Boat models · CAL
CAL 39
Sailboat, coastal cruiser · built 1970-1971 · designed by C. William Lapworth
Key figures
Comfort25.4moderate
Capsize screen1.91passes for offshore
SA/D19.8cruiser
D/L214moderate
Ballast ratio0.45stiff
Hull speed7.5kt
- Built
- 1970-1971
- Designer
- C. William Lapworth
- Builder
- Jensen Marine
- Rig
- Masthead Sloop
- Keel
- Fin with rudder on skeg
- Length
- 38.7 ft
- Beam / draft
- 11.7 ft · 6.0 ft
- Displacement
- 14,600 lb
Design figures as published, not for any one hull. Full specifications on sailboatdata.com.
Reputation
Classcoastal cruiseras owners use it
Forumsrespectedpicked over its peers
Fast, easy-driving Lapworth classic; wet, dated, and needs deck and rudder checks
- Coastal cruising
- respected · quick, balanced, comfortable in moderate seas
- Club racing
- respected · competitive older IOR-era boat, PHRF-friendly
- Offshore passages
- mixed · seakindly but aging gear, spartan interior
- Liveaboard
- ordinary · dated layout, modest storage
- Loved
- Lapworth lines, handsome look · fast and balanced under sail · good motion in a seaway · strong owner community
- Gripes
- dated, cramped interior · limited headroom and storage · wet decks and leaks · original engine often tired
- Survey for
- deck core rot · rudder and rudder post bearing wear · chainplate leaks and bulkhead rot · keel bolt corrosion
- Cross-shopped
- Cal 40 · Columbia 36 · Pearson 35 · Islander 36
Thin discussion; from sailboatdata.com, sailnet.com
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