dolphin 31 yacht review

• Yachting Monthly
• Digital edition

• August 5, 2009

This 1976 design from John Sharp, built by long-forgotten Carlisle & Williams, is a roomy boat for her time, built with the charter market in mind. In this she was only modestly successful, but a number were sold as solid, fast cruising boats. She was well built and fi nished, and she proved to be a powerful seaboat but not, perhaps, as fast as hoped. She has six berths including a dinette, which converts to a double, and an interesting twin quarterberth arrangement in two tiers. The galley is large for the times and the forecabin is also well proportioned. They are not common on the second-hand market, but worth seeking out as an economical all-rounder for first-time buyers.

LOA 9.45m (31ft) LWL 8.10m (26ft 6in) Beam 3.15m (10ft 4in) Draught 1.5m (4ft 10in) Displacement 4,042kg (8,892lb)

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• Sailboat Guide

Dolphin 31 is a 31 ′ 0 ″ / 9.5 m monohull sailboat designed by John B. Sharp and built by Carlisle & Williams (UK)/Rank Marine Int. (UK) starting in 1977.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

Plan A has ‘pullman’ (2 tier) quarter berths aft with starboard-facing chart table. Plan B has convertible dinette. Thanks to DOLPHIN 31 owner Ari H. for providing additional information.

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The Dolphin 31 is a 31.0ft masthead sloop designed by John Sharp and built in fiberglass since 1977.

55 units have been built..

The Dolphin 31 is a moderate weight sailboat which is slightly under powered. It is reasonably stable / stiff and has a low righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a coastal cruiser. The fuel capacity is originally small. There is a short water supply range.

Dolphin 31 for sale elsewhere on the web:

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DOLPHIN 31s

• Thread starter kernowd
• Start date 21 Feb 2010
• 21 Feb 2010

Here goes............... Is there anybody on here who owns or knows the owner of a DOLPHIN 31 ? I'm looking to get an owners club together along the lines of the Moody's, Westerlies, etc, etc. Built on the Hamble in the late 70s to mid 80s I think there were around 40/50splashed, mainly as charter yachts. I live aboard my Dolphin in Mylor as does a collegue. Our boats appear to have been built by different builders, have different interior layouts and one has a saildrive engine, the other is shaft driven. It would be great to find out more about these tough little cruisers and I know there are many more out there. Some are as far as Austrailia, the Med, the Caribbean and Florida. The majority must be kicking around in UK waters somewhere! Can anybody shine any light???  

• 23 Feb 2010

There is one at my club (Tudor Sailing Club, Portsmouth). It is up for sale. The name is New Decade and this (I believe) because she was commissioned in 1980.  

• 25 Mar 2010

I have a Rank built, shaft driven circa 85 Dolphin 31. I gather earlier ones were built by Carlisle and Williams. Good luck with the club. Id be interested. Tab Nab, my one, is in Plymouth. I am aware that there is also one in the river Yealm. Ill look out for your posts here. Best regards. Alan Burton  

• 27 Mar 2010

Hi Alan That's good news..........I think we have four boats together now. Kernow Dolphin (1977 Carlisle & Williams) Solent Dolphin (1979 Rank Marine) Caroden (Rank Marine) Tab Nab (1985 Rank Marine) 51 more to find, haha The boat in the Yealm is Red Pepper which we could do with contacting somehow. There is another Dolphin that will be berthing in Plymouth somewhere this season. It has come up from the med and I think it's called Dark Knight or something. Maybe you will see it. I might be sailing up your way over Easter, so I will be on the hunt when I get ashore..........if I can avoid the pubs! I have PM'd you to organise email addresses. Bri  

My dad just sold one about 2-3 months ago through SD Marine, hamble point. He always called it dolophus, not sure if that was its registered name. Never sailed it but did think about down sizing to it. Hope that eventually adds another to the list.  

Well-known member

freebird1 said: There is one at my club (Tudor Sailing Club, Portsmouth). It is up for sale. The name is New Decade and this (I believe) because she was commissioned in 1980. Click to expand...

Hi, Im the proud owner of a Dolphin 31, Port of Hamble & plate on boat says 031/31! I sail on the Shannon Estuary & a member of Foynes Yacht Club. Bought it a few years ago from a colleauewho sails out of Galway Bay Sailing Club and priro to that it was owned by a member of Tralee Bay Sailing Club (must check prior history). Boat name is Wyte Dolphin.  

• 28 Mar 2010

There seems to be some fans out there!  

