Blue Dolphin Photos & Specs

• 1982 Bruce Roberts Ketch w/Pilot House/Center Cockpit

  Custom built in Wilminton Califonia Boat Yard, August 1982
  
  
  
  
  
   

Boat built with Composite Ferrocement

& interlux 417/418 Surface Epoxy

Waterline/Recently repainted in 2013

Complete overhaul of bottom surface in 2011 @ Abarora Boat yard in La Paz @ the direction of local Australian Naval architect.

New Bottom paint & hull repairs 2010

58 Overall length, 15' 6” width, 7' 6” Draft

Main Cabin w/9' ceiling, partial spiral stair,ceiling fan & 42 in. flat panel TV

Captain's cabin with head & secondary deck access 

• Large AC refrig. 
• AC Freezer (in adjacent workshop)
• Propane stove as well as Electric cook top
• Small Microwave
• Counter tops (Type)
• Large Stainless Steel Sink

Large workshop (adjacent to main cabin) with:

• Washer
• Dryer
• Stainless Steel Workbench
• Storage cabinets & drawers
• Engine access
• Rebuilt AC/DC electric panel
• Electronic system access
  Freezer small AC

Powered by Volvo 6 Cyclinder Turbo Diesel. Fuel capacity 170 Gal.

Balmer 110 Alternator & digital regulator (original alternator as spare)

14 KW Diesel Generator, Izzuzu, Diesel

375 Watt Solar Panels (5 Panels) & Controler

Inverter

4 New 450 Amp AGM batteries (Bank 1)

4 Golf Cart Batteries (probably need to be replaced) Bank 2

9' RIB Dinghy w/8 HP Honda Outboard (recently overhauled)

SS Davits aft w/double Winches

3 Danforth, (1 Aluminum)& 1 65 KG Bruce Anchor

350' Anchor chain, Type B

Elec. Anchor Windless, 2500 lb. NEW

200 Gal. Fresh Water tanks & 20 Gal/Hr watermaker (Brand)

Electric Hot water heater NEW

ICOM Single Sideband Radio  & Icom VHF, new antenna

New (2009) Raymarine electronics incl: Sea Talk system & large screen Chart Plotter, wind instrument, depth sounder, speed sensor & auto pilot w/rudder indicator

New sails with less then one season on them. Main, mizzen & Staysail. One used spinaker!

Boat yard work in LA! This dinghy is no longer part of our inventory but we do have a 9 foot RIB in good condition along with 3.3 outboard!

Interior/Has been revised somewhat from these 2007 photos

Some of the interior decoration is no longer here although the bench seats, cabinets, spiral stair & large TV are still there. Carpet has been removed & a dining table installed on starboard side next to the bench seat. It is removable. Main cabin looking aft port side. Notice large flat screen TV which is an old model but still works great. Draws a lot of watts though when not running gen set or using shore power. Note Nav station where a Icom SSB has been installed. There is also a 2nd VHF mounted here but not connected to 2nd antennae mounted on mizzen mast. Also note deck in Galley. The main cabin also has the same flooring. 

Main cabin with partial spiral stair. Note This is an old photo and some modifications have been made. Some of the paintings have been moved around, and the carpet has been removed to expose the wood floor. Behind the spiral stair are control panels for the battery banks, solar panels & condition/voltage/watt output of the batteries. Doors are access to the small shop space that contains access to the engine, a washer & dryer, freezer &the inverter. The solar panel controller & all the Ray Marine equipment (sea talk. system) is also located here.

Cockpit/Pilot House

Some of the interior decoration is no longer here. Does not show new chart plotter and other instruments. A small winch has been added to control the mainsheet. Not shown here is also a new main traveler and block system. Carpet has been removed to expose a wood grate which is easy to remove and clean the floor. A new bilge pump locations has been added here as well. Pilot house is partial with canvas in the aft portion & fixed glass in the front (3 large windows, center window can be removed) & sliding windows on the sides. The canvas has Eisenin Glass with screens as well as solid covers for storage. All can be rolled up.

Captain's Cabin Aft & small head with electric toilet & holding tank. No sink or shower. This aft cabin has separate hatch to stern deck with access to the gen set under the ladder. Opposite the bunk is a large storage closet and settee. Some of the interior decoration is no longer here.

Note air conditioner and access door to 2nd head (Electric toilet only)

Galley Port Side with entry to Captain's Cabin Beyond

2 Burner electric range & microwave which can be used when the gen set is running. Opposite side has 3 burner propane stove and oven along with a small refrigerator.

The "bar" area on port side before entering the Galley.

 Area under counter contains 2nd bank of house batteries that need to be replaced.

The Blue Dolphin is currently dry stored in Guaymas 

Marine, Guaymas, Sonora, Mexico under going completion of repainting.

 Painting was completed in Winter of 2013 when we spent 2 months in San Carlos/Guaymas area

 Our painter Francisco has done a great job repainting the tops side

 as well as rebuilding the Gunwales (water damage over the years.

 We also removed the old "wooden bumper strip that had a stainless steel band that 

was rusting and causing problems.

 A new mahogany strip as added after rebuilding the gunwale using

 all new stainless steel screws countersunk & sealed with epoxy.

 A view of part of the deck looking aft!

 New paint & ongoing bottom painting.

View of part of rebuilt gunwale and new mahogany strip, 
needs to be varnished as does the cap rail which has had all 
varnish removed and some areas repaired.

