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Mike's been busy on his Dolphin search and has now saved his own Dolphin - a special one. He sent in the following email and "before" photos - soon to be replaced by "after" photos. Congratulations!
This space reserved for Grand Finale's post restoration sailing photo
September 15, 2008
 Ron,
It seems like this summer has been Dolphin Of The Month; in July I brought Feather #104 to the team, In August it was Vicky Brewer's New Mexico boat Hull # 196. Now for September I bring the best surprise of all! With apologies to Loki #277 whose story of "The Last Dolphin" we've all enjoyed and to Fire Escape, last on the registry at #299, I bring to the Dolphin Team Hull #300! I've just purchased this boat in Simi Valley California and trailored it home to Phoenix, Arizona for restoration. My daughter Hannah has chosen a most appropriate name for what is now truly the last Dolphin; Grand Finale.
I visited Doug Pease and his Dolphin Aspara to compare interiors and have Doug evaluate my discovery. The hull and deck are in good condition needing only a good cleaning and polishing with the exception of some cracks in the fiberglass mast step. The interior was left open for some time and will require a good cleaning and some repair to the woodwork and systems. The sails are very new, the standing rigging appears to be almost brand new and the running rigging is useable. The teak toe rail needs to be rebeded and I will have to replace some of the trim pieces
I've sent you separately, pictures of the builders plaque and a previous registration showing the complete HIN as would be on the transom. It appears as if the rear of the boat was damaged at some time and repair to the area filled in the HIN. In tracing the history of the boat, here is what I know so far: the owner registered the trailer in 1984 in Simi Valley, CA.
The boat was registered to the same owner in Idaho in 1996 and in a slip in Bayview, Idaho, paid for thru 6/98. The owner was back in Simi Valley, CA from 2001 thru 2004, at which time I assume he died and the boat fell into dis-use and the family gave it away to the person I got it from. He had given up on restoring the boat and was going to dig a hole and bury the boat if it did not sell. I am going to try to track down the record information I received with the boat and try to discover the boat's original name.
Sailinmike
Dolphin #300
Grand Finale
Webmaster Note: July 26, 2011 Mike advises that Grand Finale has an EZ Loader Roller Bunk trailer. 5890# capacity, tandem axels with drum surge brakes on the front axel.
What's that's photo on the bulkhead?
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September 19, 2008 - Mike is working on his boat and sent in the following email and photographic evidence.
Ron,
I have a new favorite pastime.....polishing Grand Finale. The bootstripe to the toe rail is done and looks very good. The bootstripe is nice and shiny and all the staining and chalkiness is off the hull. But this was the easy part, right? Next is clean out the interior and see what we've got.
There's a cockpit mounted manual bilge pump, a blower set up to vent the lazerette and fittings for the roller furling line mounted on the port topside. Unfortunately someone else must have the roller furling because it didn't come with the boat. Tomorrow I deal with the registration at the Game and Fish Department. They were nice over the phone 2 weeks ago, but I'm worried about the covered up HIN on the transom.
Both Erik (Robin) and Doug (Aspara) are up for my idea of a Dolphin rendezvous at Catalina Island next fall. It'll be interesting to see how many Dolphins we can get to participate. Why should you East Coast boys have all the fun? It'll cost me a nice Bed & Breakfast for the Admiral, but it'll be worth it.
Mike
< after........before> (see note April 2, 2009 below)
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October 27, 2008 - Mike's been busy this past month and sent in the following status report on his restoration of Grand Finale
Ron,
I've got the v-berth area cleaned up today, the old cushions stored away in the shed, the miscellaneous items boxed up and stored away also and sanded some spots on the bulkheads to see if they'd clean up. They will and look great, all the black mold and water stains come out. It appears the bulkheads are teak also.I thought they might be mahogany, but they have the same texture, color and grain as the teak trim pieces. I also measured the teak trim on the outside of the hatchway and bought a new teak board to make replacements as most of these trim pieces are damaged. Teak is on sale here this week, $29.99/ brd ft. So 1 board, 7" x 72 x 3/4" was $111. I've decided the hatch boards will come out of something else. I still need to get a board to fabricate a new arch piece to replace the cracked one where the builders plate is, but that will come after the first of the year.
I've added the missing mainsheet traveler to my shopping list of things to buy. Rigging won't come until the spring but it's fun to spec things out. Batteries and a new electrical panel are on the list also. I hate to have to replace the one that says "Pacific Dolphin", but it was under water and I don't trust it. Once the boat is completely cleaned out, I'll replace all the wiring, that way I know I have no problems. Still to do is un-coil all the standing rigging and see what I'm missing there.
Mike
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April 2, 2009 - We had a few more pictures that somehow got lost in the electronic wilderness. Click here to see more pictures in this series
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November 11, 2009. Mike sent in an update on Grand Finale's restoration project (minor edit)
Ron,
Finally gotten to boat repair weather here in Arizona. I thought Grand Finale was in bad shape when I got her, but looking at the pictures today of Dorado makes me thankful for dry west coast weather. I ordered GelCoat this weekend from JDI (oyster white) so I can patch up the transom and repair the mast step.
Next are masthead sheaves and the goosneck. Sheaves will come from Catalina Direct and the Gooseneck from Dwyer Mast. I'll document the process for the Technical Section. I'm in serious "do what it takes to just get the boat in the water" mode. The rest of the restoration is going to take many sailing seasons to accomplish. Gee...who did I hear that advice from last year?
I've got a springy section on the foredeck that I think is delamination of the core - an 18" diameter area in front of the hatch. I need to stand on another Pacific deck to calibrate to what's normal. Looks like the best repair technique is to come from underneath. Definitely a next year's project though.
Mike
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December 13, 2010. Mike sent in an update and photo on his project to replace Grand Finale's subfloor.
The weather was soooo bad here today. Bright sunshine, 78 degrees, not a snow cloud in sight! So I took out the rotten subfloor from Grand Finale and made a new one. I used 19/32nd exterior plywood. You can get 2 from one 4x8 sheet. I'll clean out the bilge next weekend and install. Haven't decided what to top it with yet, I'm thinking light Brazilian Cherry hardwood.
Mike
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