• 20 Apr 2010

What's the latest on the Dolphin 31 hunt guys??? I have emailed the brokers of the 3 boats currently for sale in the hope that the new owners will get in contact! 2 boats are in the UK, the other is in the Caribbean. Kernow Dolphin will be doing her first race on May 1st to Fowey as part of the COGS racing series. As usual, the return cruise will involve sore heads I'm sure! Shortly after will be Savills regatta where, like last year, she will be raced hard by the team at Mylor Chandlery & Rigging..................it was worth it though, even if the contents of my house ended up all over the saloon floor! Solent Dolphin will be hauling out at Mylor dreckly for a quick bit of tlc before we head off out to Scilly in June. It would be great if we can have a Pod of Dolphins together somewhere this Summer if possible. It might be better around September when all the regattas are over??? We will have to see where is most central to interested parties as a meeting location. IDEAS PLEASE. Happy Sailing - Bri - KernowD  

• 31 May 2010

While browsing, I came across threads concerning the Dolphin 31. Its over a year ago but someone might be interested. There is mention of a Dolphin 31, (Red Pepper) in the Yealm.I owned this boat from 1986 until 1998 and sold it to the current owner who has also owned it for the same period of time. In the 70's Rank (J.Arthur) decided to start building boats and I believe purchased a concern, going or not I do not know. and set up at Port Hamble in 1978. The boat was designed by John Sharp and was priced priced at £22950.00 with not much equipment and a Volvo 23 hp engine. It was also sold with a Petter 12hp engine, which mine had, pretty hopeless,and I soon replaced it with a Yanmar. When Rank Marine International stopped making the Dolphin after about 38 units, due to the economic situation at the time, the construction manager was given, as a pay off, an unfinished boat, No 13. He opened a yard at Burseldon, Wilson & Manning, and finished off the boat over several years. Apparently it never went much further than Osborne Bay and, certainly when I saw it with a view to buy, it looked brand new. but there was not even a compass on board. The lockers, however were crammed with extra sails ropes, sheets and other gear. I bought it and kept it at Hardway, (Portsmouth) for eight years and then decided to relocate to Plymouth in Sutton Harbour, eventually selling it in 1998. I spent quite a lot of money over the years with a new engine , slab reefing, better winches, framed glass windows, a fridge, heating and many other improvements. It was a lovely boat , very stiff and dry and once the wind topped 12 knots took off at an easy 7 knots. The website mentioned does not seem to be available any more.  

• 30 Dec 2011

The Dolphin 31 moored in the River Yealm is 'Red Pepper' owned by me for 13 years from 1986 and sold to the current owner. I purchased it from a yard owner in Burseldon who had been the construction manager for Rank Marine. She was then called 'Scarlet Lady' When Rank stopped building the 31 due to the economic situation he was paid off with an unfinished boat, No.13. He finished it to a very high standard but very little equipment, not even a compass! The lockers, however, were filled with spare sails, sheets and other equipment. Apparently it was only sailed over to Osborne Bay at weekends. I fitted a new Yanmar engine finding the Petter pretty useless. Over the years I spent quite a lot of money, fitting framed windows, fridge, heater, hot water, roller head sail gear, slab reefing and a lot more. She was a very stiff boat and I can never remember a drop of water coming into the well. Also very fast once the wind was above 12 kts. My daughter and I once made Poole entrance to Lymington in 2 hours, an average of over 8kts. My base then was at Hardway, Portsmouth, After eight years I relocated in Plymouth as The Solent was becoming so crowded and finally sold her in 1998. I then bought a neglected Jouet 950 motor sailer at Port Camargue on the Med and spent five years restoring it. Although a motor sailer, it had the same hull as the yacht. It somehow managed to accommodate two double rear cabins with wardrobes and wash basins and a huge main cabin. It sailed very well and was fitted with a Volvo 23hp engine. I did not really enjoy sailing in the Med. There are, in that part of France not many sheltered mooring and the wind can get up very quickly. I sold the Jouet, 'Halcyon' to a French couple and have not sailed since but still miss it!  

• 16 Sep 2012

iangarthwaite

Dolphin 31 Was an owners club/web page ever set up? I have just bought a 31 which was extended to a 32 with a sugar scoop/bathing platform in 2006. I am the 3rd owner, she was built by Rank Marine in late 1978 & has spent most of the time in the Solent area. She is called KYLEMA II & did have a full reg: at one time. She has roller reefing & a Hood Stoboom for the main, powered by a Volvo Penta 29hp with Darglow Featherstream 3 bladed prop giving her max speed of 7knt & cruise of 6knt. She is based in Poole at The Royal Motor Yacht Club. I look forward to hearing back from you. Best, Ian.  

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General Data

See also: boats for sale.

• Bavaria Yachtbau Bavaria 30 Cruiser
• Michel Dufour (Francia) DUFOUR 31
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• Sailboat Reviews

The Daysailers of Daydreams

From the alerion express 28 to the wallynano, practical sailor examines the trend toward bigger, more expensive daysailers, and rates them according to style, construction, and performance..

A daysailer was once simple and small, an entry-level passport to the sport. In the new millennium, however, that has changed. Simplicity may still be a watchword, but the boats have grown into what could be called trophy boats. Hinckley Co.s latest daysail boat is 42 feet long. Morris Yachts is marketing a boat that stretches 53 feet as a daysailer. Ted Fontaine at Friendship Yachts already has built one that size. And these are only a few of the daysail boats with minimal accommodations, big cockpits, and over-size price tags that are filling up the fleet. In all, more than a dozen elegant daysailers have made it to market. This article compares an even dozen: the Alerion Express 28, 33, and 38 (Pearson Composites); e33 (e Sailing Yachts, Robbie Doyle and Jeremy Wurmfeld); the B-38 (Luca Brenta); Bruckmann 42 (Bruckmann Yachts); Crosscurrent 33 (Maxi Dolphin); the Friendship 40 (Ted Fontaine); Harbor 25 (W.D. Schock); Hinckley 42 (Hinckley Yachts), J-100 and J-124 (JBoats), Morris 36 (Morris Yachts), Sabre Spirit (Sabre Yachts), and the wallynano (Wally Yachts).

