Dolphin engine anyone used one?

[trouville]

Years ago i saw adds for Dolfin engins in PBO YW and even read a reveiw, I seem to remember the reveiw wasent impresed but it was cheap and light weight.

Is it just a modern Stuart Turner?? when it starts dose it run, or is it tempremental? And i wonder? how much petrol dose it use Phr?? Or was it a two stroke as well??

Anyone used one???

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[Talbot]

Early Catalac's had these. Nobody liked them. IIRC they were direct drive, and the method of going astern was to stop the engine completely and re-start with the engine turning the other way. - This coupled with a tendency to not start when they were hot, made manoeuvres in a marina "interesting" /forums/images/icons/smile.gif

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[trouville]

Oh that makes the Stuart Turner seem verymuch better! I suppose they were used as they were light and cheap? But having no gear box is a bit much! A petrol dosent always like running slowly i bet it was interesting to watch!!

I want to buy a fokeboat or Stella, and i found one with a Dolphin! i want one with an inboard so ill go for the yanmar or volvo engined one.

Very interesting!

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[PeterStone]

I have owned two boats with dolphins and neither had a gearbox. The method of reversing is to stop the engine and restart reversing the polarity by means of a two way switch. Sounds terrifying but in practice they never let me down. My first Dolphin was fitted in a boat that weighed 9,500lbs and it's 12hp pushed her along surprisingly well.

My second boat to have this engine was an Invicta which had lain idle for a number of years. The Dolphin, at 90lbs, was light enough for me to put into the boot of my car and drive down to Bodmin, where I had it overhauled. I stayed while it was put on the test bench and connected up and I was astonished that it fired up immediately.

I've never owned a boat with a Stuart Turner but from what I've heard from those that have it's nowhere near as reliable. Curious to hear Talbot refer to a problem with warm starting - never found that to be the case with the Dolphin. Incidentally, the later models came with a gearbox, so it's worth checking that out if you are interested.

The electrics panel is probably the one item that needs thought when installing or overhauling. It needs to be kept in a reasonably dry place. The engine takes up very little space compared with a similarly powered diesel and runs particularly smoothly. I have nothing but praise for them but maybe I was lucky.

My present boat has a diesel engine and I have to admit to feeling safer but not sure if that's valid. After all I've got bottled gas on board and that doesn't cause sleepless nights.




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[Spuddy]

I spent a weekend on a folkboat with one of these.
Far too nerveracking in Boulogne marina trying to berth without any reverse at all.
Then it went on the blink going into the East Swale with a head wind. So I was tacking in with my legs astride the cockpit while the owner delved head down. Turned out to be a fuel problem.
While that was going on two bastard jetskiers zoomed around and skidded a load of water over me, Jim and the engine.
At least the old Stuart Turner had a reverse even if it was as unreliable.
I thought these Dolphins were a hangover from having the lightest possible in your ocean racer.
Not with the proverbiable for me but probably wonderful for somebody raised with BSA Bantams.

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[PeterStone]

<I thought these Dolphins were a hangover from having the lightest possible in your ocean racer.>

You're probably right - it was certainly the case with my first boat, a Van de Stadt Sprinter, which had been raced competitively by the previous owner. With the Invicta - a folkboat type - I suspect it's compactness was as important as the weight. Also, at the time that this engine was commonly fitted - in the 60s - there wasn't the same aversion to petrol.

I certainly wouldn't go back to one now but I did rate the engine highly from a reliability point of view and with a gearbox as an option on the later models I wouldn't necessarily dismiss a boat that had one fitted.





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[trouville]

Any one know aproxamatly how much petrol they use and the oil mix??

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[Talbot]

If you are looking at a Folkboat, also have a look at a SCOD, a Folkdancer, and a Vega.

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[trouville]

folkdancer i dont know that but i had an east coast SCOD , i want the folkboat becouse i dont want a raised dog house nor head room! really then ill just stay aboard my hillyard.

Im off to look at a folkdancer (if i can find one on-line!)

Thanks

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[Talbot]

Try <A target="_blank" HREF=http://web.ukonline.co.uk/clarissa/F27OC.htm>here</A> for details of the Folkdancer.

