BoatsDolphin 81

Dolphin 81

Fractional Sloop · Fin keel, spade rudder · First built 1992

An Ettore Santarelli design featuring a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio and dual spinnaker options for performance

Designed by Ettore Santarelli, built by Maxi Dolphin Boatyard.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin w/spade Rudder

Is it for you?

Character

Where this design lands on the numbers a shopper trusts — read straight from her own ratios.

LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a moderate beam gives 7 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 7
CoastalBluewater

At 2.77 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.

Capsize screening 2.77
LightHeavy

68 — light for her waterline, so she is easily driven and quick to accelerate.

Displacement / length 68
EasygoingPowered-up

37.9 — a lot of sail for her weight; powered-up and eager, a real performer.

Sail area / displacement 37.9
TenderStiff

44% of her weight is ballast — stiff, standing up well to her sails.

Ballast 44%

Light and lively — happiest day-sailing and coastal-hopping in settled weather.

  • Lighter than ~95% of boats her size on file

Compared with 1867 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

The record

Full specifications

The complete reference set — tap any figure to switch between metric and imperial.

Dimensions
Weights
Ballast / displacement
44.2%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Fractional Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
37.9
Displacement / length
68.0
Comfort ratio
7.2
Capsize screening
2.77
Hull speed
6.6 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
758
Hull
Hull type
Fin w/spade rudder
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 1992
Designer
Ettore Santarelli
Builder
Maxi Dolphin Boatyard

Boats like this, on the water

Nobody has filmed this one — but these are close.

Comparable boats the fleet has on camera: same type, within a quarter of her length. Open the boat, or watch the video — a timestamp means she only appears in passing.

Saffier Yachts SE 248.00 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 2023 fractional sloop featuring a Torqeedo electric motor and versatile sail plans for tailored performance
Abbott Boats Inc. Soling8.15 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA high-performance Olympic class keelboat designed by Jan Herman Linge for tactical three-person racing
J Boats Tillotson Pearson J/808.00 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 1992 fractional sloop with a high 26.59 sail area-to-displacement ratio, engineered for rapid, agile performance
Seaward 258.15 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 1984 fractional sloop with a shallow 0.63m draft and fin keel, built for accessible coastal cruising
Maxi Yachts Racer7.95 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA lightweight 7.95-metre fractional sloop with a high sail area-to-displacement ratio built for spirited racing
International 8068.06 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Pelle Petterson-designed fractional sloop with a skeg-hung rudder, built for performance since 1974

The family

Related models

The designs closest to hers — usually the rest of the builder's range, sometimes the same hull sold under another name.

Keep looking

Nothing filmed of this one yet

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