                                                       ****

By Ralph Naranjo

Lacking the time and opportunity to pursue racing and cruising the way that we used to, many of us have taken to daysailing. A daysailer was once simple and small, an entry-level passport to the sport. In the new millennium, however, that has changed. Simplicity may still be a watchword, but the boats have grown. Hinckley Co.s latest “DS” is 42 feet long. Morris Yachts is marketing a boat that stretches 53 feet as a daysailer. Ted Fontaine at Friendship already has built one that size. And these are only a few of the boats with minimal accommodations, big cockpits, and over-size pricetags filling up the fleet.

In all, more than a dozen “elegant daysailers” have made it to market. They have been well-received. Some say they represent the only real growth in new boat sales. Boosters claim they “address the kind of sailing that we actually do.” Cynics call them “a triumph of smoke and mirrors, branding, and snob appeal.”

Photo courtesy of Alerion Express

The dollars involved-up to $800,000 “base price”-made us wonder what they have to do with the average Practical Sailor reader. We tried to ignore the buzz the daysailer resurgence created at boat shows and in the glossy mags. Ultimately, it all boils down to this: These boats, like any other, get their “character” from their “characteristics.” Style, performance, control, comfort, and quality are key ingredients whether youre talking about a Sunfish or a Brenta 38. We focus here on todays “elegant daysailers” mostly to find out whats happening in this sphere and if we should pay attention.

The beginnings

Todays day boats harken back at least as far as 1912. Thats when Nathanael Herreshoff designed the 26-foot Alerion for his personal use. Like the boats of today, it provided nothing but the basics in terms of accommodation. Likewise, it was comfortable to sit in, sprightly under sail, and very pretty to behold.

The original is enshrined in the Mystic (Conn.) Seaport museum, but Garry Hoyt, always in search of a brighter idea, joined forces with designer Carl Schumacher around 1993 to produce a modern version. The Alerion Express 28 is true to the timeless look of the model, but made of modern materials and given a modern (though hardly unknown to Capt. Nat) fin keel and spade rudder. Advertised as “the prettiest girl at the dance,” over 400 hulls have been sold to date.

After developing more Alerions (20, 33, and 38), Hoyt left builder Pearson Composites, and a fleet of competitors appeared on the horizon.

President Jeff Johnstone of J-Boats recalls the 1992 U.S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis, Md., when a J-35 and the new J-105 were displayed side by side. Visitors could be heard wondering out loud, “Are the cruising amenities on the 35 worth the $50,000 price difference?”

“Today, especially if you live where you sail, people are realizing that they don’t need all the cruising stuff,” says Johnstone. “After all, if youve got a galley, somebodys got to cook.” We look at two J-Boats (J-100 and J-124) in the performance daysailer race.

The Hinckley Co. of Southwest Harbor, Maine, began building lobster boats in 1928. With sailing exemplars like the Bermuda 40 and Southwester 42, it achieved prominence in the yacht-building world. When it returned to the lobsterboat archetype with its Picnic boat in the mid 1990s, the full-circle was spectacular.

“People told us we were crazy building half-million-dollar 36-footers that slept just two,” says Sales Director John Correa. But style, luxury, and innovation (combining water-jet propulsion with joy-stick control) made the Picnic boat a legendary success (over 300 sold). Employing the same designer (Bruce King) and a somewhat similar approach, Hinckley recently introduced its DS 42, marketing it as a sailing Picnic boat.

The Friendship 40 was another boat inspired by the Picnic boat phenomena. “When I left Hinckley to start my own business,” explains designer Fontaine, “that Picnic-boat-with-sails idea, a boat that didnt depend on a commitment to racing or cruising, made sense. Since then, Ive taken my own tack, refined my ideas, found a builder, and sold more than a dozen. The Friendship sloop was the original lobsterboat. My Friendship 40 builds on that inspiration. But she has full headroom.”

courtesy of Alerion Express

Most American builders have, like Hoyt, chosen to base daysailers on traditional models. From Europe, however, come entries that are decidedly futuristic. Milanese designer Luca Brenta is best known for offshore megayachts ( Ghost , his various Wallys, and Swans custom Brenta 76), but hes also pursued another theme since he opened his office in 1986: His “B project” is a “quest to maximize pure pleasure under sail for all those aboard.” Teak decks, sofa seating, skin-tight sheeting angles, dual wheels, hydraulic sail controls, and more are part of his B-38. So, too, is styling that makes it a Ferrari among Model-Ts.

