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.
About this estimate ▾
- Based on asking prices — not actual sale prices, which are typically lower.
- Condition, year, location, and included equipment are not factored in.
- Outliers are automatically excluded using statistical filtering.
- See our full analysis: What Thousands of Sailboat Listings Tell Us About Used Boat Prices.
No owner reviews yet — be the first to share your experience with this boat.
What is the Cal 36's sail area to displacement ratio?
The Cal 36 has a Sail Area to Displacement ratio (SA/D) of 19.24. Values between 14–18 are typical cruising sailboats; 18–22 is cruiser/racer; over 22 is performance racing.
What is the Cal 36's comfort ratio?
The Cal 36 has a Ted Brewer Comfort Ratio of 26.12. A ratio over 30 indicates good offshore comfort; over 40 is very comfortable offshore.
Is the Cal 36 safe for offshore sailing?
The Cal 36 has a Capsize Screening Formula value of 1.85. Values under 2.0 are considered acceptable for offshore sailing; under 1.8 is ideal.
What is the hull speed of the Cal 36?
The theoretical hull speed of the Cal 36 is 6.96 kn knots, calculated from its waterline length.
How much does a Cal 36 weigh?
The Cal 36 has a displacement of 11,200.00 lb and a length overall (LOA) of 35.50 ft.
How much does a used Cal 36 cost?
Based on 5 recent market listings, used Cal 36 sailboats typically sell for between $3,000 and $14,000, with a median asking price of $12,800. Price varies significantly based on year, condition, location, and included equipment.
Who designed the Cal 36?
The Cal 36 was designed by C. William Lapworth, first built in 1966.