Dolphin engines

All 2 of the dolphins i have seen have used outboards . Maybe that will answer your question ? I know there is a dolphin owners club based in the UK as one of the dolphin owners i saw was on his way back from a club meeting . The other dolphin owner is a friend of mine and having just spoken to him he said the dolphin company name is still going under differant owners so that may be a way to go for you . Also try the classic section as dolphins are true classic boats IMHO .
Any chance of a pic ? /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif
 
Dolphin Engines is run by Mr Chapman who is very helpful and still in business. Others have provided Tel number and web site. Always worth a call if you need information. Drop me a PM if you want any more info as I'm now on my second Dolphin engine.

Yoda
 
i would recomend a dolphin engine. about a year agoi was looking at stellas and FB look alikes some had the dophin its a very smooth engin seemed to be quite reliable and still exists!!

If you find a boat with one buy it!! diesel is more of a problem in small boats big diesels thats over 20hp ok but smaller a dolphins the best easy well made smooth and has power. The stuart turners goodbut getting on and not made any more
 
Thanks for all thatI am looking via internet at a boat with a Dolphin engine,sounds a bit like stuart turner(not being an engineer)!So theoretically engine not a problem!
 
Friends got one in his old folkboat. Would be reliable with a decent service. Only trouble with that particular model is engine has to be stopped before reverse can be engaged .... then started again. Obvious drawback for marina manouvres. Could be a bargaining point.
 
I've owned two boats with Dolphin engines and both had to be stopped and restarted with the polarity reversed before going astern.

Handling under power in a confined space usually provided more excitement than the actual sailing of the boat and had the potential to be highly embarrassing. However, later models were fitted with a gearbox which meant that reverse could be engaged in the usual way without stopping the engine.

They are very smooth engines, very compact, very light - I think mine weighed 90lbs - and, in my experience, very reliable.
 
Dolphin sell a forward revers gearbox which can be fitted and is to later models.

Another really good point is that boats fitted with a dolphin can be bargined for! Most owners i met were sailors the engine was just there and useful they werent dolphin or stuart turna enthusiasts and as most have heard so often that diesels best they believe it!

Tell the owner that petrols explosive, hard to find and needing a spark,unreliable!And that of course you will have to fit a diesel, on one boat going for £5000 came down to £4200 with that argument!! Of course the boat wasent what i wanted and i was holding on while looking,on the other hand if id liked the boat and the owner the engine he would have sung its good points with enthusiasum and it wouldent be a bargening point anymore!

Dont worry to much about resale if someone likes the boat there are more than enough good points about a Dolphin not least that its still made easy and light to remove for full factory overhaul if you want!

Just look at small boats with yanmar!! They have a doggy waterpump and are made of metals that dont like even sea air!! If air gets in thats it they stink and weigh a ton, when going noisy and it would be easy to worry about the monster breaking loose!!!

The light weight dolphin is so quite and smooth its a pleasure to use, and fule consumptions very good if you dont need full power,but if you do need reall power its there!!
 
Well if its anything like the Stuart Turner I had in a 4 tonner it will be quite acceptable,wiil have to keep a poker face as I destroy the Dolphin reputation in front of a sobbing owner down on his knees begging me to buy his boat!
 
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