Also from Italy comes Maxi Dolphins Crosscurrent 33 and Andre Hoeks 36-foot Wallynano. To date, the innate conservatism of the American market has coupled with the declining dollar to keep these imports from having a major impact here.

Morris Yachts was doing well building quality cruisers when a wooden 1930s vintage 34-footer named Poppy was consigned to the yard for restoration. Designed by Sparkman & Stephens, the boat was resurrected to the point where it became the “boat of the fleet” at S&Ss 75th anniversary, a reunion that included such icons as Bolero , Dorade , Stormy Weather , and other classics. When Morris Yachts founder Tom Morris (who passed away in December) came upon an updated version of Poppy in the S&S files, he and his son, Cuyler, president of Morris Yachts, set out building traditional weekenders with sitting headroom, belowdecks sheeting, and no lifelines. They sell for “about $350,000” and are closing in on number 30.

The Harbor 25 from W.D. Schock, the e33 from sailmaker Robbie Doyle and Jeremy Wurmfeld, the Bruckmann 42 from Doug Zurn and Mark Bruckmann, and Jim Taylors Sabre Spirit round out our sample field. The last three show clearly that builders and designers of various backgrounds are being drawn into this daysailer movement.

Boats conceived without regard to handicap rules can achieve better speed. Similarly, daysailers offer a freedom from headroom, interior volume, and payload constraints. That enables their creators to concentrate on making them look good. Style becomes paramount. Lots of “pretty girls” have arrived at the dance.

Taste is subjective; beauty is in the beholders eye. For this survey of aesthetics, weve leaned upon the words of L. Francis Herreshoff, as written in his classic “The Commonsense of Yacht Design”: “Beauty is an attribute which delights the eye and the mind; delicacy of outline, harmony of proportion. The sole interest held by the eye in a straight line is in bending it. A curve to be interesting must be continually changing. Curves of a fixed radius are predictable. The reverse curve is vastly more interesting.”

Guided by these principles and a lack of commonsense, we rated and compared the looks of these beautiful boats. Highest on our list came the Alerion Express 28. Perhaps its our romantic preference for hull lines “sculpted” via carved half-model (as were those of Capt. Nat), but the limits, proportions, and resonances evident in the Alerion Express 28 seem just right. Its smaller and larger near-sisters seem less exquisite. Prejudice and snobbism could be causing us to prefer Schumachers “original” over the updates, but to us, theres a difference.

We gave equally high marks to the B-38. Totally different than the AE 28, it appealed through unity, integrity, and boldness. Says Eric Hall of Hall Spars: “I see lots of boats, and she is one of the few that made me fall in love. “

The Crosscurrent is also sexy, but its relatively low-aspect rig makes it seem squatty. The tumblehome transom and counter stern on the Friendship 40 not only echo the Friendship sloop but appeal on their own. The boats tall rig and low freeboard are a bit upsetting, but her ports, coamings, and house profile are masterful.

The Morris 36 is the queen of moderate. Stem and stern angle are restrained, its sheer has spring without slouch, and its house stops short of cluttering the skyline.

Pretty as they are, the next boats fall one tier, in our view: The bigger Morrises are endier than the 36, just a touch ungainly. Though we liked the jaunty, semi-hollow bow on the Bruckmann 42, the after part of the boat seemed overlong and a bit too low.

Robbie Doyle, founder and president of Doyle Sailmakers, calls his e33 “an Etchells on steroids,” but theres nothing ugly or bloated about the boat. If anything, its looks are a bit understated.

Crisp and balanced, the Sabre Spirit surprises by providing four bunks and full headroom in a boat that doesn’t stand out from the others.

The J-100 and J-124 have a distinct resemblance to the rest of the J-family. Its a sharp look, a look to be proud of, but not that expressive or unique.

Last on our style sheet come the Hinckley, the Harbor 25, and the Wally. Built by W.D. Schock, the Harbor is pleasant, unassuming, almost bland. It comes at the bottom because it doesn’t try to impress visually. The Hinckley and the Wallynano, on the other hand, try too hard. Faux-painting a carbon-fiber spar to look like spruce (as Hinckley does) recalls the wood-panel station wagons of the 70s. The luxuriant curves that distinguish Kings Picnic boats and mega-yachts look, to us, silly and extravagant on the daysailer. Given its minimal waterline and over-done overhangs, we find the Hinckley DS42 awkward rather than appealing.

Among the Europeans, vision and design intensity shine through in the B-38. The Wallynano, on the other hand, seems mixed up. Its “retro” reference to an outdated archetype combined with a cluster of clashing stylistic elements and conflicting purposes leaves us bewildered rather than bewitched.

Performance

Sailing performance isn’t as subjective as style, but neither is it a function of simple numbers. Though some look a bit like sportboats, delivering maximum speed isn’t what these daysailers are about. Rather, they all promise to be “lively and rewarding” without resorting to extra sails or crew. By sailing them, analyzing their designs, and gathering available intelligence, we tried to determine which candidates keep that promise best.

The B-38 looks like a rocket ship. Its sail area/displacement ratio of 31.4 is the highest in sight. With a beam of just 8 feet and a high ballast-displacement ratio, this formula for sailing-fast, flat, and under control -makes it the “high performance” option and puts it atop our performance rankings.

