BoatsDolphin 15 Senior

Dolphin 15 Senior

Lateen · Dbrd. Dinghy · First built 1964

A lightweight 1964 lateen-rigged dinghy designed by Murray Corcoran for nimble performance in shallow water

Designed by Glenn & Murray Corcoran, built by Silverline Boats.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Hull type
Dbrd. Dinghy

See her sail

The Dolphin 15 Senior, on the water

The fleet's own footage — the truest look at how she really moves.

Footage from Flight Level Zero

Is it for you?

Character

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

TrailerableBeam 1.55 m — inside the 2.55 m no-permit tow width across most of Europe, and the 2.59 m US and Canadian limit. About 77 kg of hull, so roughly 700 kg on a trailer: check that against your own towing rating.Ramp-launchableAbout 77 kg of hull, with a keel that raises or a draught shallow enough to float off a trailer — she can go back on the trailer at the ramp, not only into the water.Shoal draughtDraws 0.08 m, board up where she has one — creeks, sandbars and thin anchorages most keels have to stay out of.
LivelySea-kindly

Her light displacement on a beamy beam gives 2 — a quick, lively motion that feels every wave.

Comfort ratio 2
CoastalBluewater

At 3.67 she sits above the 2.0 line — beamy for her weight, and happiest coastal.

Capsize screening 3.67
LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 31
EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 44.4

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

  • Draws less than ~96% of boats her size on file

Compared with 384 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Dolphin 15 Senior, as the fleet has seen it

Derived from the videos the fleet has analysed of this model. ▶ marks open the moment aboard.

The Dolphin 15 SENIOR is a 4.4-meter lateen-rigged dinghy designed by Glenn and Murray Corcoran, built by Silverline Boats and Dolphin Sailboat Co., Inc. since 1964. It has a beam of 1.6 meters, a draft of 0.5 meters, and displaces 77 kg. The model was mentioned during a transit from San Pedro to Cat Harbor on Catalina Island, where a sailboat anchored in 68 feet of water.7:45

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions
Weights
Rig & sail area
Rig
Lateen
Ratios
SA / displacement
44.4
Displacement / length
30.9
Comfort ratio
2.2
Capsize screening
3.67
Hull speed
4.9 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
245
Hull
Hull type
Dbrd. Dinghy
Construction
Fiberglass
Production
Years built
First built 1964
Units built
9000
Designer
Glenn, Murray Corcoran
Builder
Silverline Boats, Dolphin Sailboat Co, Inc

Boats like this, on the water

More boats like her, on the water

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.

Laser 24.40 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA high-performance fractional dinghy designed by Bethwaite and Bruce, featuring a rapid sail-area-to-displacement ratio
Laser 2 Sailing, A guy a girl and a small dog0:20from Wicked Salty
Several Under License 29er4.40 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA high-performance skiff designed by Julian Bethwaite, featuring a powerful fractional rig for competitive racing
Marie Rønningen, Olympic gold contender7:24from SEILmagasinet
Spindrift 134.06 mSame hull family0.4 m shorterA Hubert Vandestadt-designed centerboard dinghy with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for lively, responsive sailing
Our Boat Got Stolen 😡… So We Built a New One (in just ONE Week)from WhiteSpotPirates
Ilca 6 (Laser Radial)4.23 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterAn Olympic-standard single-handed dinghy featuring a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for lighter sailors
Line Flem Høst started the season with 5th place in the World Championshipfrom SEILmagasinet
Ilca 7 (Laser-International)4.23 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA Bruce Kirby-designed Olympic class dinghy featuring a simple unstayed cat rig and a lightweight, high-performance hull
Theodor Middelthon: An "ILCA Viking" on a steady course for the world summit18:40from SEILmagasinet
Beneteau First 144.30 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Samuel Manuard-designed performance dinghy with a high sail-area-to-displacement ratio for spirited, responsive sailing
Med Mooring with Mooring Lines in Alimos Marinafrom Epic Navigator

The family

Boats like this

Nearby designs by size, type, and era — worth a look alongside her.

Dolphin 17A lightweight, high-performance masthead sloop with a centerboard and outboard rudder, designed for spirited daysailing

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