Cal 20

Summary

The Cal 20 is an American sailboat, that was designed by C. William Lapworth and first built in 1961.[1][2]

Cal 20
Development
DesignerC. William Lapworth
LocationUnited States
Year1961
No. built1,945
Builder(s)Cal Yachts
Calgan Marine
NameCal 20
Boat
Displacement1,950 lb (885 kg)
Draft3.33 ft (1.01 m)
Hull
TypeMonohull
ConstructionFiberglass
LOA20.00 ft (6.10 m)
LWL18.00 ft (5.49 m)
Beam7.00 ft (2.13 m)
Engine typeOutboard motor
Hull appendages
Keel/board typefin keel with bulb
Ballast900 lb (408 kg)
Rudder(s)transom-mounted rudder
Rig
GeneralFractional rigged sloop
I foretriangle height22.00 ft (6.71 m)
J foretriangle base7.30 ft (2.23 m)
P mainsail luff23.00 ft (7.01 m)
E mainsail foot10.00 ft (3.05 m)
Sails
Mainsail area115.00 sq ft (10.684 m2)
Jib/genoa area80.30 sq ft (7.460 m2)
Total sail area195.30 sq ft (18.144 m2)
Racing
PHRF279 (average)

Production edit

The boat was built by Cal Yachts in the United States from 1961 to 1975, but it is now out of production.[1][3]

The Cal 20 was seen by Canadian Al Nairne during a visit to California. Nairne convinced Jack Jensen of Jensen Marine to allow him to produce the Cal 20 under licence in Canada and formed Calgan Marine in North Vancouver for that purpose. Calgan Marine went on to produce many Cal Yachts designs, plus designs of its own.[1][4]

A total of 1,945 Cal 20s were built during its 14-year production run.[1]

Design edit

The Cal 20 is a small recreational keelboat, built predominantly of fiberglass. It has a fractional sloop rig, a transom-hung rudder and a fixed fin keel with a weighted bulb. It displaces 1,950 lb (885 kg) and carries 900 lb (408 kg) of ballast.[1]

The boat has a draft of 3.33 ft (1.01 m) with the standard keel fitted and is normally fitted with a small outboard motor for docking and maneuvering.[1]

The boat has a PHRF racing average handicap of 279 with a high of 291 and low of 270. It has a hull speed of 5.69 kn (10.54 km/h).[5]

Operational history edit

In a 2010 review Steve Henkel wrote, "best features: She is fast and easy to sail. A 46% B/D ratio, with a bulb keel concentrating her ballast low, gives her good stability. An outboard well located in the cockpit keeps the engine under the helmsman’s control. And for those looking for camaraderie, the big network of Cal 20 fleets (largely on the West Coast) will be attractive. Worst features: Fin keel with bulb makes the boat a chore to launch at shallow ramps. Also, the boats are among the oldest fiberglass boats around, and most will require more strenuous than ordinary maintenance to keep in top condition. The keel (made of iron, which rusts), keel bolts, and surrounding fiberglass are common causes of concern."[6]

See also edit

Similar sailboats

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f Browning, Randy (2018). "Cal 20 sailboat specifications and details". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  2. ^ Browning, Randy (2018). "C. William Lapworth". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  3. ^ Browning, Randy (2018). "Jensen Marine/Cal Boats 1956-1989". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 23 January 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  4. ^ Browning, Randy (2018). "Calgan Marine Ltd. (CAN) 1962-1979". sailboatdata.com. Archived from the original on 24 March 2022. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
  5. ^ InterVisionSoft LLC (2018). "Sailboat Specifications for Cal 20". Sailing Joy. Archived from the original on 8 February 2018. Retrieved 2 February 2018.
  6. ^ Henkel, Steve: The Sailor's Book of Small Cruising Sailboats, page 89. International Marine/McGraw-Hill, 2010. ISBN 978-0-07-163652-0