The Crosscurrent 33 relies more on beam and a low center of effort for its stability. Conceived by its builders at Maxi Dolphin as a day racer, it is robust enough to earn Class A (ocean certified) status but, laboring under a Performance Handicap Racing Fleet (PHRF) rating of 40, it proved sluggish, finishing last in its class at Key West Race Week. Gifted now with a PHRF 72, it has proven more competitive.

For the majority of these boats, racing isn’t the objective. Still, competition is the laboratory where performance gets refined. Explaining the genesis of the J-100 and J-124, Johnstone says, “It all begins with an easily driven hull. Going all the way back to the J-24 (over 5,400 sold), that was the key. With a slippery shape, you can afford a moderate sailplan. Working with a rating is, after all, determining how little measured sail area you need. Hull shape, weight placement, deck layout, raceboat design is intense.” Their longer waterlines, planing surfaces, and deep racing background earn the Js a spot behind the B-38, but ahead of the rest in the pecking order.

Photos (from top) by Billy Black

The e33 is Doyles first design. “Ive been campaigning an Etchells 22 for some time. [Hes finished in the money in the last three world championships.] Why can’t I bundle the fun of sailing dinghies in a boat for us “old guys” who don’t want to wake up sore after a regatta?” says Doyle. With S&S graduate Wurmfeld, Doyle developed “a narrow boat with a big bulb and controllable (no winches) units of sail.”

Wed heard the boat had “too much main” for average sailors, but while sailing it, we found that its 2,500-plus-pound deep keel kept it quite forgiving. Dodging through Marbleheads mooring field, it handled much like a dinghy ( Practical Sailor , November 2008).

The Sabre Spirit, despite weighing 3,400 pounds more than the e33, is nimble, too. Rather than a big-roach main like the e33, it has a taller, pointier, triangle controlled by a backstay. Says designer Jim Taylor, “We think the average sailor appreciates being able to get the most from the main without being an Olympian. Certainly with the small jibs on these boats, the mains become critical.” Sabre calls the boat a “weekender”-less racy than a dinghy, perhaps, but snappy nonetheless.

Sail area/displacement (horsepower/weight) calculations demand a grain of salt. They derive from figures that can be skewed, and reflect but few of the many factors that determine performance. Still, its significant that the remaining daysailers have similar SA/D ratios. With the exception of the Friendship 40, they are all very much alike.

Fontaine worked for years with sailmaker and designer Ted Hood; the F40 is a wide, whale-bodied, keel-centerboarder with a generous rig and hefty displacement reminiscent of the boats that Hood designed and campaigned. The rest are moderate-to-light displacement hulls with proportionate overhangs, narrow beams, separated rudders, and deep fins with bulbs. That directs the focus to ballast/displacement. The more the boats overall weight is used to produce stability, the better it can carry sail. Thats why the Harbor 25 (0.45) and Bruckmann 42 (0.46) look good. Alerions lesser numbers (0.38 and below) help explain why weve sometimes found them cranky in strong winds (over 18 knots, true).

We can confirm that the M-36 is slippery enough to headreach farther and faster than most modern racers weve sailed. We also have seen it soundly trounced upwind by a modern 35-foot racer-cruiser.

Two boats could not be more different than the Friendship and the Hinckley. So far, they have met in day races four times in all kinds of breeze. At last check, the score was 2-2. Go figure.

The aim here is to make it easier to go sailing. Crew weight used to be needed to balance the rig. With deep bulb keels, thats no longer true.

Getting rid of big headsails is great. Hoyts patented wishboom does a fine job-especially off the wind-on the Alerions, the Js, and the Harbor. The Bruckmann and Sabre Spirit are self-tacking by virtue of a single sheet led from a car on the foredeck track to a point high on the forward side of the mast. Morris uses basically the same geometry, but has the sheet disappear inside the spar and return to the cockpit invisibly. Hinckley, Brenta, Crosscurrent, and Doyle use a pair of sheets to control a non-overlapping jib that lives on a roller furler. The end result: No one fights a big genny, anyone can tack the boat singlehanded, and, unfortunately, line chafe is now out of sight and out of mind.

courtesy of Bruckmann Yachts; by Onne van der Wal

Sailing in 6 to 10 knots of breeze, we miss the power of the big sail somewhat, but attention paid to the main pays off in good acceleration even in low-pressure puffs. High-roach mains (e33, Alerion, Brenta, and Crosscurrent) have been proven on multihulls and sailboards to be more efficient than pointy-headed planforms. Having more of their sail power located in the controllable mainsail makes all of these boats easier to sail.

A keen eye toward comfort helps explain why todays trophy boats are so big and why they offer so little-a minimum of 4 feet-in shoal draft capability. Ballast displacement ratios count for a lot when it comes to keeping the boat upright.

In addition, the daysailers are drier than the little boats they replace. “I will always prefer the narrow boat in a seaway,” said Olin Stephens. Morris has capitalized on the S&S heritage with excellent seakeeping boats.

