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Cal 46 Iii 1975
Designer: C. William Lapworth  ·  Builder: Jensen Marine  ·  First built: 1975
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About the Cal 46 Iii 1975

California's Cal Yachts produced the Cal 46 III during the mid-1970s as part of their renowned series of performance-oriented sailboats that helped define the era's racing and cruising scene. This 46-foot yacht represents the third iteration of Cal's popular 46-foot design, incorporating refinements learned from earlier versions while maintaining the builder's signature emphasis on speed and seaworthiness. Built during Cal Yachts' golden period, the Cal 46 III embodies the company's philosophy of creating boats that could excel both on the racecourse and during extended cruising adventures. The design reflects the evolving preferences of 1970s sailors who demanded vessels capable of competitive racing while offering comfortable accommodations for coastal and offshore passages. Like other Cal designs from this period, the 46 III likely features a moderate to aggressive underbody configuration optimized for performance, paired with practical deck layouts that facilitate both racing crews and cruising couples. The boat's reputation benefits from Cal Yachts' strong track record during this era, when the builder was producing some of the most respected fiberglass sailboats in America. For prospective buyers, this represents an opportunity to own a piece of sailing heritage from one of California's most influential yacht builders.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 45.50 ft / 13.87 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 37.50 ft / 11.43 m
Beam 12.50 ft / 3.81 m
Max Draft 5.00 ft / 1.52 m
Displacement 30,000.00 lb / 13,608 kg
Ballast 8,000.00 lb / 3,629 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 855.00 ft² / 79.43 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/spade rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Ketch
Construction FG
Designer C. William Lapworth
Builder Jensen Marine
First Built 1975
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Performance Ratios
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
14.23
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
40.21
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
1.61
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. 8.21
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
1.64
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. 1.0
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 48.0
J (Foretriangle Base) 18.0
P (Mainsail Luff) 40.08
E (Mainsail Foot) 15.25
SA Fore 432.0
SA Main 305.61
How It Compares

vs. Columbia 45, Endeavour 43, Morgan 45 Sj

This boat Similar boats
Dimensions
LOA
Cal 46 Iii 1975 ★
45.5 ft
Columbia 45
45.3 ft
Endeavour 43
45.3 ft
Morgan 45 Sj
45.7 ft
LWL
Cal 46 Iii 1975 ★
37.5 ft
Columbia 45
34.5 ft
Endeavour 43
35.0 ft
Morgan 45 Sj
31.4 ft
Beam
Cal 46 Iii 1975 ★
12.5 ft
Columbia 45
12.3 ft
Endeavour 43
14.0 ft
Morgan 45 Sj
11.0 ft
Displacement
Cal 46 Iii 1975 ★
30 lbs
Columbia 45
25 lbs
Endeavour 43
33 lbs
Morgan 45 Sj
25 lbs
Ballast
Cal 46 Iii 1975 ★
8 lbs
Columbia 45
10 lbs
Endeavour 43
12 lbs
Morgan 45 Sj
12 lbs
Sail Area
Cal 46 Iii 1975 ★
855 sq ft
Columbia 45
698 sq ft
Endeavour 43
Morgan 45 Sj
894 sq ft
Performance
PHRF Rating (lower = faster)
Cal 46 Iii 1975 ★
Columbia 45
120 s/nm
Endeavour 43
132 s/nm
Morgan 45 Sj
123 s/nm
SA / Displacement (higher = more powerful)
Cal 46 Iii 1975 ★
14.2
Columbia 45
13.1
Endeavour 43
Morgan 45 Sj
16.8
Ballast / Disp (higher = stiffer)
Cal 46 Iii 1975 ★
Columbia 45
41.2 %
Endeavour 43
36.4 %
Morgan 45 Sj
48.0 %
Comfort Ratio (higher = more comfortable offshore)
Cal 46 Iii 1975 ★
40.2
Columbia 45
36.1
Endeavour 43
Morgan 45 Sj
44.4
Capsize Screening (lower = safer)
Cal 46 Iii 1975 ★
1.61
Columbia 45
1.69
Endeavour 43
Morgan 45 Sj
1.51
Displacement / Length (lower = lighter)
Cal 46 Iii 1975 ★
Columbia 45
271
Endeavour 43
343
Morgan 45 Sj
359
Hull Speed
Cal 46 Iii 1975 ★
8.2 kts
Columbia 45
7.9 kts
Endeavour 43
Morgan 45 Sj
7.5 kts
Speed Number (higher = faster)
Cal 46 Iii 1975 ★
1.6
Columbia 45
1.6
Endeavour 43
Morgan 45 Sj
1.3
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