BoatsCal Boats 30

Cal Boats 30

Masthead Sloop · Fin Keel · 1961–1967

Offered with an optional tall rig, this masthead sloop served as the predecessor to the 2-30 series

Designed by Lapworth & C. William Lapworth, built by Jensen Marine.

LOA
Beam
Draft (max)
Displacement
Ballast
Hull type
Fin Keel

See her sail

The Cal Boats 30, on the water

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

Footage from Hashtag Sal

Is it for you?

Character

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

LivelySea-kindly

Her heavy displacement on a moderate beam gives 26 — a moderate, middle-of-the-road motion.

Comfort ratio 26
CoastalBluewater

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

Capsize screening 1.89
LightHeavy

291 — heavy for her waterline, built to carry stores and ride steadily.

Displacement / length 291
EasygoingPowered-up

14.9 — modest power for her weight; easygoing rather than lively, and happier with a breeze.

Sail area / displacement 14.9
TenderStiff

36% of her weight is ballast — moderately stiff, a middle-of-the-road stability.

Ballast 36%

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

  • Draws less than ~75% of boats her size on file

Compared with 2507 boats of the same type within a quarter of her length.

What the fleet has seen

The Cal Boats 30, as the fleet has seen it

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

The Cal Boats 30 is a 9.1-meter masthead sloop with a fin keel, designed by C. William Lapworth and built by Jensen Marine from 1961 to 1967. It displaces 4354 kg and has a 1.4-meter draft. Salt & Tar's 1964 Cal 30, *Black Pearl*, was purchased for $4,000 and required extensive structural repairs, including engine beds and hull work, before its owners sailed it from Santa Barbara to Port San Luis, encountering a gale around Point Conception.18:50 After repairs and a haul-out, they joined the 2010 Baja Ha-Ha rally to Mexico, cruising the islands around La Paz before selling the boat to pursue full-time sailing.29:42 Guilherme Sucena, aboard his Cal Boats 30, emphasizes self-sufficiency and maintaining his own boat systems, including pumps and engines, after transitioning from smaller vessels like a Bruma 19 and a Velamar 22.6:47

The living fleet

Sailed by the fleet

Where the fleet has filmed this boat.

Seen 2 times across 2 channels of the fleet.

Basemap © Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0

On the water

The Cal Boats 30 on video

What they go for

Market signal

Where the fleet has seen this model come up for sale.

1seen sold

  • Sold in Mexico after the couple decided to pursue a full-time sailing lifestyle and seek a more robust vessel

    from Salt & Tarseen December 202335:26

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
36.5%
Rig & sail area
Rig
Masthead Sloop
Ratios
SA / displacement
14.9
Displacement / length
291.4
Comfort ratio
26.4
Capsize screening
1.89
Hull speed
6.6 kn
Pounds / inch immersion
875
Hull
Hull type
Fin Keel
Construction
Fiberglass
Ballast type
Lead
Production
Years built
1961–1967
Units built
123
Designer
Lapworth, C. William Lapworth
Builder
Jensen Marine, Cal Boats

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.

Catalina Yachts 309.12 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthWith over 6,000 hulls produced, this versatile masthead sloop remains one of the most successful production yachts ever built
Best 30ft Sailboat to Buy? Catalina 30 Walkthrough & Review - Ep 349 - Lady K Sailing0:45from Lady K Sailing
Tartan Marine 309.12 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA Sparkman & Stephens masthead sloop offering versatile interior configurations and a choice of standard or tall rigs
Tartan 30 | Boat Reviewfrom Practical Sailor
Granada Yachts 309.18 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 30-foot fractional sloop with a 1.65-meter draft, designed for balanced, performance-oriented cruising
Capsized in 20-meter waves: Are Wiig on the drama in the Southern Ocean | Bearing on Sailing2:53from SEILmagasinet
Islander Yachts Bahama 309.12 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA 1973-1985 production masthead sloop sharing its hull with the Islander 30 MKII and featuring a balanced fin keel
Diesel Overheating Dinghy Pump Hack3:07from Practical Sailor
Dufour Arpege 309.14 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA record-breaking production of over 1500 units, this MORC-compliant racer-cruiser defined a new standard for the 30-foot class
Rescued alive after 12 days missing in the Mediterranean4:59from NAUTICPIOLI
Seafarer Yachts 309.13 mSame hull familyNear-identical lengthA masthead sloop available with a tall rig and keel centerboard, distinct from the earlier Tripp-designed model
FROM THE CORPORATE WORLD TO VAGABUNDOS BEACH | Living on a sailboat | #SAL #4411:36from Hashtag Sal

The family

Boats like this

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

Cal 2-30A distinct fractional sloop design from Lapworth, featuring a fin keel and spade rudder for balanced handlingCal 3-30Designed as an IOR 3/4 ton racer, this masthead sloop balances a 47% ballast ratio for stiff, competitive sailingCal 29A prolific Lapworth design with over 1000 hulls produced, balancing a masthead rig with a nimble fin keel and spade rudderCal 28Originally marketed as the California 28, this early masthead sloop features a fin keel and spade rudder configurationCal Boats 34A masthead sloop with a fin keel and spade rudder, favoured by Jensen Marine founder Jack Jensen for personal cruising

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The fleet has more to say

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