Restorations are a major part of Dolphin life, and to some extent, all of our Dolphins have been, are being and will be restored. Most of us just want to get it done. Some of us want to revisit the agony, endlessly.This section deals with major restorations that are completed or in progress, and for which we have a lot of detail and photos.

This was one of the first sections put up on the website when the definition of a restoration was in development - and after 2 1/2 years that definition still is in development. Depending on the particular owner those stories ranged from detailed how-to, how-not-to descriptions with supporting pictures, to one simple, all done photo.

Here we will subjectively list those projects that are extensively documented. There is not enough room on the left side links so they are listed below as we get them. Let’s start with you know who. Click on the name or where indicated to go to the boat or relevant project.

Ron Breault’s Marionette, Old Lyme, CT

When I bought Marionette (click to enlarge photo) in 1995 and started her restoration I had no concept of sharing my experience, no digital camera, just a strong desire to do it right and start sailing her ASAP. She was on poppets in a small field off our driveway under a blue tarp with a ridgepole made of two 2” x 3” 14 footers sistered together, one end nailed to a tree at her stern and the other to a 12’ 2” x 4” stepped on the ground and duck taped to the bow pulpit.

Fourteen years later that field has a 28’ x 30’ post and beam barn in which Marionette spends her winters. In the bay next to her for a couple of years was a 51 year old, 17’ classic wood runabout I have had for 30 years - under going, too slowly, her 2nd restoration (Webmaster Note: this boat has left for a new life with the son and grandson of the builder - another story...).

The second floor has a modestly equipped wood shop with a half loft above. Out of that shop came Teer, the most beautiful little dinghy. For several years outside the barn, nestled up to that same tree, going through an even more extensive restoration was son Mike’s Passage, O’Day built Hull #10. Same tarp and ridgepole set up. She is taking much longer to do, but she will have digital pictures and more technical contributions to make. For her final phases in 2008 she was moved into the barn. For more on Passage, see below. And to go to Marionette click here

Jay Picotte’s Recovery, Newport, RI

Jay Picotte is the Curator of the Museum of Yachting, and before that worked at International Yacht Restoration School (IYRS), both in Newport, RI. He knows a lot more about this restoration game than most of us. His Recovery is one of four built by Bill Tripp of Westport, MA in 1965. With her unusual round port lights that Jay installed she sits prettily on her mooring off the end of IYRS’s pier in Newport Harbor. She stands watch over the largest restoration ever – the 122 year old, 133’ Guilded Age schooner yacht Coronet taking place on the IYRS pier. Jay built a hybrid Herreshoff nesting dinghy that we need to hear more about. Click here for larger image. And click here to go to Recovery's restoration story.

Kerry Lange’s Mermaid 24, Kaloke, Stony Creek, Branford, CT

Kaloke was a wooden Dolphin with blue topsides built in Japan in the early? 1960's as a gift to an American who helped a Japanese company land a ship building contract in the US. Kerry's father, who lived in Stony Creek, Branford, CT acquired her and with his young family sailed her in and out of the Thimble Islands. She was sold many years ago. Last fall Kerry heard of a black wood "Dolphin" for sale in Mystic, CT. On a whim he and his father drove up to take a look at her. Their old boat had a black hull, and looking carefully, they could see this boat was originally blue! The short story is that this wooden Dolphin, called a Mermaid 24 in the S&S files, is now back in Stony Creek with Kerry hard at work restoring her.This picture is Kerry and his father Walt standing in front of Kaloke who, after many years, is back home in Stony Creek and a new life. Click here to find out more about her.

Mike Gooch-Breault’s Passage, New York, New York

Passage was found in 1999 on a mooring just south of the RR bridge over the Mystic River in eastern CT. Seagulls had found her as well and her decks showed it. A For Sale sign hung on her starboard side. She looked like she was waiting for her restoration project, and she found it. She is now in Marionette's barn about half way through it.

Jim Kurt's Rachael K, Bucks Harbor, Maine

The Rachael K started her life racing in eastern Long Island Sound off Guilford's Sachem's Head YC. Now here she is tucked in her own cove in Bucks Harbor, Maine. We await her story. Click for a larger image

Matt Bemis' Shambles, Grosse Ile, Michigan

Matt bought Shambles in 2005. He plans a new layout to bring the running rigging back to the cockpit, and is undertaking a restoration project which he will digitally record. He races her on Lake Erie. She has a 35 yr old Vire BVR inboard that he managed to get running again. In a prior life she was known as Sunflower and sailed on Lake Clair. For a larger picture of Shambles and her story click here

Keith and Linda Gross' Cats Paws, Indianapolis, Indiana

Keith and Linda bought Cats Paws in the Spring of 2009 and have launched a full scale, many faceted effort to restore this boat. Click here to go to her

David Baumer's Aeyla Makaira , Yankee # 81, Norfolk, Virginia

December 18, 2009. David has been diligent in documenting his various projects on #81, and much of this work appears directly on Aeyla Makaira's page. He now has provided an extensive summer, 2009 report that requires a linked page of its own. Click here to go to it.