 Blue Dolphin @ anchor

Approaching San Carlos MX under sail, 2012

 Synopsis of Blue Dolphin construction
provided by original owner.

Interior Diagram as drawn by current owner

As the Dolphin is for sale here is part of a Q & A from EBay: previous posting in April 2015

There are 4 cabins with a large aft stateroom aft that has a head, toilet only, a queen size bed on raised platform with storage 6 drawers under. The is a ladder & a hatch to aft deck. The is a main salon accessed from the pilothouse via a partial spiral stair. The are bench seats on both side with the "L" bench having a large table. There is also a ceiling fan & a 42 inch flat panel TV with associated sound system & DVD player! There are 2 companionways from the main cabin, the one aft goes to the aft Captain's stateroom thru the galley. On the Port side opposite there is a small work room with a SS work bench & many drawers for spare parts & equipment.

After buying the boat we sailed it from La to SF w/o any problems but we never encountered bad weather. As we kept the boat in San Francisco Bay we did many day sails where on occasion we did encounter winds of 35 knot +! With full sails we never put the rail in the water although the Bay had minimal.

waves. In 2009 we sailed the Blue Dolphin from SF to San Diego w/o incident....motored most of the way, very unusual. In October of that year we entered the BaHa Ha Ha & sailed the boat to Cabo San Luis MX. Weather was mixed the 1st few days with the remnants of a hurricane in the South and we were met with 35+ know winds and a confused sea with waves approaching 20-25 ft but long frequency. We had all sails up for 1 1/2 day, full main, mizzen & jib (although we did reel in the large jib the 2nd day. The boat did great, only had a wave or 2 crash over the stern(catching some squid) and we arrived at the 1st port of call the 6th boat out of 160. May smaller boats turned around or headed into shore & anchored in a protected cove. I was grateful we had a crew of 7 with many good sailors from San Francisco Bay. Speeds attained in the 10-12 knot range.

During our haul out in 2010 we found a few small stress cracks in the bow but repaired them & strengthened that area. cranes During haul outs the boat yards ave used large cranes with belts that were carefully positioned so as not to create any stress. I have been present at all haulouts & in & feel that the boat was well taken care of. no problem with the spreaders.

I have very little info on the builder other then the Wilmington CAL boatyard. Am in the process of trying to find out more, IF the yard is still open. I have a compete synopsis of the construction list on the blog site: www.svbluedolphin.blogspot.com. As I don't have my log book with me I'd have to estimate engine hours.....suffice it to say the engine had a new head put on in 2007 & we have maintained the engine per specs the remainder of the time. Had a major service on the engine in La Paz in 2010. When we bought the boat we didn't receive any info abt the engine hours, although there is a counter but not certain how accurate that is. As we have a genset we didn't have to use the engine to re-charge the batteries & the solar panels helped. The boat was hauled in 2012 and has been on the hard for a little over 2 years. We have had a local keep the boat maintained (although the engine & genset have not been started). The boat is washed frequently & covered with custom made covers (by my wife)!
If I find more information concerning the builder I will post it on the blog site.

Boat weighs 23 tons (unloaded). Carries 200 gal. fresh water and 160 gal. diesel.
My documentation on says "Custom built in Wilmington CA. boat yard"! Since it was built in 1982 don't know if that boat yard still exist or not. Could possibly be found. We are 3rd owners!
The survey we have is from 2007 completed

The companionway that leads forward accesses the main head that has a shower, vacuum toilet and vanity/sink (all tile) with wood floor. Opposite this head is a small stateroom with bunk beds. Has sliding door. Forward of this is the bow stateroom with a modified double bunk. It also has a vanity and a skylight/hatch. In addition to these cabins there is also a large storage area where the watermaker is stored as well and some of the SSB antennae equipment. Forward of the bow stateroom is a sail locker with deck access as well as a chain locker. I'll draw a diagram of the layout and post on the blogsite tomorrow.

Q.	Can you give more info on the builder? Engine hours ? How long it been laid up? Maintenance prior to layup ? Thanks, beautiful boat.	Feb-21, 2015
A.	I have very little info on the builder other then the Wilmington CAL boatyard. Am in the process of trying to find out more, IF the yard is still open. I have a compete synopsis of the construction list
Q.	Hi there, Is there a recent survey, and if I might ask, what is the reserve? Thank you, Seth	Feb-19, 2015
A.	Oh, the hull was repaired by Abarora Boat Yard in La Paz MX under the direction of a Australian Naval Architect that that used as a consultant. I have a letter from him on the repairs but those documents
Q.	What does your boat weigh? Boat yard where the hull was made? Recent survey? Thanks! Sweet looking boat...	Feb-21, 2015
A.	Boat weighs 23 tons (unloaded). Carries 200 gal. fresh water and 160 gal. diesel. My documentation on says "Custom built in Wilmington CA. boat yard"! Since it was built in 1982 don't know
Q.	Has there been any water intrusion in any part of the steel members? Has there been any sign of rust on the hull? What are the hours on the engine and genset? What are their condition Will the bottom	Feb-21, 2015
A.	In 2010 we hauled the boat out in Abarora Boat Yard in La Paz and stripped all of the old epoxy off the hull (down to the keel)! We did find some area where water had seeped down and caused some erosion

For more information please contact Robert or Kathy: captain4500@gmail.com
ALSO See: www.adventuresofthebluedolphin.blogspot.com

Fair winds, and following seas!