Fontaine has sailed the Friendship from Maine to the Caribbean. Doyle took the e33 on last summers Eastern Yacht Club cruise. In a universe where flat-bottomed, shallow-draft auxiliaries are the norm, these boats (with the obvious exception of the Italian imports) can be comfortable at sea.

Because its where sailors spend their time, cockpits have grown and luxuriated. You may bang your shins or be forced to sit below, but in the cockpit, youre king. Only the B-38 offers couches, but no maker here scrimps on cockpit comfort.

Although the usual owner of some of these boats isn’t the kind to paint his own antifouling, we can’t help but grouse about exterior wood flourishes that seem only to elevate the conspicuous consumption quotient.

courtesy of Friendship Yachts; courtesy of manufacturers

They may be retro in terms of aesthetics, but the trophy daysailers are up-to-the-instant in terms of boatbuilding.

From scrimp resin-infusion through vacuum-bagging and mixed-laminate composites, the hulls are high-tech. Getting the weight out of the structure and into the keel is the norm. Virtually all the boats have carbon-fiber masts (stiffer, easier to tune, and lighter). Velocity prediction, computer modeling and fairing, even programs to calculate sheet loads have helped engineer “products” very well.

In terms of construction, the Sabre Spirit stands out in this field as one of the better values.

Conclusions

Our first reaction was a paralytic form of sticker shock. Looking closer did not make the obscenity vanish, but weve adjusted a bit.

In an age of Wall Street bailouts, McMansions, and Manny Ramirez, millions get thrown around pretty easily. A boat you can enjoy, even love, can make the big dollars seem less far-fetched. Many of these trophy boats are lovable. For the most part, theyre gorgeous, well-made, and lots of fun to sail.

Choosing among them, we favor the genuine (like the Herreshoff-inspired Alerion) for looks and the competition-forged (Js and e33) for performance. We can’t help but fantasize about the B-38, identify with the down-to-earth mission of the Sabre Spirit, and hope that the Harbor 25 is extraordinary enough to confirm its spot as the bargain. We hate to dismiss the Bruckmann and the Crosscurrent as “me-too” imitations, but we found little that made them distinctive.

Popular boats like the Morrises and Hinckley daysailers don’t, in our opinion, justify their big tickets. However, owning an “elegant head-turner” is something many sailors are willing to pay for.

Ultimately, these daysailers seem to point toward a simplicity and ruggedness that replaces the “second home” mentality in favor of “the joy of sailing.” That much we can appreciate.

• Carl Alberg and the C lassic Daysailer
• Practical Sailor Value Guide: Trophy Daysailers

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Bristol 31.1 info.

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Not enough posts to message owners so hoping MarkSF or others might see my post. Anyway.. I am looking for something around 30 - 34 feet with a bit of displacement, reputation for build quality and character ( older ) as I'm not taken by the swarms of ex med charter yachts available here in the UK. I had pretty much settled on a '96 IP 29 I have been to see but came across the Bristol 31.1 and think it's easily as nice with probably better sailing performance which would be a bonus. Problem is there seem to be very few over here ( I can't find any ) although there are 4 for sale on Yachtworld across the pond. Would any owners or members with experience of them share their thoughts. In particular any insight into long term ownership and ease to singlehand very much appreciated. Much as I might like to just fly in and sail it back I'm way too inexperienced. But I might hang around with my ear to the ground in case something came up rather closer. Thanks in advance. Chris.  

If you are in UK, I would look for a Nicholson 31.  

Krisscross, I've looked at everything here with a long keel or fin with skeg hung rudder and I guess it's a bit like women, houses or cars. If it doesn't get your heart you'll never really be happy. I'd love a crealock 34 but can't afford one in the condition I would buy so being realistic ( I hope ), I'm looking for something with similar looks, build quality and sailing characteristics. I know it's always a compromise as with the IP 29 which may be a bit sluggish and shy of sailing windward but it shines in other areas ( for me ). The Nicholson just looks really dated and a 30 yr old boat worries me like a 30 yr old car. The Bristol is, to my eye, a beautiful boat.  

You sound like you are describing the typical English or Scandinavian boat. Should be a ton of them. If your mooring fields dry out you might want a bulge keel boat. I am very fond of the Rivals and Westerlys in that size range. Local boats are often best suited to local conditions. we have really lost that in today's global one boat does all mindset.  

miatapaul said: You sound like you are describing the typical English or Scandinavian boat. Should be a ton of them. If your mooring fields dry out you might want a bulge keel boat. I am very fond of the Rivals and Westerlys in that size range. Local boats are often best suited to local conditions. Click to expand...

I think you have a problem. The Brits have a history of building shockingly ugly boats. I bought a Dolphin 31 and love it build-quality and performance-wise. Took a little while to get over the treadmaster on the decks, but I think it's a good-looking boat. More of a modern look, way ahead of its time for the late 70s. There is one that has listed for a while at £10k. If you want a pretty boat and would consider sacrificing some performance, maybe an Elizabethan 33?  

