Cal 28

BoatsCal 28

See her sail

The Cal 28, on the water

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

Footage from Lady K Sailing

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 21 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 21

CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 1.98

LightHeavy

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

Displacement / length 235

EasygoingPowered-up

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

Sail area / displacement 17.1

TenderStiff

37% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 37%

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

What the fleet has seen

The Cal 28, as the fleet has seen it

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

The Cal 28 is a masthead sloop designed by C. W. Lapworth and built by Jensen Marine and Calgan Marine Ltd. from 1963 to 1969. It was one of the first CAL models, originally named the CALIFORNIA 28, and features a fin keel with a spade rudder. The boat measures 8.5 meters LOA, with a 2.7-meter beam, 1.4-meter draft, and 2721 kg displacement. A Universal Atomic 4 gas inboard with V-Drive was an optional engine.11:54 Aboard *Lady K Sailing*, the Cal 28 is noted as a small, affordable sailboat suitable for full-time living, often selling for under $10,000.3:33 Solo cruisers benefit from features like dedicated heads and roller furling.9:46 Diesel engines are preferred over older Atomic 4 gasoline engines due to fuel odor and explosion risks.5:11 Buyers should inspect the hull for sound decks and check for keel-to-hull joint separation, known as the "Catalina Smile."12:37 Wheel steering simplifies solo cruising by allowing the helm to be locked for short tasks.7:02

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 for sale

US$16,000Median asking

A specific Cal 28 is listed for $16,000, but others can be found for under $10,000
from Lady K Sailingseen December 2023watch

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

36.7%

Rig & sail area

Rig

Masthead Sloop

Ratios

SA / displacement

17.1

Displacement / length

235.2

Comfort ratio

20.6

Capsize screening

1.98

Hull speed

6.4 kn

Pounds / inch immersion

724

Hull

Hull type

Fin w/spade rudder

Construction

Fiberglass

Ballast type

Lead

Production

Years built

1963–1969

Units built

347

Designer

C. W. Lapworth

Builder

Jensen Marine, Calgan Marine Ltd

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.

San Juan 288.74 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA 1977 masthead sloop with a 50% ballast ratio and fin keel, designed for balanced performance in a compact 28-foot hull

A little bonus episode14:04 from Sailing Magic Carpet

Maxi Yachts 848.54 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 8.5-metre fin-keeler with a 45% ballast ratio, offering a stiff and stable platform for coastal sailing

Measuring sails for a Maxi 84 yacht0:42 from practicalboatowner

Ranger Yachts 29 (Mull)8.71 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA 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

Jeanneau Aquila 278.70 mSame hull family0.2 m longerA Philippe H. Harle-designed masthead sloop offered in both standard and deep-keel Regatta configurations

Sailing Savvy: How to Build a Winning Team with Jon Sverre Høiden12:45 from SEILmagasinet

Bristol Yachts 288.53 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthAn IOR Half Ton racer with reduced stern overhang, serving as the performance-oriented predecessor to the Bristol 29.9

TOP 3 Small Sailboats You Can Sail AROUND THE WORLD! Ep 331 - Lady K sailing10:23 from Lady K Sailing

Maxi Yachts Fenix 8.58.50 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 1980s cruiser with a 1.5-metre bulb keel and spade rudder, designed for a balanced, stable coastal experience

Tone 2.0: Sailing towards the roots in the north for a new start | Bearing on Sailing8:37 from SEILmagasinet

The family

Boats like this

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

Cal 27The original of three distinct Lapworth designs, this masthead sloop features a high ballast ratio for stiff sailing Cal 29A prolific Lapworth design with over 1000 hulls produced, balancing a masthead rig with a nimble fin keel and spade rudder Cal Boats 24The inaugural Jensen Marine Cal model, this fractional keel-centerboard sloop was built for shoal-water versatility Cal Boats 30Offered with an optional tall rig, this masthead sloop served as the predecessor to the 2-30 series Cal 25A flush-deck masthead sloop featuring a pop-top companionway that became one of the most popular models in the fleet Cal 2-30A distinct fractional sloop design from Lapworth, featuring a fin keel and spade rudder for balanced handling

Keep asking

The fleet has more to say

Search what's been said about the Cal 28, or ask a specific question — the answer comes back written out, with links to the moments it draws on.

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