What is the Cal 34's sail area to displacement ratio?

The Cal 34 has a Sail Area to Displacement ratio (SA/D) of 18. Values between 14–18 are typical cruising sailboats; 18–22 is cruiser/racer; over 22 is performance racing.

What is the Cal 34's comfort ratio?

The Cal 34 has a Ted Brewer Comfort Ratio of 24.27. A ratio over 30 indicates good offshore comfort; over 40 is very comfortable offshore.

Is the Cal 34 safe for offshore sailing?

The Cal 34 has a Capsize Screening Formula value of 1.89. Values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing; under 1.8 is ideal.

What is the hull speed of the Cal 34?

The theoretical hull speed of the Cal 34 is 6.83 kn knots, calculated from its waterline length.

How much does a Cal 34 weigh?

The Cal 34 has a displacement of 9,500.00 lb and a length overall (LOA) of 33.24 ft.

How much does a used Cal 34 cost?

Based on 15 recent market listings, used Cal 34 sailboats typically sell for between $7,500 and $34,900, with a median asking price of $18,500. Price varies significantly based on year, condition, location, and included equipment.

Who designed the Cal 34?

The Cal 34 was designed by C. William Lapworth, first built in 1968.

Cal 34 Performance — PHRF, SA/D, Hull Speed & Sailing Characteristics

The Cal 34 is well-powered with enough sail area to move in light air, with acceptable motion comfort for coastal passages, designed for cruising comfort rather than racing.

Hull Speed

The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.

6.8 kts

A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length. With a waterline of 26.0′, the Cal 34 tops out around 6.8 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.

1.34 × √26.0′ LWL = 6.8 kts

Performance Ratios

Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.

PHRF Rating

174s/nm

Typical cruiser — designed for comfort and ease, not podium finishes.

SA / Displacement

18.0

Powerful cruiser/racer — quick in light air, reef early when it pipes up.

Ballast / Displacement

39.5%

Stiff enough to carry a big genoa comfortably into moderate breeze.

Displacement / Length

241

Moderate — a good balance of speed and load-carrying ability.

Comfort Ratio

24.3

Acceptable coastal comfort — fine for weekends, notice the chop offshore.

Capsize Screening

1.89

Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.

Hull Speed

6.8kts

S# (Speed Number)

2.4

Pounds/Inch Immersion

929lbs

Weight needed to sink the hull one inch — loading sensitivity.

Motion & Offshore Suitability

Two ratios that matter most when you're planning passages — how the boat feels in a seaway, and whether the hull geometry is suitable for open ocean.

Comfort Ratio

24.3

Acceptable coastal comfort — fine for weekends, notice the chop offshore.

Under 20 — Snappy, racing motion

20–30 — Acceptable coastal

30–40 — Good offshore comfort

Over 40 — Very comfortable offshore

Capsize Screening Formula

1.89

Below the 2.0 offshore threshold — acceptable for ocean passages.

Under 2.0 — Acceptable for offshore

Over 2.0 — Coastal / protected waters

PHRF Fleet Position

Where the Cal 34 sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.

Racer 0–90

Cruiser/Racer 90–150

Cruiser 150–210

Tartan 10 126s/nm

Ranger 33 156s/nm

Cal 34 174s/nm Typical cruiser — designed for comfort and ease, not podium finishes.

Morgan 33 174s/nm

Estimated Speed by Wind

Rough boat speed estimates at different true wind speeds and points of sail — derived from hull speed, SA/D, and displacement, not measured polars.

Point of Sail	6 kts TWS	10 kts TWS	15 kts TWS	20 kts TWS
Close-hauled40–50°	2.8	3.5	4.0	4.1
Close Reach60°	3.4	4.3	4.8	5.0
Beam Reach90°	4.1	5.2	5.9	6.1
Broad Reach120–135°	3.8	4.8	5.4	5.6
Run150–180°	3.1	3.9	4.3	4.5

These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (6.8 kts), SA/D (18.0), and empirical efficiency curves — not instrument-measured polars. Real-world speed varies with sea state, bottom condition, sail trim, and current. Speeds in gold approach hull speed; bold gold means near or at hull speed.

Wind Range & Comfort Envelope

Estimated wind ranges for comfortable sailing on the Cal 34 — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.

Ghost

Sweet Spot

Reef

Heavy

0–6 kts 6–18 kts 18–26 kts 26+ kts

Ghosting

0–6 kts

Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.

Sweet Spot

6–18 kts

Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.

Time to Reef

18–26 kts

Time to shorten sail. Reef the main, swap to a working jib.

Heavy Weather

26+ kts

Storm conditions. Storm jib or bare poles. Seek shelter if coastal.

How It Compares

Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Cal 34.

	Cal 34	Cal 2 34	Ct 34	Morgan 33	Ranger 33	Tartan 10
Dimensions
LOA	33.2	33.3	33.3	33.3	33.2	33.1
LWL	26.0	26.0	27.7	24.3	26.3	27.0
Beam	10.0	10.0	10.3	9.3	9.6	9.3
Displacement	9	9	16	11	10	6
Ballast	3	3	5	5	4	3
Sail Area	503	479	—	502	529	486
Performance
PHRF	174	—	—	174	156	126
SA/Disp	18.0	17.1	—	16.3	17.7	22.0
Bal/Disp	39.5	39.5	32.9	45.5	42.9	—
Comfort	24.3	24.3	—	32.2	28.2	18.5
Capsize	1.89	1.89	—	1.68	1.75	1.97
Hull Speed	6.8	6.8	—	6.6	6.9	7.0