Read a post by a 'murcan' sailor which said British electricians had no business near a yacht. Not sure which is the greater compliment 😀. Dolphin and Elizabethan not for me either.  

I really like this: https://amsterdamnautic.nl/en/aanbod-boten/102961/rival-34/ (Just one I saw listed) boats are a compromise, I think Westerlys, especially the bigger ones look pretty good in person. A lot of the sort of bulldog looks are due to the cold waters, you really want to stay dry when it's not raining and on the smaller ones trying to get as much apace below as possible. Sent from my Nexus 5X using Tapatalk  

Other posters don't seem to know much about Bristols. It was a well-regarded boat builder for many years, and the models with the decimals in them -- such as the 31.1 -- were designed at a time when Bristol was considered a top-quality manufacturer of cruising boats. The 31.1 was designed by Ted Hood and is the smaller version to the well-regarded 35.5 and 38.8, considered two of the better world-cruising sailboats around. The Pearsons were always more concerned with seaworthiness and stability than racing speed and dockside entertainment space. So you get a traditional layout with a slow, easy motion at sea. The longer keel with skeg gives you good tracking ability, which means you won't have wrestling matches with the wheel in windy conditions. All of the Bristols were well built. Relatively heavy with thick fiberglass hulls, long keels, wooden bulkheads instead of fiberglass liners, beautiful carpentry in the cabin, heavy masts, handholds in the cabin and more. I own a 1974 Bristol 30, one of the first-generation boats. It has a smoother ride in choppy seas than a big Catalina and has no structural problems after 44 years. It has a PHRF of about 215, not fast, but not slow, either. One time, the teak anchor platform got caught under the dock in strange wind and tide conditions. The marina called to report that the entire stern of my 9,000-pound boat was out of the water and that it looked bad. They thought the foredeck would tear out of the boat. I was out of town and could only hope for the best. When I got back, I checked out the boat and discovered that the damage consisted one one broken bolt. I had it repaired in an hour. That is a strongly built boat!  

shananchie, thank you for the info. It's great when you start to research a yacht that has taken your eye and it delivers by ticking the practical requirements boxes as well. Jeff ( moderator on here ) previously posted on a thread and his knowledge of the build quality of the various incarnations of the marque is really helpful. My problem will be finding one without having to get it across a great swathe of ocean.  

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Home » News » Design » A Camden Classic Cup Profile: The Dolphin 24.

A Camden Classic Cup Profile: The Dolphin 24.

Posted on May 23, 2017 and filed under Design , Racing

The liturgy of Dolphin wins and epic sailing stories are as if Charles Dickens and Anthony Trollope both owned and wrote strictly about all the Transpac victories and passages to Tahiti and Bora Bora and Block Island. In fact, so many Dolphins exist, that the genus now divides down into “schools”  of these boats: Yankee Dolphins, Pacific Dolphins, Marscot Dolphins and Dolphins made of wood. A clever trick for a boat O’Day specifically meant to build in fiberglass! (We’ve never seen a wooden Laser. Have you?)

This year’s Camden Classics Cup features not one, but two lovely Dolphin class boats. “Dolphin” and “Marionette.”  Both have marvelous tales to tell. Let’s tell them.

The current owner refitted her back in 1995, where Marionette has continued to turn heads, and take home the racing silver, ever since. Major wins in class in are found at Block Island, the Sparkman & Stephens Association Global Challenge and at the Camden Classic Cup.

This classic Ben Mendlowitz photo captures what this boat is all about, beating to weather in Eggemoggin Reach.

Dolphin’s backstory is surprisingly hazy for this usually-well documented class. 6 boats currently share the name, but this Dolphin is an early O’Day boat, probably hull #4. Usually we work hard to keep our owners details out of things. But this Dolphin is being raced this year for a most-marvelous reason: In the memory of good buddy.

Here’s the whole story:

“Dolphin” spent most of her life on Long Island Sound, and retired to Maine, when Ed purchased her. Ed sailed her on Casco and Penobscot Bay for many years. I would sail with Ed when I came back home from Wyoming, where I was living. “ Dolphin ” has been housed in a barn for the last nine years due to Ed’s other commitments (Lobstering and Real Estate), which took most of Ed’s time. When I moved back home Ed and I talked about getting her cleaned up and start to sail her again. I bought “Dolphin” from Ed late last summer, with plans of fixing her up over the winter together. Unfortunately, Ed passed away Sept 12 th . I promised myself I would get her in the water this year to race her in Ed’s memory with a crew of our friends. I am going to restore “Dolphin” to her original grandeur and sail her around the coast of Maine, with my wife and three d aughters. Building on all the great memories I have of a very dear friend and making many more memories with my family, always with Ed in my thoughts.

Boats are not only ships of our dreams, they are vessels for our memories as well. All the best to Ed Glover and his family. Our thoughts are with you.

