2008 was another very productive year of significant work on Dolphin. It began with fitting and replacing the 18-24" wide steel plates all along the tops of the frame ends under the covering board at the sheer line. Steel sheer clamp reinforcing plates were added stiffening the vertical dimension of the frame end connection. The sheer plates and clamp were fitted and welded into place, then ground, treated with phosphoric acid, wire brushed and then painted with two coats of self priming marine epoxy coating. A new access hatch forward of the winch was fabricated providing access to the chain locker.

Meanwhile, all of the teak deck planks and pine sub-decking were removed, saving the teak for later reuse. Removing the decks exposed all of the remaining rusted away steel deck beams, hatch coamings and diagonal braces that were cut out and replaced with new steel. The deck beams, diagonals and coamings were ground, treated, wire brushed and painted.

A team of shipwrights and carpenters was engaged to replace the keel deadwood, replace the horn timber, repair the stem and begin planking the hull. By the end of the year all of the planking was complete except for less than half of the last sheer strake at the deck.
The planks were fastened and caulked, faired and ready for bungs, sanding and putty.

The bronze prop shaft was removed and determined to be in good condition, so the coupling was removed and the shaft made ready to reinstall. The shaft log was reamed out, cleaned and made like new. The shaft was reinstalled with a new shaft seal and a mounting pad for the center pillow block bearing was fabricated. The shaft was then re-installed in the log, ready for the bearing and coupling. The engine mounts were laid out, fabricated and welded in place in the engine beds.

All in all it was a very productive and successful year of tasks accomplished