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Cal 35 1979
Designer: C. William Lapworth  ·  Builder: Jensen Marine (Usa)  ·  First built: 1979
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About the Cal 35 1979

California's renowned sailboat manufacturer produced this mid-sized cruiser during a transitional period in the company's history, representing Cal's continued commitment to accessible performance sailing. Built with the distinctive characteristics that made Cal boats popular among West Coast sailors, this model embodies the builder's philosophy of creating vessels that balance sailing ability with practical cruising features. The design reflects the late 1970s emphasis on moderate displacement hulls that could deliver respectable performance while maintaining comfort for extended sailing. Like other Cal models from this era, the boat likely features a fin keel configuration and spade rudder setup that promotes responsive handling and good upwind performance. The cockpit and deck layout follow Cal's traditional approach of prioritizing ease of handling for short-handed sailing. This model suits coastal cruising and weekend sailing particularly well, offering enough space and amenities for comfortable overnight trips while maintaining the sailing characteristics that made Cal boats favorites among club racers. The boat represents solid construction from an established builder, making it an attractive option for sailors seeking a well-balanced cruiser with proven pedigree at an accessible price point in today's used boat market.

Market Price Estimate Beta
Small sample size. This estimate is based on fewer than 5 listings and may not be representative of the true market. Use with caution.
$20,000 – $20,000
typical asking price
Median $20,000  ·  1 listing used
All listings
$20,000 – $20,000 1
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) 35.08 ft / 10.69 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 28.75 ft / 8.76 m
Beam 11.00 ft / 3.35 m
Max Draft 5.00 ft / 1.52 m
Displacement 13,000.00 lb / 5,897 kg
Ballast 5,200.00 lb / 2,359 kg
Ballast Type Lead
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer C. William Lapworth
Builder Jensen Marine (USA)
First Built 1979
Related Sailboats Santana 35 · Niagara 35 · Cc 36R · Cal 35 Cruise · Ct 35
Owner Reviews

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Performance Ratios
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
40.0
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
244.22
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. 6.78 pounds/inch
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 17.63
J (Foretriangle Base) 15.00 ft / 4.57 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 607.00 ft² / 56.39 m²
E (Mainsail Foot) Universal
Engine & Accommodations
Fuel Capacity 33 gals / 125 L
Water Capacity 90 gals / 341 L
How It Compares

vs. Cal 35 Cruise, Cc 36R, Ct 35, Niagara 35, Santana 35

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Cal 35 1979 ★
35.1 ft
Cal 35 Cruise
35.1 ft
Cc 36R
35.1 ft
Ct 35
35.0 ft
Niagara 35
35.1 ft
Santana 35
35.0 ft
LWL
Cal 35 1979 ★
28.8 ft
Cal 35 Cruise
28.8 ft
Cc 36R
30.5 ft
Ct 35
26.8 ft
Niagara 35
26.7 ft
Santana 35
26.5 ft
Beam
Cal 35 1979 ★
11.0 ft
Cal 35 Cruise
11.0 ft
Cc 36R
11.2 ft
Ct 35
11.2 ft
Niagara 35
11.4 ft
Santana 35
11.9 ft
Displacement
Cal 35 1979 ★
13 lbs
Cal 35 Cruise
15 lbs
Cc 36R
12 lbs
Ct 35
16 lbs
Niagara 35
14 lbs
Santana 35
8 lbs
Ballast
Cal 35 1979 ★
5 lbs
Cal 35 Cruise
5 lbs
Cc 36R
6 lbs
Ct 35
5 lbs
Niagara 35
5 lbs
Santana 35
3 lbs
Sail Area
Cal 35 1979 ★
Cal 35 Cruise
546 sq ft
Cc 36R
632 sq ft
Ct 35
483 sq ft
Niagara 35
Santana 35
550 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Cal 35 1979 ★
Cal 35 Cruise
168 s/nm
Cc 36R
Ct 35
198 s/nm
Niagara 35
156 s/nm
Santana 35
120 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Cal 35 1979 ★
Cal 35 Cruise
14.4
Cc 36R
18.6
Ct 35
11.8
Niagara 35
Santana 35
21.2
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Cal 35 1979 ★
40.0 %
Cal 35 Cruise
33.3 %
Cc 36R
47.5 %
Ct 35
Niagara 35
39.3 %
Santana 35
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Cal 35 1979 ★
Cal 35 Cruise
31.0
Cc 36R
24.8
Ct 35
35.9
Niagara 35
Santana 35
16.7
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Cal 35 1979 ★
Cal 35 Cruise
1.79
Cc 36R
1.92
Ct 35
1.74
Niagara 35
Santana 35
2.34
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Cal 35 1979 ★
244
Cal 35 Cruise
281
Cc 36R
199
Ct 35
Niagara 35
329
Santana 35
Hull Speed
Cal 35 1979 ★
Cal 35 Cruise
7.2 kts
Cc 36R
7.4 kts
Ct 35
6.9 kts
Niagara 35
Santana 35
6.9 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Cal 35 1979 ★
Cal 35 Cruise
1.7
Cc 36R
Ct 35
0.9
Niagara 35
Santana 35
3.1
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