1978 cal 39 sailboats

First impressions Like many Lapworth designs, the Cal 39 does not overwhelm you when you first see it bobbing between pilings. If you step back and look closely you'll note that the boat has a subtle but handsome sheerline and that the coachroof flows naturally with the curve of the deck. Freeboard is moderate, which translates into low when compared with today's boats, and there is a fair bit of overhang forward and a rakish reverse transom. The hull shape looks right, the boat rides smoothly in the water, like it belongs there, and the boat grows on you the longer you stare at it. Below the waterline, the 39 has a moderate forefoot that trails into a large fin keel. Two keels were available-the standard 6 foot, 8 inch deep-draft and a 5 foot, 6 inch shoal-draft model. Displacement is 17,000 pounds resulting in a displacement/length ratio of 257, which means that the boat can be loaded up and still sail well. The spade rudder is placed well aft, a Lapworth hallmark, and results in excellent steering control, especially when running in big seas. Two rigs were offered-the standard keel-stepped spar with an air draft of 55 feet and the optional tall rig that adds a few feet to the mast and about 50 feet of sail area. The sail area/displacement ratio is a respectable 16.2, not a light air demon but a very good all-around performer-just what I want in a cruising boat.

Construction The construction of the Cal 39 was in keeping with other boats built by Bangor Punta and later Lear Siegler, including O'Day, Jeanneau and Ranger sailboats. And while these boats are not well known for their construction they have held up well over the years. The Cal 39 hull is solid glass and laid up fairly robust. The deck is balsa-cored in most places and plywood was used in high-load areas. The hull-to-deck joint is the conventional inward facing flange and is both chemically and mechanically fastened. The interior bulkheads are securely tabbed to the hull and a molded liner is used on the cabin sides and overhead liner. The finish is quite nice, actually better than most would suspect with excellent joinerwork and teak trim. The ballast is lead and the rudder is foam with a thin layer of glass over it.

What to look for There were actually several different models of the Cal 39. The first one was the boat that replaced the legendary Cal 40 in 1971 and was in production just a few years. The 39 covered in this article went into production in 1978 and is sometimes called the MK II. The MK III was introduced sometime around 1981 and included an expanded aft cabin and other subtle changes. Finally, another 39 was introduced in 1994 when Cal made a brief, ill-fated comeback. These later boats, designed by C. Raymond Hunt and Associates, are quite nice but much more expensive than the MK II and IIIs. Also, production was very limited. Early Cal 39s came standard with Perkins 4108 diesels, a reliable engine that is easy to work on and still easy to find parts for. Later boats had a four-cylinder Universal and others had Pathfinder diesels. Almost without fail owners complain about the Pathfinder, which was a marinized Volkswagen Rabbit engine. It is interesting to note that of the 15 39s listed for sale at www.yachtworld.com, six have been repowered with Yanmars. I'd look for one of these first. Draft, both water and air, drive used boat prices. For many cruisers the 6-foot, 8-inch standard keel is, all puns aside, a major drawback, the 5-foot, 6-inch shoal model is more desirable. Also, the hard-to-find tall rig is in demand as you can always shorten sail but it is harder to raise your mast. Some owners have noted deck delamination and leaky hull-to-deck joints but both seem more exception than rule. The rudder can also be a problem and should be carefully examined during the survey. One last item, try to find the history of the boat, quite a few 39s went into charter service.

On deck The Cal 39 has a seagoing cockpit and to some that is not a compliment. There is no denying that with its substantial bridgedeck and short seats separated from the helm station that it is small, especially by today's standards. However, the tradeoff is that classic argument that smaller is safer, it holds less water in dirty weather and a smaller cockpit results in a more spacious interior. It is also efficiently laid out, that is if the traveler has been moved to a position over the companionway. There is good visibility from the slightly raised helm seat and the winches can be reached from the helm. There is a locker to port and one aft, which had been converted to a gas locker on the 1979 model I climbed through in Ft. Lauderdale. The companionway is offset to starboard to make room in the aft cabin, but not to a degree to make it dangerous when heeling. The side decks are wide, although the nonskid is likely well worn. If you are considering painting the deck you will need to apply nonskid to the paint. There are teak grabrails along the coachroof and the stanchions and lifelines seem well supported. A teak toerail looks great when it is varnished or freshly oiled, but it is a pain to maintain, especially because an outer headsail track is mounted on top of it. An inner track on deck allows for close sheeting angles. Most boats have double anchor rollers forward and a shallow external chain locker. The single-spreader spar is beefy and keel-stepped. Be sure to check the wire terminals on the standing rigging for cracks and crevice corrosion.

