2009 was another milestone year for Dolphin with the hull and decks getting finished and ready for launch.

All of the fastening holes in the top sides have had bung plugs installed, the bungs have been chipped off and planed fair, all cracks, crevices and divots in the planks have been filled, and the hull has been planed fair. The rough sanding of the entire hull has been completed, and finish sanding began in February. Once finish sanding is complete, all of the seams will be puttied making the planks ready for primer and paint in the spring.

The last bits of welding on hatch coamings and the new deckhouse coaming were done in February. Engine mounts are finished, then the pillow block bearing, prop and shaft coupling was installed. New chain plates were fabricated and installed.

The shipwright/carpentry team began work in February to finish the last half of the sheer strake of planking and finish up a few small spots on the forefoot area of the keel. The deck beams were shimmed and sleepers installed as needed to create a smooth and fair deck line. The sheer planks were cut down flush with the line of the decks and made ready for new plywood decking. One layers of ¾" marine plywood was laid down, glued together with offset seams, butt blocks installed underneath, then coated with epoxy, yielding a stiff, durable and water tight deck system.

A new Mahogany transom was installed, sanded and varnished. The hull topsides were sanded, puttied and primed with two coats of marine primer, ready for top coat.

The bottom of the hull was painted with red lead primer and then one coat of bottom paint, ready for final coat just before launch.