'll send the forum webmaster a pic and ask him to post it so you can take a look, if you could be bothered! Once you've seen the pics, any additional advice would be most welcome!

Thanks
Phoebe
Phoebemcki


Posted: 19 Jul 2007 at 11:50am
Hi Phoebe,

I Know it can be a bit overwhelming! It took me a year and a half to get the rigging set up the way I wanted it. I just tried to focus on one piece of the project at a time. I have been racing sailboats long enough that a had a good idea of how I wanted to set everything up from the start. I think in your case I would start with an overview of everything you want to do, and the first step would be leading the halyards aft if they aren't already. It really is not a hard project. If you can drill a hole, you can handle it. I was able to find a lot of the stuff I needed on ebay at some very good prices.

So, my first question is what is your ideal set up. My recommendations would be:
1)Running the halyards aft.
2)Setting up some sort of auto-helm, or maybe some sort of tiller lock if you have to leave it untended only for short periods. Depends on how you plan to use the boat, and if you have an electrical system.
3)Safety gear, such as jack lines for a safety harness. Very important for singlehanded sailors.
4)Lead the reef line(s) aft. And a boomkicker with a vang, to keep the boom up when reefing.


Roller furling, not essential, but handy for cruising. I can rig my headsail at the dock, and put it up easily from the cockpit when ready. You can also leave the headsail rigged, and use a bag set up for this to protect the sail when not in use. (I have one I don't use if you are interested.) Point is, there are other options rather than a furling system that may work well for you. I am assuming you have a hank on jib.

If this sounds about right for you, just coose your first project, and we can walk you through it. Bother me any time!!!

Matt
Yankee Dolphin Hull # 203


Posted: 19 Jul 2007 at 8:09pm
Wow - What a nice, helpful (and knowledgable!)) person you are! Thank you, thank you! What you describe is exactly what I have in mind -- and I can drill, too, and as soon as I can get my courage up to actually DRILL A HOLE (gasp!) into the boat, then all else will fall into place. I have "tiller tamer" which also requires some drilling to install (the cam cleats), and I'm hoping to get started with the whole thing this weekend, if my shoulder/elbow stop complaining so loudly.

As for your mention of a bag in which to keep the jib (yes, it's a hank jib) when I'm not using it, I would love a bag to protect the jib from the sun with. I asked around here, but it seems that these days with the preponderance of roller fuling, there aren't too many of these bags available. So...yes, I would be interested in the jib bag that you don't use -- how much would you like for it?

Thanks again - and I'm happy you don't mind being bothered, cuz I think it may happen quite a lot in the next few months!

Best,
Phoebe
Phoebemcki


Posted: 20 Jul 2007 at 1:13am
The tiller tamer is as good a place to start as any. Just remember to use a good marine sealer such as 3M 4200, found at most any boat store. You will want to use it to seal the holes you drill. I like to put it sort of on and in the newly drilled hole, and on the threads of the mounting screw just below whatever I am mounting. Bring paper towels or rags with you, it will be a little messy. You may need a second pair of hands to help, sometimes it is hard to reach both sides of the nut/bolt combo to tighten them up. The hole should be just large enough to fit the bolt. I also like to use washers as large as I can without overlapping them, and a nut with the nylon insert. Make sure all hardware is stainless steel. Be careful not to over-tighten, or the cam cleats will not operate freely. You can easily test for this just by making sure they snap back in place after you open them up. If not, just loosen the nut until it does. You will have to figure out the best location to mount everything for your boat and needs. Any questions on any of this, you know where to find me. Let us know how you you do!

Give us a reort on how the tiller tamer works for you, I have seen them online, but never used one. I suspect it will be able to keep you into the wind well enough to raise your sails, even at the mast where your halyard winches are currently located (I checked out your photos on the site). I am assuming it will lock the tiller in place when needed.

Just a side note, but I sometimes had the hanks hang up on the tunbuckle. I solved this by putting a large plastic washer on the forestay and taped it in place with electrical tape where the cable enters the crimped on fitting that goes into the top of the turnbuckle. All of your hanks should attach to the forestay above that washer.

Email me at mattbtapd@yahoo.com regarding the bag. I will double check the basement, and make sure it is still there. I am 99% sure it is, but....

Maybe we can continue this with a new thread in the restorations section?

Cheers, Matt
Yankee Dolphin Hull # 203


Posted: 14 Sep 2007 at 8:47am
You are looking for any other Dolpin 24 owners in the SF Bay area?than you may go on the link www.sportsecyclopedia.com/nfl/miami/dolphins.html and you may got a useful informatin about your question.