Down below The Cal 39 interior is surprising. This was one of the first boats to feature an aft cabin in an aft-cockpit model. The port cabin is small but the two private staterooms were a real attraction when the boat was new and still is today. Despite a typical teak finish, the cabin is fairly bright with two or three large overhead hatches and eight portlights, most of them opening. However, many boats have plastic portlights, be wary of broken dogs and cracked frames. The 39 MK III included a sink and large hanging locker in the aft cabin and some models came with an enclosed aft head at, unfortunately, the expense of the nav station. Personally I think a second head on a boat this size is a waste of space. The standard interior plan includes an L-shaped galley opposite the aft cabin, or in the case of the MK II, opposite the large quarterberth. The galley usually includes a three-burner stove and oven, large double sinks facing forward and a good-sized, 8-cubic-foot icebox. The saloon has a settee and table to port and sea berth settee to starboard. The nav station is usually to port as well and features a decent sized chart table. Tanks take up much of the storage under the settees. The forward cabin is the owner's cabin with an ensuite head, hanging locker and large V-berth. The head can also be accessed from the saloon. The original teak-and-holly cabin sole is not well supported and may need work.

Engine As noted earlier, the Cal 39 came with a variety of engines and many have been repowered. The original engine was the Perkins 4108, a 50-horsepower model that delivered about 30 horses at the prop, but that was enough to push the boat through the water at 6 knots. Fuel capacity is 45 gallons. Later engines include a Universal 44 and a 50-horsepower Pathfinder. Although I owned a boat with a Pathfinder and had little trouble, some 39 owners are not pleased with this marinized VW machine. Engine access is poor, from behind the companionway. One owner summed up this limitation succinctly, "That's why God made skinny people."

Underway The Cal 39 is a very sweet sailing boat, at home in blue water or knocking about the bay. Many 39s have been retrofit into serious cruisers and owners rave about the seakindly motion and good turn of speed. The powerful hull shape can carry sail in a blow and can also be loaded up with stores without sacrificing too much performance. Owners report that the 39 needs a bit of a breeze to get moving. The narrow hull shape heels early and then stiffens up and also rolls running before a following sea. However, it also has enough oomph to surf when the conditions are right. The boat is close winded, especially by cruising boat standards, and this is an under-appreciated feature. This past summer in the Mediterranean found me hard on the wind seven days in 10, and I was thankful I had a fast, nimble boat. Most stodgy cruisers we encountered were steaming along under power.

Conclusion The Cal 39 is an ideal boat to consider for long-range cruising, especially if your budget is under $70,000 and you need private accommodations but don't want to sacrifice good sailing.

Also in Used Boat Notebook

• Hunter Passage 42
• Pearson Rhodes 41
• Santa Cruz 52
• Allied Princess 36
• Kelly-Peterson 46

Also from John Kretschmer

• Hove to in the gales of Biscay
• Sailing's Promise
• Passage to nowhere
• Farewell to brothers of the sea
• Plotting a course to Caribbean sabbatical cruise
• Passage Planning
• Ready to Rumble
• Good vibrations
• Launching and boarding a life raft
• The Great Circle Route: Connecting the dots of a sailing life

Cal 39 mk ii 1 147

The cal 39 mk ii 1 147 is a 39.0ft masthead sloop designed by c. william lapworth and built in fiberglass by jensen marine/cal boats between 1978 and 1982..

The Cal 39 mk ii 1 147 is a moderate weight sailboat which is a reasonably good performer. It is very stable / stiff and has a good righting capability if capsized. It is best suited as a coastal cruiser. The fuel capacity is average. There is a short water supply range.

Cal 39 mk ii 1 147 for sale elsewhere on the web:

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• About the Boat
• About the Location

Added New Page: Alternator Replacement

Old Delco-Remy on the left. New 12V/135A on the right.

The alternator stopped putting out voltage, so I tested it and replaced it.

Maintenance -> Engine -> Alternator Replacement

Added New Page: Batteries/Charging

5 new batteries!

