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Cal 25

Designer: C. William Lapworth  ·  Builder: Jensen Marine (Usa)  ·  First built: 1965
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About the Cal 25

Originally designed by Bill Lapworth and built by Jensen Marine, this compact coastal cruiser emerged during the height of California's fiberglass boat building boom in the 1960s. The Cal 25 represents the philosophy of its era: affordable performance sailing for weekend warriors and aspiring sailors looking to step up from dinghies. With its moderate displacement hull and traditional fin keel configuration, the design strikes a practical balance between sailing performance and interior comfort. The boat exhibits the characteristic Cal styling of its period, featuring clean lines and functional deck layout that made the brand popular among West Coast sailors. Best suited for coastal cruising and day sailing, the Cal 25 offers enough cabin space for overnight trips while remaining manageable for single-handed or small crew sailing. The cockpit provides comfortable seating for several adults, making it an excellent choice for sailing instruction or casual entertaining on the water. While not built for extended offshore passages, the Cal 25 has proven itself as a reliable coastal companion. Its size makes it trailerable with proper equipment, adding versatility for sailors who want to explore different cruising grounds. The design remains popular in the used boat market as an affordable entry point into comfortable keelboat sailing.

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Market Price Estimate Beta
$2,750 – $12,000
typical asking price
Median $4,000  ·  10 listings used
All listings
$2,750 – $12,000 10
Rate a listing price
$
About this estimate
  • Prices are based on recent asking prices from public listings — not actual sale prices, which are typically lower.
  • Condition is not factored in. A well-maintained boat with new sails and engine can be worth significantly more than a project boat of the same model.
  • Location affects price. Boats in landlocked states or areas with fewer buyers often sell for less than those on the coast.
  • Year of manufacture is not filtered. Older examples of this model will generally be priced lower than newer ones.
  • Included equipment varies widely. A boat with a full suite of electronics, dodger, and new standing rigging may command a large premium.
  • Outliers are automatically excluded using statistical filtering to improve accuracy, but some bad data may remain.
Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 25.00 ft / 7.62 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 20.00 ft / 6.10 m
Beam 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
Max Draft 4.00 ft / 1.22 m
Displacement 4,000.00 lb / 1,814 kg
Ballast 1,700.00 lb / 771 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction Fiberglass
Designer C. William Lapworth
Builder Jensen Marine (USA)
First Built 1965
Last Built 1976
Number Built 1848
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
PHRF Rating PHRF (Performance Handicap Racing Fleet) is a national racing handicap measured in seconds per nautical mile. Lower values indicate faster boats. Ratings are sourced from US Sailing's national database (median across 60+ regional fleets).
Under 0 — Ultralight racer0–90 — Performance racer90–150 — Cruiser/racer150–210 — Typical cruiserOver 210 — Heavy/slow cruiser
219
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
42.5
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
223.21
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. 3.43 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 18.21
J (Foretriangle Base) 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 286.00 ft² / 26.57 m²
E (Mainsail Foot) OB
How It Compares

vs. Catalina 25, Coronado 25, Hunter 25, Pearson 25, South Coast 25

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Cal 25 ★
25.0 ft
Catalina 25
25.0 ft
Coronado 25
25.0 ft
Hunter 25
25.0 ft
Pearson 25
25.0 ft
South Coast 25
25.0 ft
LWL
Cal 25 ★
20.0 ft
Catalina 25
21.5 ft
Coronado 25
20.1 ft
Hunter 25
20.2 ft
Pearson 25
21.4 ft
South Coast 25
20.5 ft
Beam
Cal 25 ★
8.0 ft
Catalina 25
8.8 ft
Coronado 25
8.0 ft
Hunter 25
8.0 ft
Pearson 25
8.0 ft
South Coast 25
7.5 ft
Displacement
Cal 25 ★
4 lbs
Catalina 25
4 lbs
Coronado 25
4 lbs
Hunter 25
4 lbs
Pearson 25
3 lbs
South Coast 25
4 lbs
Ballast
Cal 25 ★
1 lbs
Catalina 25
1 lbs
Coronado 25
2 lbs
Hunter 25
1 lbs
Pearson 25
1 lbs
South Coast 25
1 lbs
Sail Area
Cal 25 ★
Catalina 25
254 sq ft
Coronado 25
299 sq ft
Hunter 25
256 sq ft
Pearson 25
257 sq ft
South Coast 25
299 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Cal 25 ★
219 s/nm
Catalina 25
223 s/nm
Coronado 25
231 s/nm
Hunter 25
223 s/nm
Pearson 25
216 s/nm
South Coast 25
258 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Cal 25 ★
Catalina 25
16.1
Coronado 25
17.6
Hunter 25
15.3
Pearson 25
17.1
South Coast 25
18.4
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Cal 25 ★
42.5 %
Catalina 25
37.5 %
Coronado 25
47.8 %
Hunter 25
40.9 %
Pearson 25
33.3 %
South Coast 25
42.9 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Cal 25 ★
Catalina 25
15.2
Coronado 25
20.2
Hunter 25
19.7
Pearson 25
16.1
South Coast 25
20.3
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Cal 25 ★
Catalina 25
2.21
Coronado 25
1.94
Hunter 25
1.96
Pearson 25
2.06
South Coast 25
1.86
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Cal 25 ★
223
Catalina 25
179
Coronado 25
249
Hunter 25
239
Pearson 25
170
South Coast 25
217
Hull Speed
Cal 25 ★
Catalina 25
6.2 kts
Coronado 25
6.0 kts
Hunter 25
6.0 kts
Pearson 25
6.2 kts
South Coast 25
6.1 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Cal 25 ★
Catalina 25
Coronado 25
2.3
Hunter 25
2.1
Pearson 25
3.1
South Coast 25
2.7
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