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Cal 27
Designer: William Lapworth  ·  Builder: Jensen Marine (Usa)  ·  First built: 1971
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About the Cal 27

Built during California's golden age of fiberglass sailboat production, this 27-footer emerged from the design boards as part of Cal's popular lineup of affordable cruising sailboats. The Cal 27 represents the classic approach to small boat cruising that defined recreational sailing in the 1970s and early 1980s. Designed with coastal cruising and weekend sailing in mind, this boat strikes a practical balance between comfort and performance. Her moderate beam and traditional lines provide stable sailing characteristics that inspire confidence in new sailors while offering enough responsiveness to keep experienced sailors engaged. The cockpit layout emphasizes ease of handling, making her well-suited for couples or small families exploring protected waters and nearby coastal areas. Below decks, the Cal 27 maximizes her interior volume with efficient use of space typical of production boats from this era. While not luxurious by today's standards, the accommodation plan provides essential amenities for weekend getaways and short cruises. Her reputation centers on reliability and straightforward sailing characteristics rather than racing performance. For sailors seeking an affordable entry into cruising or a dependable boat for local waters, the Cal 27 offers the honest sailing qualities that made Cal boats popular choices among recreational sailors.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 27.34 ft / 8.33 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 22.33 ft / 6.81 m
Beam 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
Max Draft 4.50 ft / 1.37 m
Displacement 5,400.00 lb / 2,449 kg
Ballast 2,725.00 lb / 1,236 kg
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer William Lapworth
Builder Jensen Marine (USA)
First Built 1971
Last Built 1974
Number Built 306
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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
198
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
50.46
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
216.51
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. 4.31 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 18.25
J (Foretriangle Base) 12.00 ft / 3.66 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 350.00 ft² / 32.52 m²
E (Mainsail Foot) 12 gals / 45 L
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