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[trouville]

That looks reall nice! now im going look a bit more

Thanks

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[Talbot]

Yes agree that the dolphins were one of the smallest engines around until the 1GM Yanmar made its debut. Shortly thereafter the need for the short installation was solved in a different way - by the introduction of the saildrives.

Delighted that you didnt have any problems with yours, perhaps I was mislead by a couple of owners who had had problems, or maybe you were lucky

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[PeterStone]

Everything you need to know is here <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.dolphinengines.co.uk/index.htm>dolphin</A>

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[Spuddy]

Now, my project is a Folkdancer. Rigged different from a proper folkboat -- it's masthead, so bigger foretriangle, and seems to have smaller main. Quite a long cockpit plus a sort of counter added at the back so that's opportunities for accommodation lost but the gain is loads of storage plus good engine access.
I think some were home completed so layout and standard of joinery varies.
I had some leaks plus a damaged rudder also osmosis but who cares at that price.
Clarissa ( at the website above) emailed that she'd sailed hers from the Gambia to Canaries - and had also got down that way from Bristol presumably.
Folksong is another plastic folkboat. I had a brief potter on an Invicta which was a Van der Stadt design and really took my fancy.


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[trouville]

Great that was just what i needed. seems dolphin only introduced the hurth gear box in 1986. I had a hurth on my ECOD which within an year striped its cluch as i let the prop freewheel i was told! Luckly it gave up on the way back from antifouling and there was enough wind to sail home.
I think id prefer a stuart turner that used to run at 8oorpm against the 2000rpm of the dolphin. I even wished id fixed the head gasket on the ST to fitting a mitsubishi 2 cylinder diesel.!! Oh well

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[PeterStone]

The Invicta is a superb sailing boat but has been put in the shade by the better known Contessa 26. It's a shame because Tylers moulded the Invicta to very high standards. The hull has a prettier sheer than the Contessa and combined with the stepped coachroof offers better headroom.

The downside is that many were either fitted out by amateurs or various boatyards. Tylers only ever constructed the hull and deck and bonded in the main bulkheads, water and fuel tanks and fitted the ballast. This ensured that the boats were structurally sound but the cosmetics may be a different story.

I kept mine for about 10 years (with the Dolphin) and only sold her because I wanted a boat with more space and headroom.

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[Kurrawong_Kid]

I had a Dolphin in an Elizabethan 30-never gave any serious trouble once I fitted their alternator kit to keep the batteries up. I found stopping and restarting the engine for reverse was no slower than selecting reverse gear in my next boat with a two lever control. Presently I have single lever control and this is much more convenient and quicker. I used to lift the engine out each winter by hand and take it home to paint so the engine bilges were cleaned each winter and we had a very sweet smelling ship! But petrol is now becoming harder to obtain at the waterside!

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[jabiru]

I have a 23ft islander which I am doing up. My next big move is to replace the old Dolphin engine as we have decided that the bearings have gone. I have ummed and ahhed about replacing this with a like for like. In the spring I will be getting a reconditioned exchange unit from Dolphin in Bodmin for £1250 (add 17.5% tax). At the moment my control panel is packed and ready to be sent down to see if it is worth saving. A replacement is £250. This unit has the dynastart and a centrifugal clutch.
I would have considered replacing with a diesel but for the following reasons.
1. I am at a pontoon until April when I must return to my exposed mooring.
2. I must replace my seacocks before installing, consequently I must dry on a Spring tide
3. The Recon engine allows me to plug in the replacement without re-engineering
4. Cost, the nearest diesel is £2000+ then there is installation, the cheapest quoted at £1000+.
5. The previous owner, a bit of a neglectful sod, assures me he had no problems at all with the engine. I bought the boat cheaply, warts and all so I have no reason to disbelieve him.

I am reassure by this discussion, I suppose the matter of switching the engine off and on to reverse depends at what pace mavoevering around the marina you take. But then I am on a buoy, my desire is reliability getting in and out of Portsmouth Harbour.

Cheers

Charles

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