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Cal T4
Designer: C. William Lapworth  ·  Builder: Jensen Marine (Usa)  ·  First built: 1971
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About the Cal T4

Designed by the renowned C. William Lapworth and built by Jensen Marine for just two years in the early 1970s, this compact 24-footer represents classic California sailing heritage. With only 238 hulls produced between 1971 and 1972, the Cal T4 has become a sought-after piece of West Coast sailing history. The boat's moderate displacement of 4,000 pounds and substantial 2,000-pound ballast ratio create excellent stability for coastal cruising and club racing. Lapworth's design features a fin keel with transom-hung rudder configuration that delivers responsive handling and good windward performance. The masthead sloop rig with 256 square feet of sail area provides adequate power for the boat's size while remaining manageable for small crews. At 24 feet overall with an 8-foot beam, the Cal T4 offers reasonable accommodations for weekend cruising while maintaining the performance characteristics that made Cal boats famous during the fiberglass revolution. The comfort ratio of 17.64 suggests this is primarily a day-sailer and weekend cruiser rather than an offshore passage maker, while the capsize screening value of 2.02 indicates good stability for protected waters and moderate coastal conditions. This design appeals to sailors seeking vintage California craftsmanship with proven performance credentials.

Core Dimensions
LOA (Length Overall) 24.17 ft / 7.37 m
LWL (Waterline Length) 21.00 ft / 6.40 m
Beam 8.00 ft / 2.44 m
Max Draft 4.00 ft / 1.22 m
Displacement 4,000.00 lb / 1,814 kg
Ballast 2,000.00 lb / 907 kg
Sail Area (Reported) 256.00 ft² / 23.78 m²
Design & Construction
Hull Type Fin w/transom hung rudder
Rigging Type Masthead Sloop
Construction FG
Designer C. William Lapworth
Builder Jensen Marine (USA)
First Built 1971
Last Built 1972
Number Built 238
Associations Quarter Ton Class
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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
 16.3
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
 50
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
 192.82
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
 17.64
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
 2.02
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. 6.14 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
 2.71
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. 600.28 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. 16.31
Rig Dimensions
I (Foretriangle Height) 30.00 ft / 9.14 m
J (Foretriangle Base) 10.00 ft / 3.05 m
P (Mainsail Luff) 23.60 ft / 7.19 m
E (Mainsail Foot) 9.00 ft / 2.74 m
SA Fore 150.00 ft² / 13.94 m²
SA Main 106.20 ft² / 9.87 m²
SA Total (100%) 256.20 ft² / 23.80 m²
Est. Forestay Length 31.62 ft / 9.64 m
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