I installed 5 new AGM batteries and thought I’d make a new page explaining Siren’s charging system. Here it is:

Maintenance -> Electrical -> Batteries/Charging

Updated Master Log.xls – Current as of 06/18/2020

Ship Management -> Spreadsheets -> Master Log.xls

Tabs include: Captain’s Log, Maintenance Log, Recurring Maintenance Schedule, and printable templates.

Added New Page: 2019 Expenses

2019 Yearly Expenses, $7,832

Ship Management -> Expenses/Cost -> 2019 Costs

Added New Page: Raw Water Pump

Leaking out the weep holes and corroded.

The raw water pump started leaking out the weep holes. Clear sign that the first bearing went bad. Better refurbish before the second fails or sea water will fill the oil pan and cause major damage to the engine!

Maintenance -> Engine -> Raw Water Pump

Added New Page: Lube Steering Wheel

After removing the shroud and light.

The steering was getting stiffer by the day. Time to add some lube!

Maintenance -> Deck Hardware -> Lube Steering Wheel

Added New Page: Crew Duties – Cockpit

Race Crew Resources –> Crew Duties –> Cockpit

I hope to add Helm, Jib, Mast and Foredeck duty descriptions soon.

Added New Page: Replace Hatch Glass

Replaced the broken Plexiglass in the forehatch.

Maintenance –> Deck Hardware –> Replace Hatch Glass

Migrated Website to SSL

Security is becoming more important as my site grows so I decided to migrate to SSL (Secure Sockets Layer). This method encrypts all data between the server and your web browser to ensure privacy of protected data. Check the icon beside the address in the browser you use to determine if a site you visit is secure or not. For instance, in Chrome you will see a green “lock” icon and “Secure” written beside it.

1) Activate SSL (for free if you use BlueHost web host.) 2) Wait a few hours for activation and follow instructional email from BlueHost. 3) Force redirects to the https version of the site by editing the .htaccess file on the server. 4) Search and replace all links and references in the site database from http:// to https:// 5) Tell Google of the move through their webmaster tools.

Added New Trip: 2017-05 Greece!

Our Hobbit, anchored in the Dodecanese Islands, Greece

Here’s our trip in Greece, sailing around the Dodecanese Islands on a Bareboat Charter by Istion. Tips, weather, costs and tons of photos!

Trips –> 2017-05: Greece Trips –> 2017-05: Greece –> Arrival Trips –> 2017-05: Greece –> Day 1 Trips –> 2017-05: Greece –> … Trips –> 2017-05: Greece –> Day 7

Added New Page: Get Your Captain’s License

How to get your USCG OUPV, Near Coastal (6 pack) License, every step of the way.

Ship Management –> Commercial Ops –> Get Your Captain’s License

Added New Page: Spinnaker Tutorial

Check out how Siren deploys and douses her Spinnaker. Tips to make it better? Please comment, email or just tell me in person next time you’re on the boat :)

Racing -> Crew Resources -> Spinnaker Tutorial

2016 Expenses Page Added.

Quicken Report: 2016 Yearly Expenses, $11360

$11,360 spent on slip fees, haul-out for bottom paint and keel repair, registration/insurance, and various other tidbits.

Ship Management -> Expenses/Cost -> 2016 Costs

Added New Page: Spinnaker Mistakes

Racing -> Crew Resources -> Spinnaker Mistakes

A list of mistakes made in past races. Never to be duplicated! (Right?)   :)

Added New Page: Barient 32 Winch Maintenance

I already disassembled and lubed the Main Winch (Barient 23) last year, but this year my port side jib winch started getting funky. High friction and a high pitched squeal when spinning fast. While disassembling, it turned out to be a rusty bearing. Here’s how I made the repair:

Maintenance -> Deck Hardware -> Winch Maintenance

Re-Posting the Top Paint Page

I’ve been getting lots of interest in the Awl Grip application pics and vids on my how-to page. If you are wondering if you can just roll on Awlgrip (with no tipping) for top paint with a mirror shine… yes you can! Just gotta get that reducer juuuust right for the humidity and temperature.

Check the Top Paint page for details, cost, methods, pics and videos: Maintenance -> Paint Gelcoat Oil Varnish -> Top Paint

Added New Page: Hull Repair – Severe

I smacked a sunken barge, patched it temporarily and waited for the next haul-out. But then I ran aground and snapped a piece of the keel off requiring an emergency haul-out. Here’s how I fixed both repairs.

