O'Day Dolphin (Dolphin 24)
Description
The O'Day Dolphin, more precisely known as the Dolphin 24 designed by Sparkman & Stephens (design #1497), was commissioned by George O'Day and produced starting in 1959 by O'Day Corp. and its subsidiaries like Marscot Plastics, with a limited run of about 36 hulls through 1967—earning its place as an early fiberglass classic in the Midget Ocean Racing Club (MORC) era, blending racer-cruiser capabilities with a keel/centerboard setup for shallow drafts and coastal versatility. This masthead sloop features a fiberglass hull with optional wood decks (due to a mold fire), emphasizing balanced handling, a stiff 39% ballast-to-displacement ratio for good stability in breezes up to 20 knots, and lively performance in light air thanks to its 18+ sail area/displacement ratio—owners cherish its easy single-handing, tracking ability, and timeless lines for club racing or family day sails in bays and sounds, though its compact size limits it to protected waters rather than bluewater. The interior offers modest accommodations with a V-berth forward, settees, and quarter berth for up to four under about 5'8" headroom, plus a basic galley and portable head, often fitted with an optional Palmer Husky gas inboard for auxiliary power.
Construction Details
| Designer | Sparkman and Stephens |
|---|---|
| Builder | O'Day Corp. |
| Length | 24.167 ft |
The standard boat dimensions
| i | 30.75 ft |
|---|---|
| j | 9 ft |
| p | 26.75 ft |
| e | 11.83 ft |
| p2 | - |
| e2 | - |
| i2 | - |
| j2 | - |
| I | J | P | E | P2 | E2 | I2 | J2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30.75 ft | 9 ft | 26.75 ft | 11.83 ft | - | - | - | - |
Sails
O'Day Dolphin (Dolphin 24) - MAINSAIL
| Luff | * 26.75 ft - (8153 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 11.83 ft - (3606 mm) |
| Leech | * 28.62 ft - (8723 mm) |
| Tack Angle | * 88 ° |
| Diagonal | * 28.87 ft - (8800 mm) |
| Head (inches) | * 5.25 in - (133 mm) |
| Area | * 163.29 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
O'Day Dolphin (Dolphin 24) - JIBSAIL
| Luff | 26.5 ft - (8077 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 11.33 ft - (3453 mm) |
| Leech | 24.83 ft - (7568 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 117.67 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 10.59 ft - (3228 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 4.57 ° |
| Area | * 140.26 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
O'Day Dolphin (Dolphin 24) - JIBSAIL
| Luff | 26.5 ft - (8077 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 9 ft - (2743 mm) |
| Leech | 23.167 ft - (7061 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 85.56 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 7.7 ft - (2347 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 14.81 ° |
| Area | * 102.09 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
O'Day Dolphin (Dolphin 24) - GENOA
| Luff | 30 ft - (9144 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 14.167 ft - (4318 mm) |
| Leech | 28.58 ft - (8711 mm) |
| Percentage LP | * 148.33 % |
| Length Perpendicular | * 13.35 ft - (4069 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 3.2 ° |
| Area | * 200.3 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
O'Day Dolphin (Dolphin 24) - DRIFTER
| Luff | 30 ft - (9144 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | 16.25 ft - (4953 mm) |
| Leech | 29.5 ft - (8992 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 172.11 % |
| Length Perp | * 15.49 ft - (4721 mm) |
| Deck Angle | * 1.22 ° |
| Area | * 232.42 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
O'Day Dolphin (Dolphin 24) - ASYMMETRICAL
| Luff | * 30.44 ft - (9278 mm) |
|---|---|
| Foot | * 14.85 ft - (4526 mm) |
| Leech | * 28 ft - (8534 mm) |
| Perc LP | * 165 % |
| Area | * 339 ft² |
| Edit in Calculator | |
Disclaimer. Boats are not all the same -- even when produced in the same factory of the same model. Sailrite does its best to publish accurate dimensions, but we often find it worthwhile to have our customers measure their boats carefully before we produce kits for them. You should take the same precautions, especially when the data is not from Sailrite. The information on this site is not guaranteed to be accurate. Sailrite offers this content as a service to our community, but takes no responsibility for the reliability of the data provided.