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Cal 35 Cruise Ketch
Designer: C. William Lapworth  ·  Builder: Jensen Marine (Usa)  ·  First built: 1973
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About the Cal 35 Cruise Ketch

Built by California's Cal Yachts during the 1970s, this distinctive ketch-rigged variant of the popular Cal 35 represents an interesting departure from the builder's typical sloop configurations. The dual-masted setup transforms the already capable Cal 35 hull into a more versatile cruising platform, offering improved sail handling and better balance in various wind conditions. The ketch rig configuration makes this boat particularly appealing for coastal cruising and longer passages where sail management becomes crucial. The divided sail plan allows crews to reduce sail area incrementally by dropping the mizzen, making heavy weather sailing more manageable. This setup also provides excellent flexibility for solo sailing or short-handed crews. Cal Yachts built a reputation for producing well-constructed fiberglass boats that balanced performance with affordability, and the Cruise Ketch continues this tradition. The moderate displacement hull handles well in various sea states while maintaining reasonable speed under sail. The additional cockpit space typical of ketch designs enhances the boat's appeal for extended cruising. While not as common as its sloop-rigged siblings, the Cal 35 Cruise Ketch offers an attractive option for sailors seeking a proven platform with enhanced cruising versatility and traditional sailing character.

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 4.67 ft / 1.42 m
Displacement 15,000.00 lb / 6,804 kg
Ballast 5,000.00 lb / 2,268 kg
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Ketch
Construction FG
Designer C. William Lapworth
Builder Jensen Marine (USA)
First Built 1973
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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
33.33
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
281.79
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) 15.92
J (Foretriangle Base) 14.00 ft / 4.27 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 603.00 ft² / 56.02 m²
E (Mainsail Foot) 281.79
How It Compares

vs. Cal 35 1979, Niagara 35, Santana 35

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Cal 35 Cruise Ketch ★
35.1 ft
Cal 35 1979
35.1 ft
Niagara 35
35.1 ft
Santana 35
35.0 ft
LWL
Cal 35 Cruise Ketch ★
28.8 ft
Cal 35 1979
28.8 ft
Niagara 35
26.7 ft
Santana 35
26.5 ft
Beam
Cal 35 Cruise Ketch ★
11.0 ft
Cal 35 1979
11.0 ft
Niagara 35
11.4 ft
Santana 35
11.9 ft
Displacement
Cal 35 Cruise Ketch ★
15 lbs
Cal 35 1979
13 lbs
Niagara 35
14 lbs
Santana 35
8 lbs
Ballast
Cal 35 Cruise Ketch ★
5 lbs
Cal 35 1979
5 lbs
Niagara 35
5 lbs
Santana 35
3 lbs
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Cal 35 Cruise Ketch ★
Cal 35 1979
Niagara 35
156 s/nm
Santana 35
120 s/nm
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Cal 35 Cruise Ketch ★
33.3 %
Cal 35 1979
40.0 %
Niagara 35
39.3 %
Santana 35
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Cal 35 Cruise Ketch ★
281
Cal 35 1979
244
Niagara 35
329
Santana 35
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