Maintenance -> Paint Gelcoat Oil Varnish -> Hull Repair – Severe

Added New Trip, 2016-07: Maui

Trips -> 2016-07: Maui

Added Donation Button for Repairs. Help Keep Siren Afloat!

A yellow donation button has been added to the upper right of the page. If you’d like to contribute $10, $20, or $100 to help pay for repairs, now there’s an easy way using Paypal’s secure method.

Credit Card or Paypal accepted.

See Maintenance -> Donate for Repairs for a list of most recent repairs and costs. Thanks for the help!

Added Siren Quiz #1 to the Crew Resources page

Racing -> Crew Resources

2016-07 Sailing Schedule

New PHRF Certificate

Siren is now a legitimate racer. Just received the official PHRF certificate from US Sailing today! Here’s the process in case you are getting your own boat race ready:

Racing -> Get A PHRF Cert

Added Captain’s Log

Ship Management -> Spreadsheets

2016-06 Sailing Schedule

2016-06 Schedule

Added Schematic to Sail Cover

Here are the details: Cost, ordering parts, materials, techniques and dimensions for a Cal 39 Main Sail Cover: Maintenance -> Canvas Work -> Sail Cover

Added Ala Wai Race Info Page

Are you an Oahu sailor? Come join the races! It’s every week (rain or shine or heavy weather, if there’s water in the channel, we race!), it’s free, and it’s really fun:

2016-05 Sailing Schedule

Added 2016 Pokai Race Page

Racing -> Race Results -> 2016-04-09: Pokai

Added “Previous” and “Next” Page Navigation

No more scrolling back to the menu to click the next page. If you are checking out The Big Island Trip , just click the “Next” button to go from Day 1 to Day 2, etc.

(Desktop only. Still gotta work through the menu on your phone. Or just switch to the Desktop verson at the bottom of the page…)

Moved “Expenses / Cost” Page

Expenses and Cost is now located under the Ship Management menu.

Ship Management -> Expenses / Cost

Updated Vessel Registration Page

Ship Management -> Registration

I found a newer, easier way to pay the yearly USCG Registration fee: US Coast Guard Registration Renewal at www.pay.gov (My personal preference): Go to www.pay.gov and search for “USCG Renewal”. As of 2016, the correct form was DHSCGATP. It’s very simple and intuitive, no pdfs or printing required. Just fill out the boxes, clicking the Continue button through the payment section (Bank account, Debit or Credit card payments only) to the Submit and Confirmation sections. Done. I received my new Registration Certificate 27 days after clicking Submit.

Added 11 more pages to Race Results

Racing -> Race Results -> 2015-08-19: Keehi Lagoon Racing -> Race Results -> 2015-08-21: Ala Wai Racing -> Race Results -> 2015-08-28: Ala Wai Racing -> Race Results -> 2015-09-02: Keehi Racing -> Race Results -> 2015-09-04: Ala Wai Racing -> Race Results -> 2015-10-07: Keehi Racing -> Race Results -> 2015-10-21: Keehi Racing -> Race Results -> 2015-10-28: Keehi Racing -> Race Results -> 2015-11-05: Keehi Racing -> Race Results -> 2015-12-11: Ala Wai Racing -> Race Results -> 2015-12-18: Ala Wai

Added 2015 Total Costs

Expenses / Cost –> 2015 Costs

Removed “Tips and Tricks” Menu Item

Moved “ Onboard Cooking ” to it’s own Menu.

Moved “Climb the Mast” to the Maintenance->Sails and Rigging-> Climb the Mast .

Added Newer Perkins Engine Manual For Download

Maintenance –> Engine –> Perkins Manual

2016 Race Hawaii Race Calendar

Here is the official Hawaii Yacht Racing Accociation Calendar of sailing races. Siren will be attending as many as possible!

HYRA-2016-Calendar

Added New Page: “Fresh Water Gauge”

Maintenance -> Plumbing -> Fresh Water Gauge

Updated the Guests / Crew page

Added photos to Guests / Crew .

Added 4 more pages to Race Results

Racing –> Race Results –> 2015-07-29: Keehi Lagoon Racing –> Race Results –> 2015-07-31: Ala Wai Racing –> Race Results –> 2015-08-05: Keehi Lagoon Racing –> Race Results –> 2015-08-07: Ala Wai

Added New Page “Fuel Level Sender Unit”

Maintenance –> Engine –> Fuel Level Sender Unit

Added New Trip “08/2015: Maui”

Trips –> 08/2015: Maui

Added Captain’s Log to Trips Page

Captain’s Log from Jan 17. 2013 to Sep 7, 2015.

