There have only been three subsequent owners and two of them each
owned her for well over a decade. You have to see Black Dolphin to
appreciate that all four owners have taken the responsibility of ownership
very seriously. A key indicator of this is the simple fact she has been
boathouse kept since the day she was built.

Beyond the importance of proper care, there is an additional factor that plays a critical role in the long and healthy life of a wooden boat - the original design. If the original design produces a light but fast vessel, it will not fare well over the long term. You only have to poke around inside Black Dolphin to see how heavily built she is. Of particular note is her triple-planked mahogany bottom. She was built in the days when there was much more woody debris in the water. With her original V12 Scripps engine for power, she was capable of significant speeds and Mr. Grenfell did not want his boating vacations cut short because of hull damage. So he made sure the bottom was as strong as possible.

There is a tendency for people looking at Grenfells to suggest that compared to other Grenfells currently on the market, Black Dolphin is over priced. Well, as with many things in life, you get what you pay for. This boat was built by and for a man who knew what happens to a lightly built wood boat when you push it hard year after year after year. To be quite blunt, you will eventually pound the bottom out of the boat. Thorton Grenfell knew he was hard on his boats so he built Black Dolphin to withstand this kind of use. But it was impractical to build every Grenfell to this standard , was m ne you The a bit rich comment

The only way to fully appreciate the beauty of an exceptional vessel like Black Dolphin is to see her for yourself. If some of our advertising has caught your eye but you are stuck behind a desk in Calgary, here is a quick tour to give you a better sense of what she has to offer the discerning buyer.

Step into the boathouse and you get an excellent bow view of the boat. The classic wood boat enthusiast will probably gravitate to the beautiful teak deck and mahogany joinery. The first mate on the other hand will likely breath a sigh with relief upon seeing the electric anchor winch!

Walk around the starboard side of the boathouse to the stern of the boat and you literally get an excellent snapshot of the interior layout. In the middle of the cockpit under a padded engine cover sits the 7.4 litre Bluewater Mercruiser engine. The engine, which powers the vessel through a shaft drive, is almost new with barely 200 hours on the clock

Enter the cabin and to port is a small but well-equipped galley with hot and cold pressure water, three burner propane stove, and a two-way fridge. To starboard is freshly upholstered dinette which seats two adults in comfort but could also accommodate two children. As is traditional, the galley table drops to form a twin size berth.

Forward of the galley is the V-berth which has also been freshly upholstered. Lift up the cushion in the center and you will find the head which has just had a holding tank and macerator pump added to the system. Full privacy is provided by the mahogany panel doors and a folding hatch.

It is impossible to leave the interior without commenting on the stunning varnish work. It is so bright that trying to take pictures without getting 'flashback' was almost impossible! All the interior woodwork is in bristol condition. And as noted, all the interior upholstery has recently been redone as well as the carpeting and the countertop. The interior could hardly have looked better when it was new!

Access to the flying bridge is by a beautifully crafted mahogany ladder that sits on top of the engine compartment. If the flying bridge is not being used, the ladder can be quickly removed and stowed to provide more seating in the cockpit and to give the interior of the boat a more open feel.

The main helm is located on the flying bridge, complete with engine controls and instrumentation. There is a secondary helm with engine controls on the starboard side of the cockpit for fishing or single-handed operation of the boat when docking.

As you can see from previous photos, Black Dolphin was designed with an open interior for the full enjoyment of summertime boating. For those days when the weather is not cooperating, there is a canvas 'Alaska bulkhead' that snaps in place at the rear of the cabin which has a zippered doorway. A bus heater in the cabin will keep it nice and warm inside for those who don't like to be out in the weather.

Although the above description and associated pictures can give you some sense of what Black Dolphin is like, once again, you have to come and have a look to get the full impact of what Thornton Grenfell and subsequent owners fell in love with. The boat is available with a covered boat shed at a marina just outside Victoria. There are also several boathouses available for purchase at various marinas in the Victoria area. If you want to keep this beautiful piece of local maritime history in bristol condition, boathouse storage is highly recommended. Vessel was surveyed in 2010 and the survey will made available to interested parties during showings.

One last thing. There is a tendency for people looking at this boat to suggest that compared to other Grenfells currently on the market, Black Dolphin is over priced. Well, as with most things in life, you get what you pay for. This boat was built by and for a man who knew what happens to your average wood boat when you push it hard year after year after year. To be quite blunt, if you make regular trips out in the straits in all kinds of weather like Mr. Grenfell did, you will eventually pound the bottom out of your boat.

Thorton Grenfell knew he demanded a lot from his personal boats so he built Black Dolphin to withstand this kind of use. But it was impractical and too costly to build every Grenfell to this standard. And there was not much reason to do so because very few owners ran their boats as hard as he did. So keep in mind that attractively priced Grenfell you are looking at was built to a much lighter standard than Black Dolphin. If you are a fair weather boater, this is unlikely to be an issue. But if you want to be free to follow your nose when you are out cruising, you will inevitably find yourself in a situation where you have to push your boat hard. That is when you will be glad you are behind the wheel of Black Dolphin.