Dolphin 17

Summary

The Dolphin 17 is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by Glenn Corcorran and Murray Corcorran and first built in 1970.[1][2]

Dolphin 17
Development
DesignerGlenn Corcorran and Murray Corcorran
LocationUnited States
Year1970
No. built740
Builder(s)Universal Plastic Products
Silverline Boats
NameDolphin 17
Boat
Displacement725 lb (329 kg)
Draft4.25 ft (1.30 m) with centerboard down
Hull
TypeMonohull
ConstructionFiberglass
LOA16.75 ft (5.11 m)
LWL15.00 ft (4.57 m)
Beam6.00 ft (1.83 m)
Hull appendages
Keel/board typecenterboard
Rudder(s)transom-mounted rudder
Rig
Rig typeBermuda rig
I foretriangle height21.67 ft (6.61 m)
J foretriangle base5.50 ft (1.68 m)
P mainsail luff19.16 ft (5.84 m)
E mainsail foot7.00 ft (2.13 m)
Sails
SailplanMasthead sloop
Mainsail area67.06 sq ft (6.230 m2)
Jib/genoa area59.59 sq ft (5.536 m2)
Total sail area126.65 sq ft (11.766 m2)
Racing
D-PN97.8

Production edit

The design was initially built by Universal Plastic Products, first in Houston, Texas, United States and later in Coffeyville, Kansas when the company relocated there. It was then built by Silverline Boats in Moorhead, Minnesota, although that company closed in 1980 and the design is now out of production. A total of 740 examples of the type were completed.[3][2][4]

Design edit

The Dolphin 17 is a recreational sailboat, built predominantly of fiberglass, with wood trim. It has a masthead sloop rig, including a backstay, aluminum spars, a spooned raked stem, a vertical transom, a transom-hung, kick-up fiberglass rudder controlled by a tiller with an extension and a retractable fiberglass centerboard. Unusually, the jib is not mounted to the forestay.[3][2]

The boat has a draft of 4.25 ft (1.30 m) with the centerboard extended and 1.08 ft (0.33 m) with it retracted, allowing beaching or ground transportation on a trailer or car roof rack.[3]

For sailing the design is equipped with a self-bailing cockpit, a mainsheet traveler and a boom vang. There are three stowage lockers fitted, two on either side and one in the stern of the boat.[2]

The design has a Portsmouth Yardstick racing average handicap of 97.8 and is normally raced with a crew of two sailors.[2]

Variants edit

Dolphin 17
This open boat with a foredeck model displaces 725 lb (329 kg) and carries 200 lb (91 kg) of ballast.[3][2]
Dolphin 17C
This model is equipped with a cuddy cabin with a single window per side and displaces 800 lb (363 kg) and carries 200 lb (91 kg) of ballast.[3][2]

Operational history edit

In a 1994 review Richard Sherwood wrote, "in addition to the open design, there is a cabin model available. As might be expected, it is slightly heavier and has a reduced sail area. Capacity in either model is six adults; the cabin model sleeps two. The Dolphin 17 has covered storage on both sides of the mast, as well as aft storage."[2]

See also edit

Similar sailboats

References edit

  1. ^ "Murray Dale Corcorran". Madisonville Meteor. 19 October 2022.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Sherwood, Richard M.: A Field Guide to Sailboats of North America, Second Edition, pages 80-81. Houghton Mifflin Company, 1994. ISBN 0-395-65239-1
  3. ^ a b c d e McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Dolphin 17 sailboat". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 22 September 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2020.
  4. ^ McArthur, Bruce (2020). "Silverline Boats (USA) 1967 - 1980". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 4 August 2020. Retrieved 21 September 2020.