Updated the Trips page

Siren’s voyages from 2013 to 2015

Added New Trip “05/2015: Pokai Bay”

Trips –> 05/2015: Pokai Bay

Added a Simplified Charging Diagram to the Electrical Diagrams Page

Added this Simplified Charging Diagram  to Maintenance -> Electrical -> Electrical Diagrams

Added Page: “Questions and Answers”

If you have any questions about living aboard, electrical systems, engine work, living without refrigeration or anything at all, just comment on the Questions and Answers page.

If you’re shy, keep it private and email:  [email protected]

Added to the “Racing” Page

Racing : Compiled all of Siren’s race results in one location, plus added a graph of Siren’s Performance. Sure are a lot of DFLs, DSQs and DNFs, haha!

Added New Page “Winch Maintenance”

Maintenance -> Deck Hardware -> Winch Maintenance

Added New Page “Bilge”

Maintenance -> Plumbing -> Bilge

Here’s a description and diagram of my dual, automatic bilge pump system.

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Cal 39 MKII

Used yachts for sale, sail monohulls 35ft > 40ft,        cal boats for sale, cal 39 mkii boats for sale.

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• Sailboat Guide

1978 CAL 39

• Description

Seller's Description

We have several active listings for Catalina, Hunter, Beneteau, and C & C Yachts. If you’re in the Miami, Hialeah, Fort Lauderdale, or Pembroke Pines areas, please use the form on this page to let me know what you’re looking for and I’ll get back with you today about any other cruising sailboat options we have locally that may meet your needs.

Rig and Sails

Auxilary power, accomodations, calculations.

The theoretical maximum speed that a displacement hull can move efficiently through the water is determined by it's waterline length and displacement. It may be unable to reach this speed if the boat is underpowered or heavily loaded, though it may exceed this speed given enough power. Read more.

Classic hull speed formula:

Hull Speed = 1.34 x √LWL

Max Speed/Length ratio = 8.26 ÷ Displacement/Length ratio .311 Hull Speed = Max Speed/Length ratio x √LWL

Sail Area / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the power of the sails relative to the weight of the boat. The higher the number, the higher the performance, but the harder the boat will be to handle. This ratio is a "non-dimensional" value that facilitates comparisons between boats of different types and sizes. Read more.

SA/D = SA ÷ (D ÷ 64) 2/3

• SA : Sail area in square feet, derived by adding the mainsail area to 100% of the foretriangle area (the lateral area above the deck between the mast and the forestay).
• D : Displacement in pounds.

Ballast / Displacement Ratio

A measure of the stability of a boat's hull that suggests how well a monohull will stand up to its sails. The ballast displacement ratio indicates how much of the weight of a boat is placed for maximum stability against capsizing and is an indicator of stiffness and resistance to capsize.

Ballast / Displacement * 100

Displacement / Length Ratio

A measure of the weight of the boat relative to it's length at the waterline. The higher a boat’s D/L ratio, the more easily it will carry a load and the more comfortable its motion will be. The lower a boat's ratio is, the less power it takes to drive the boat to its nominal hull speed or beyond. Read more.

D/L = (D ÷ 2240) ÷ (0.01 x LWL)³

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds.
• LWL: Waterline length in feet

Comfort Ratio

This ratio assess how quickly and abruptly a boat’s hull reacts to waves in a significant seaway, these being the elements of a boat’s motion most likely to cause seasickness. Read more.

Comfort ratio = D ÷ (.65 x (.7 LWL + .3 LOA) x Beam 1.33 )

• D: Displacement of the boat in pounds
• LOA: Length overall in feet
• Beam: Width of boat at the widest point in feet

Capsize Screening Formula

This formula attempts to indicate whether a given boat might be too wide and light to readily right itself after being overturned in extreme conditions. Read more.

CSV = Beam ÷ ³√(D / 64)

Also delivered with Pathfinder Diesel.

Shallow draft: 5.5’/1.68m

Tall Rig: I: 54.00’ J: 16.67’ P: 48.00’ E: 13.75’

From original factory brochure and owners manual.

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