Cal 36
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About the Cal 36
Designed by the legendary C. William Lapworth and built by Jensen Marine starting in 1966, this classic represents the pinnacle of California's racing-cruiser philosophy from sailing's golden era. Lapworth's genius shines through in the boat's balanced proportions and proven seaworthiness, making it a standout performer both on the racecourse and as a capable coastal cruiser. With its fin keel and spade rudder configuration, the Cal 36 delivers responsive handling and impressive windward ability. The masthead sloop rig provides excellent sail-carrying power, while the moderate displacement keeps the boat lively in light air. At 11,200 pounds with 4,500 pounds of ballast, she strikes an ideal balance between stability and performance. The boat's impressive sail area to displacement ratio of 19.24 ensures spirited sailing, while the conservative comfort ratio of 26.12 and capsize screening value of 1.85 indicate she's well-suited for serious coastal cruising and limited offshore passages. Her hull speed of nearly 7 knots means rewarding passage times under sail. This design has earned respect for its solid fiberglass construction, spacious beam of just over 10 feet, and reputation for longevity. Cal 36 owners consistently praise the boat's sea-kindly motion and ability to handle challenging conditions with confidence.
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.
$3,500 – $14,000
typical asking price
Rate a listing price
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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)
35.50 ft / 10.82 m
LWL (Waterline Length)
27.00 ft / 8.23 m
Beam
10.33 ft / 3.15 m
Max Draft
5.70 ft / 1.74 m
Displacement
11,200.00 lb / 5,080 kg
Ballast
4,500.00 lb / 2,041 kg
Ballast Type
Lead
Sail Area (Reported)
600.00 ft² / 55.74 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
1966
Owner Reviews
No owner reviews yet — be the first to share your experience with this boat.
Known Issues & What to Watch For
Jensen Marine used a balsa-cored deck on the Cal 36, and the balsa core is prone to saturation and rot around deck hardware penetrations, chainplates, and the mast base where bedding compounds have failed over time.
The deck-to-hull joint on Cal 36s is an inward-turning flange secured with through-bolts and covered by the toerail. This joint frequently develops leaks and can show signs of separation or weeping, particularly at the bow and stern corners.
The Cal 36 uses an external lead or iron keel attached with keel bolts that are known to corrode and weep rust staining in the bilge. The keel-to-hull joint sealant deteriorates and allows water intrusion, which accelerates bolt corrosion and can lead to keel movement.
Chainplate attachment on the Cal 36 passes through the balsa-cored deck or is tabbed to the hull liner; the backing plates and tabbing are known to fatigue and the surrounding laminate can delaminate, making chainplate integrity a critical inspection point.
Early Cal 36 hulls used a relatively thin single-skin laminate schedule at the topsides that can show stress cracking and crazing, particularly along the waterline and around through-hulls, indicating possible laminate fatigue.
The interior liner on the Cal 36 is a molded pan that is glassed or tabbed to the hull in limited areas. Over time these tabbing points can separate, causing the liner to shift, making bilge access difficult and hiding water intrusion or structural issues beneath.
Early Cal 36s were commonly fitted with the Universal Atomic 4 gasoline engine. Many of these have aged beyond economical repair; buyers should verify whether the original gas engine remains or has been converted to diesel, and inspect the engine mounts and beds for softness or rot.
pre-1975 models
The spade rudder on the Cal 36 uses an aluminum or stainless rudder shaft that can develop corrosion at the bearings and at the hull exit point. The rudder bearings wear and allow slop, and the rudder stock should be carefully inspected for pitting or cracking at the hull penetration.
Own or have surveyed a Cal 36? Submit a known issue
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
150
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
19.24
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
40.18
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
254.03
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
26.12
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
1.85
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.
6.96 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
2.34
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.
996.58 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.
19.25
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height)
42.00 ft / 12.80 m
J (Foretriangle Base)
14.50 ft / 4.42 m
P (Mainsail Luff)
36.30 ft / 11.06 m
E (Mainsail Foot)
16.30 ft / 4.97 m
SA Fore
304.50 ft² / 28.29 m²
SA Main
295.85 ft² / 27.49 m²
SA Total (100%)
600.35 ft² / 55.77 m²
Est. Forestay Length
44.43 ft / 13.54 m
Engine & Accommodations
Engine Make
Universal
Engine Model
Atomic 4
Engine Type
Gas
Horsepower
30
Fuel Capacity
30 gals / 114 L
Water Capacity
80 gals / 303 L