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Cal 34
Designer: C. William Lapworth  ·  Builder: Jensen Marine (Usa)  ·  First built: 1968
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About the Cal 34

Designed by the legendary C. William Lapworth and built by Jensen Marine from 1968 to 1975, this classic represents the golden era of California sailboat design when performance and affordability went hand in hand. With 347 hulls produced during its seven-year run, the Cal 34 became a popular choice among sailors seeking a capable cruiser-racer that could handle both weekend club racing and extended coastal passages. Lapworth's design philosophy shines through in the boat's balanced proportions and modern underbody configuration. The fin keel with spade rudder arrangement, progressive for its time, delivers responsive handling and respectable performance under sail. At 33.24 feet overall with a beam of 10 feet, the hull provides a good balance of interior volume and sailing efficiency, while the 503 square feet of sail area in a masthead sloop configuration offers versatility across varying wind conditions. The Cal 34's moderate displacement of 9,500 pounds and healthy ballast ratio contribute to its reputation as a seaworthy vessel well-suited for coastal cruising and offshore passages. Its comfort ratio of 24.27 suggests quick motion in a seaway, characteristic of the performance-oriented designs of the era. Today, well-maintained examples remain sought after by sailors who appreciate classic American fiberglass construction and proven blue-water capability.

Market Price Estimate Beta
$7,500 – $32,500
typical asking price
Median $18,000  ·  13 listings used (1 outlier excluded)
All listings
$7,500 – $32,500 13
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) 33.24 ft / 10.13 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 26.00 ft / 7.92 m
Beam 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
Max Draft 5.00 ft / 1.52 m
Displacement 9,500.00 lb / 4,309 kg
Ballast 3,750.00 lb / 1,701 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Sail Area (Reported) 503.00 ft² / 46.73 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer C. William Lapworth
Builder Jensen Marine (USA)
First Built 1968
Last Built 1975
Number Built 347
Related Sailboats ["Cal 2 34" · "Ranger 33" · "Morgan 33" · "Ct 34" · "Tartan 10"]
Owner Reviews

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Known Issues & What to Watch For
High Keel
The Cal 34 uses a cast iron fin keel attached with mild steel keel bolts that are prone to corrosion and rust staining in the bilge. Bolts should be inspected for weeping rust, elongated holes, or movement, as replacements are difficult to source and re-tapping the hull is required.
High Hull/Deck
Jensen Marine used a balsa-cored deck on the Cal 34, and decades of compression from deck hardware and fastener penetrations have led to widespread core rot, particularly around chainplates, stanchion bases, and the mast partner area. Soft spots underfoot are common.
Medium Hull/Deck
The deck-to-hull joint on the Cal 34 is an external aluminum extrusion toe rail that also serves as the joining mechanism. This joint is prone to leaking where the extrusion has corroded or where sealant has failed, allowing water to track into the hull-deck laminate.
High Rigging
The original chainplate design routes internal chainplates through the deck with minimal backing, and the deck penetration seals routinely fail. Water intrusion at the chainplates accelerates balsa core rot in the surrounding deck area and can compromise the structural backing.
Medium Hull/Deck
Early Cal 34 hulls used a relatively thin hand-layup fiberglass laminate schedule typical of Jensen Marine production in this era, and stress cracking around the rudder post area and at the base of the keel-hull junction is commonly found on older examples.
Low Accommodations
The original teak and holly sole and interior teak joinery is prone to delamination and water damage from decades of use. The plywood substrate used in the cabin sole frequently delaminates, and replacement material matching the original pattern is no longer available off the shelf.
Medium Engine
Many Cal 34s were originally fitted with the Universal Atomic 4 gasoline engine. Fuel system components, rubber diaphragms, and carburetor parts are aging and fuel leaks are a fire hazard; many owners have converted to diesel, so buyers should verify the current engine installation and inspect the conversion quality if applicable.
High Electrical
Original wiring from the late 1960s and early 1970s is often still partially in place on unrestored boats. Jensen Marine used cloth-insulated and early PVC-insulated wire that has become brittle and cracked after 50 years, creating shorts and fire risk in areas that are difficult to access behind original joinery.

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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
 174
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
 18
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
 39.47
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
 241.3
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
 24.27
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
 1.89
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. 6.83 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
 2.35
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. 929.01 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. 17.99
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 39.00 ft / 11.89 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 13.75 ft / 4.19 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 33.50 ft / 10.21 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 14.00 ft / 4.27 m
SA Fore 268.13 ft² / 24.91 m²
SA Main 234.50 ft² / 21.79 m²
SA Total (100%) 502.63 ft² / 46.70 m²
Est. Forestay Length 41.35 ft / 12.60 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make Universal
Engine Model Atomic 4
Engine Type Gas
Horsepower 30
Fuel Capacity 25 gals / 95 L
Water Capacity 23 gals / 87 L
How It Compares

vs. Ct 34, Morgan 33, Ranger 33

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Cal 34 ★
33.2 ft
Ct 34
33.3 ft
Morgan 33
33.3 ft
Ranger 33
33.2 ft
LWL
Cal 34 ★
26.0 ft
Ct 34
27.7 ft
Morgan 33
24.3 ft
Ranger 33
26.3 ft
Beam
Cal 34 ★
10.0 ft
Ct 34
10.3 ft
Morgan 33
9.3 ft
Ranger 33
9.6 ft
Displacement
Cal 34 ★
9 lbs
Ct 34
16 lbs
Morgan 33
11 lbs
Ranger 33
10 lbs
Ballast
Cal 34 ★
3 lbs
Ct 34
5 lbs
Morgan 33
5 lbs
Ranger 33
4 lbs
Sail Area
Cal 34 ★
503 sq ft
Ct 34
—
Morgan 33
502 sq ft
Ranger 33
529 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Cal 34 ★
174 s/nm
Ct 34
—
Morgan 33
174 s/nm
Ranger 33
156 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Cal 34 ★
18.0
Ct 34
—
Morgan 33
16.3
Ranger 33
17.7
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Cal 34 ★
39.5 %
Ct 34
32.9 %
Morgan 33
45.5 %
Ranger 33
42.9 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Cal 34 ★
24.3
Ct 34
—
Morgan 33
32.2
Ranger 33
28.2
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Cal 34 ★
1.89
Ct 34
—
Morgan 33
1.68
Ranger 33
1.75
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Cal 34 ★
241
Ct 34
339
Morgan 33
343
Ranger 33
259
Hull Speed
Cal 34 ★
6.8 kts
Ct 34
—
Morgan 33
6.6 kts
Ranger 33
6.9 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Cal 34 ★
2.4
Ct 34
—
Morgan 33
1.4
Ranger 33
2.2
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