Cal 2-29

BoatsCal 2-29

See her sail

The Cal 2-29, on the water

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

Footage from Sailing Solé

Is it for you?

Character

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

LivelySea-kindly

Her moderate displacement on a moderate beam gives 25 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 25

CoastalBluewater

1.85 — just under the 2.0 offshore line; her beam is modest for her weight.

Capsize screening 1.85

LightHeavy

258 — moderately heavy for her waterline, a balanced cruising weight.

Displacement / length 258

EasygoingPowered-up

16.9 — moderate power for her weight; steady, all-round performance.

Sail area / displacement 16.9

TenderStiff

42% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 42%

A capable cruiser that sits just inside the offshore line — coastal work with real passages in her.

What the fleet has seen

The Cal 2-29, as the fleet has seen it

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

The Cal 2-29 is a 8.8-meter masthead sloop designed by C. William Lapworth and built by Jensen Marine from 1974 to 1978. It is a cruising variant of the Cal 29, introduced later but built concurrently, featuring upgraded standard equipment. The Cal 2-29 has a fin keel with a spade rudder, a beam of 2.8 meters, a draft of 1.4 meters, and a displacement of 3628 kg. Standard features include a diesel engine, pressurized shower, pedestal steering, a vanity with medicine chest, an electric bilge pump, an extra water tank, and a shore power system. A Jensen 29, a related model, sold for $1,375 at a Long Beach Marina auction.14:55

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

What they go for

Market signal

Where the fleet has seen this model for sale, and the asking prices that came with it.

1seen sold

US$1,375Median asking

Sold at auction for $1,375
from Sailing Soléseen June 202514:36

From the fleet's own footage — our observed signal, not broker listings.

The record

Full specifications

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

Dimensions

Weights

Ballast / displacement

41.9%

Rig & sail area

Rig

Masthead Sloop

Ratios

SA / displacement

16.9

Displacement / length

258.4

Comfort ratio

25.0

Capsize screening

1.85

Hull speed

6.6 kn

Pounds / inch immersion

793

Hull

Hull type

Fin w/spade rudder

Construction

Fiberglass

Ballast type

Lead

Production

Years built

1974–1978

Units built

387

Designer

C. William Lapworth

Builder

Jensen Marine, Bangor Punta Corp

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.

Morgan Yachts Out Island 288.66 mSame hull family0.2 m shorterA shallow-draft masthead sloop by Charles Morgan Jr. designed for coastal cruising with a stable, moderate displacement

Sailboats at Every Budget: What You Get for $10K, $100K, $500K & $1M0:47 from The Sailing Doodles Podcast

Lancer 30-28.99 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA masthead sloop derived from the original C&C 30 moulds, offering a stable fin-keel platform for coastal cruising

FALL BOAT AUCTION 2023: Where to buy a SUPER CHEAP sailboat! - EP3114:25 from Sailing Solé

C&C Yachts 30-29.12 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA performance-oriented masthead sloop with a fin keel and spade rudder, designed by C&C for balanced club racing

Ep. 33 Interview with Richard1:11 from Sailing Into Oblivion

Ranger Yachts 29 (Mull)8.71 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 1970s masthead sloop with a skeg-hung rudder, offering a balanced 1.98 capsize screening for coastal cruising

EP#328 San Diego Sailing with Justin14:43 from Sailing Into Oblivion

Newport 30-19.14 mSame hull family0.3 m longerThe original 1968 production run of this masthead sloop, featuring a fin keel and spade rudder for coastal sailing

⛵️ I Tried Boiling Water Out of My Boat... It Actually Worked - sort of?!13:53 from Living For Sail

Dufour Arpege 309.14 mSame hull family0.3 m longerA record-breaking production of over 1500 units, this MORC-compliant racer-cruiser defined a new standard for the 30-foot class

From plastic to WORK OF ART 🔥 Dufour Arpege door restoration (BEFORE vs AFTER)0:23 from NAUTICPIOLI

The family

Boats like this

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

Cal 29A prolific Lapworth design with over 1000 hulls produced, balancing a masthead rig with a nimble fin keel and spade rudder Cal 2-30A distinct fractional sloop design from Lapworth, featuring a fin keel and spade rudder for balanced handling Cal 2-27The second of three distinct Lapworth 27-footers, this masthead sloop was also marketed as the Canadian-built Crown 28 Cal 2-24The first of Lapworth's finer-bow designs, this fractional sloop was drawn for improved windward performance Cal 2-34A high-aspect masthead sloop built for two years to optimize the original hull for IOR rating performance Cal 28Originally marketed as the California 28, this early masthead sloop features a fin keel and spade rudder configuration

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