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Cal 2 29
Designer: William Lapworth  ·  Builder: Jensen Marine (Usa)  ·  First built: 1974
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About the Cal 2 29

Designed by renowned naval architect William Lapworth and built by Jensen Marine from 1974 to 1978, this 29-footer represents the classic California approach to affordable performance sailing. With 387 hulls produced during its four-year run, the Cal 2 29 became a popular choice for sailors seeking a capable coastal cruiser with racing potential. The boat's fin keel and spade rudder configuration, combined with Lapworth's proven hull lines, delivers responsive handling and respectable performance under sail. At 8,000 pounds displacement with 3,350 pounds of ballast, she strikes a practical balance between stability and speed. The masthead sloop rig carries 422 square feet of sail area, providing adequate power for both spirited day sailing and weekend cruising adventures. Her moderate proportions make the Cal 2 29 well-suited for coastal sailing, bay cruising, and club racing. The fiberglass construction has proven durable over the decades, and many examples remain active today. While accommodations are necessarily compact in a 29-footer, the interior layout maximizes available space for short-term cruising. The low comfort ratio of 25.04 indicates a boat optimized more for performance than extended liveaboard comfort, making her ideal for sailors who prioritize sailing quality over creature comforts.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 29.00 ft / 8.84 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 24.00 ft / 7.32 m
Beam 9.25 ft / 2.82 m
Max Draft 4.50 ft / 1.37 m
Displacement 8,000.00 lb / 3,629 kg
Ballast 3,350.00 lb / 1,520 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 422.00 ft² / 39.21 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer William Lapworth
Builder Jensen Marine (USA)
First Built 1974
Last Built 1978
Number Built 387
Related Sailboats ["Cal 29" · "J/29" · "C&C 29" · "Islander 29" · "Watkins 29"]
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Performance Ratios
SA/Displacement Sail Area to Displacement ratio measures how much sail power a boat has relative to its weight. Higher values mean more performance and speed.
Under 14 — Heavy cruiser, slow14–18 — Cruising sailboat18–22 — Cruiser/racerOver 22 — Performance racer
 16.93
Ballast/Displacement Ballast to Displacement ratio shows what percentage of the boat's total weight is ballast. Higher values generally mean better initial stability and stiffer sail carrying.
30–35% — Typical cruiser35–45% — Stiff performance boatOver 45% — Racing oriented
 41.88
Displacement/Length Displacement to Length ratio measures how heavy a boat is relative to its waterline length. Lower values mean a lighter, faster boat.
Under 100 — Ultralight racer100–200 — Light cruiser/racer200–300 — Moderate cruiser300–400 — Heavy cruiserOver 400 — Very heavy
 258.35
Comfort Ratio Ted Brewer's Comfort Ratio predicts how comfortable a boat will feel in offshore conditions. Higher values mean a steadier, more comfortable motion in a seaway.
Under 20 — Uncomfortably rough20–30 — Acceptable coastal30–40 — Good offshore comfortOver 40 — Very comfortable offshore
 25.04
Capsize Screening Formula The USHS Capsize Screening Formula estimates offshore capsize risk. Lower is safer — values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing.
Under 2.0 — Safe for offshore2.0–2.2 — Borderline offshoreOver 2.2 — Coastal use recommended
 1.85
Hull Speed Hull Speed is the theoretical maximum speed of a displacement hull, calculated from waterline length. Most cruising sailboats reach this speed in moderate conditions. 6.56 kn
S# (Speed Number) The Speed Number (S#) is a quick performance index. Higher values indicate a faster, more powerful design relative to its size.
Under 3.0 — Slow cruiser3.0–5.0 — Average cruiser5.0–7.0 — Performance cruiserOver 7.0 — Racer
 2.09
Pounds/Inch Immersion Pounds per Inch Immersion (PPI) tells you how much weight is needed to sink the boat one inch. Useful for calculating how additional gear and stores affect waterline. 793.23 pounds/inch
SA/Displacement (Calc) Calculated Sail Area to Displacement ratio using actual measured sail dimensions rather than reported values. More precise than the reported SA/Disp figure. 16.94
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 37.00 ft / 11.28 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 12.33 ft / 3.76 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 31.67 ft / 9.65 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 12.25 ft / 3.73 m
SA Fore 228.11 ft² / 21.19 m²
SA Main 193.98 ft² / 18.02 m²
SA Total (100%) 422.09 ft² / 39.21 m²
Est. Forestay Length 39.00 ft / 11.89 m
Mast Height (DWL) 41.00 ft / 12.50 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Farymann
Engine Type Diesel
Horsepower 12
Fuel Capacity 20 gals / 76 L
Water Capacity 40 gals / 151 L
How It Compares

vs. C&C 29, Islander 29, J/29

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Cal 2 29 ★
29.0 ft
C&C 29
29.0 ft
Islander 29
29.1 ft
J/29
29.0 ft
LWL
Cal 2 29 ★
24.0 ft
C&C 29
—
Islander 29
23.3 ft
J/29
24.3 ft
Beam
Cal 2 29 ★
9.3 ft
C&C 29
—
Islander 29
8.8 ft
J/29
10.7 ft
Displacement
Cal 2 29 ★
8 lbs
C&C 29
—
Islander 29
7 lbs
J/29
5 lbs
Ballast
Cal 2 29 ★
3 lbs
C&C 29
—
Islander 29
2 lbs
J/29
2 lbs
Sail Area
Cal 2 29 ★
422 sq ft
C&C 29
—
Islander 29
392 sq ft
J/29
392 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Cal 2 29 ★
—
C&C 29
159 s/nm
Islander 29
210 s/nm
J/29
—
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Cal 2 29 ★
16.9
C&C 29
—
Islander 29
16.0
J/29
21.3
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Cal 2 29 ★
41.9 %
C&C 29
—
Islander 29
32.1 %
J/29
40.5 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Cal 2 29 ★
25.0
C&C 29
—
Islander 29
26.4
J/29
22.1
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Cal 2 29 ★
1.85
C&C 29
—
Islander 29
1.78
J/29
1.76
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Cal 2 29 ★
258
C&C 29
—
Islander 29
274
J/29
97
Hull Speed
Cal 2 29 ★
6.6 kts
C&C 29
—
Islander 29
6.5 kts
J/29
7.5 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Cal 2 29 ★
2.1
C&C 29
—
Islander 29
1.9
J/29
—
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