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Dolphin 31 – This fast cruiser is offered in very good order with a host of upgrades in the last four years including, bow thruster, running rigging replaced, new cockpit cushions, teak carpet, Neptune cooker. The Beta BD722 (20HP) engine was serviced in May – All ready for her new owners! Viewing highly recommended to really appreciate the vessel on offer! Video Tours available upon request. Call 01473 225710

Additional Details

2010 – Hull osmosis treatment

May 2016 – 4HP Sleipner wireless bow thruster

June 2016 – Running rigging replaced

Mar 2017 – New cockpit cushions 

Mar 2017 – New saloon & berth Covers

Mar 2017 – Teak interior carpet

June 2017 – New Neptune cooker

July 2017 – Fit gas regulator and pipework

Nov 2017 – New pedestal control unit for engine

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Mainsail – Suffolk Sails 1996

Furling genoa  – Suffolk Sails 1996

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Dolphin Yacht Club

Review Highlights

“ Sit on the deck with an amazing view of the Marblehead harbor and let Lill and Mike take care of you. ” in 3 reviews

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“ The food (biased pork and quinoa salad with salmon)was just yummy, our waiter Drew could not have been more efficient and the setting was exquisite. ” in 2 reviews

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17 Allerton Pl

Marblehead, MA 01945

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When my husband lived in Marblehead, he was a member of the Dolphin. He absolutely loved it! He loved the ambiance, the food and the drinks ! And of course, the people! So we were visiting and had to go back! It's redone but the people and all are still great! We love Marblehead! Definitely stop by here!

This is a wonderful place at the harbor in Marblehead. Sit out on the patio for great views of the ocean and the point. This is a members only restaurant so you need a membership or have a member with you (they check membership ID's). Extremely limited parking, better to park on the street above. I had the pulled pork grilled cheese sandwich which was very good. It was like a club sandwich with grilled cheese on one side and pulled pork on the other. The jalapeños were a nice and needed touch to add a spicy element to the sandwich. I highly recommend this restaurant to try if you know a member.

Lobster salad: tasteless Green salad: very good View: outstanding Service: clueless but eager Once the management wakes up and trains the employees properly, there may be some hope for the future. For now, it's one of the few waterfront locations in town, so guests will choose it despite the reviews. Yacht club members would find better meals at Shubie's Marketplace; picnic on your boat, folks!

See all photos from Sam S. for Dolphin Yacht Club

Great food and atmosphere, the wait staff was courteous and helpful My wife and I enjoyed the food and view of the harbor

From the food to the music nights and beautiful view of the harbor the Dolphin Yacht Club is by far one of the hot spots this summer!! Yes parking is limited, but everything else makes up for it!! Friendly waitstaff and awesome members!

The service has been below average all season. Worse, the food has been bad and tonight was not edible. How do you screw up chicken?

The Dolphin holds a special place my heart. Been a member for almost 10 years. Like with all clubs at the end of the season, staff has scattered and service was meh. The lobster eggs benedict, however, made up for it.

Just ate here for the second time this season (first year as members of the DYC). Everything was great! They have painkillers and a couple of varieties of mojitos - all drinks are excellent and strong. Diverse menu with options for everyone. Had the swordfish the first time and carne asada the second - both cooked perfectly and delicious. Also very accommodating for kids. There is no set kids menu but the chef will make just about anything for them. Food is great, drinks are excellent and the view is amazing.

I thought I previously reviewed the Dolphin, but I guess not. We have eaten here multiple times for lunch, brunch and dinner with our parents who are members. Their deck is great and overlooks the harbor, but unfortunately nothing else is worth a return visit. Food is always just uninspired, as is the service. For a yacht club you expect a more welcoming approach to service. My water glass would remain empty for at least 20 minutes before anyone noticed, or returned to our table. Parking is an issue. They have less than 8 parking spaces so it's best just to park near old town and walk. I'm still just surprised that people pay for rights just to enter/dine in this establishment. Disappointing.

Food was fabulous and service was great!! Many of the servers are new and it may even be there first service jobs. I really like the job shadow program where 2 servers are being paired up to train... This is resulting with far less clueless servers than in previous seasons! Dining room manager, Amanda, is doing a wonderful job! Kudos to our new chef and kitchen staff as well! I'm loving the menu and look forward to potential weekend "features" (because everything on the menu is special) to be made available !! Keep up the good work!!

23 other reviews that are not currently recommended

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Boat Review - Dolphin 18 Back Country Pro

Despite the exaggerated dimensions of the Back Country Pro, she’ll still pole quietly into as little as 10-inches of water.

An overhead perspective of the Dolphin Back Country Pro demonstrates her ability to carry three adults with room to spare.

The added freeboard and 20-degree deadrise hull design are responsible for a more secure and comfortable ride when distant waters beckon.

Fans of live bait fishing will appreciate the dual live well configuration totaling 39-gallons of capacity.

Room for storing cast nets is provided below the forward cockpit deck.

The forward console space is home to a large comfortable seat for an extra rider to rest.

An insulated drink cooler is also built into the area within the forward seat.

Under gunwale rod racks provide a padded storage solution for multiple extra outfits.

A view from the poling tower reveals the extra space available to move around the deck while fighting a fish.

This large bench seat with a removable backrest provides abundant storage space to keep personal gear and tackle out of the weather.

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