First let me say hello to everyone since I'm new here. So, here's the deal: I will be finishing up my current project of 3 years by mid-winter and like a sucker, want to start all over on a bigger and more expensive one. I've been out of the sailing gig for about 10 years and now that I'm completely sick of powerboats, I'm returning (forever!) to sail. From my initial research, a mid '70's Cal 39 looks like the boat for me. For an overview, I'm looking for a reasonable balance of performance, stability, durability, and living comfort for around the $40-$50k range. A solid coastal cruiser should suit my cruising needs - US and Canadian West coast, Mexico, Caribbean, and possible well planned, well timed ocean passages. I liveabord comfortably now, on a 27 footer, so I don't forsee having any problems with storage or living space. The standard cabin layouts are appealing to me and aside from the main traveler in front of the companionway, rigging seems to placed to my liking - though I will most likely need to modify for single handing. Anyway, what are the opinions of these boats and how do they compare to other production boats? Are there any issues associated with these boats I should be aware of? Things like blister problems during certain years, common leaks, soft decks or cabin soles, common rigging/hull/deck stresses or failures, things of that nature? Any rudder issues I should know about? The far aft reaching rudder is interesting. . . and a little worriesome. Any help will be greatly appreciated and I plan to post updates as the search progresses. . . Thanks!
Looking to buy a Cal 39 - Any advice?
- Thread starter RATW
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First let me say hello to everyone since I'm new here. So, here's the deal: I will be finishing up my current project of 3 years by mid-winter and like a sucker, want to start all over on a bigger and more expensive one. I've been out of the sailing gig for about 10 years and now that I'm completely sick of powerboats, I'm returning (forever!) to sail. From my initial research, a mid '70's Cal 39 looks like the boat for me. For an overview, I'm looking for a reasonable balance of performance, stability, durability, and living comfort for around the $40-$50k range. A solid coastal cruiser should suit my cruising needs - US and Canadian West coast, Mexico, Caribbean, and possible well planned, well timed ocean passages. I liveabord comfortably now, on a 27 footer, so I don't forsee having any problems with storage or living space. The standard cabin layouts are appealing to me and aside from the main traveler in front of the companionway, rigging seems to placed to my liking - though I will most likely need to modify for single handing. Anyway, what are the opinions of these boats and how do they compare to other production boats? Are there any issues associated with these boats I should be aware of? Things like blister problems during certain years, common leaks, soft decks or cabin soles, common rigging/hull/deck stresses or failures, things of that nature? Any rudder issues I should know about? The far aft reaching rudder is interesting. . . and a little worriesome. Any help will be greatly appreciated and I plan to post updates as the search progresses. . . Thanks!
Cal 39
My wife and I bought a 1980 Cal 39 II two years ago. Price $64,000 after some haggling and a survey that showed her to be a pretty good deal -- well, turns out the surveyor didn't look deep enough. She's a beautiful boat, with no blistering problems and solidly built. But, as with ALL old boats, you have to be prepared for surprises. Our's was raced pretty hard in the 1980s, and the house lifted a bit, which has generally thrown the rigging off a bit. We've fixed it as best as possible, but it's cost a bit. We've had to add a windlass, redo the retro-installation of a holding tank (they weren't built with them installed in the 1970s), add self-tailling winches, buy new sails, and replace the engine's heat exchanger, raw water pump, high pressure fuel pump, etc. All in all, we've put another $35,000 into her. Had we been handy enough to do much of the labor ourselves, the additional would still have been $20,000. Bottom line -- we love the boat. She's got the classic style and feel we think a sailboat should have, and to replace her with an equivalent new boat (say a Tartan 37 or 41) would cost $300-$350,000. But I think you're dreaming if you think you can get a quality Cal 39 that you can go cruising with in $40-$50,000.
My wife and I bought a 1980 Cal 39 II two years ago. Price $64,000 after some haggling and a survey that showed her to be a pretty good deal -- well, turns out the surveyor didn't look deep enough. She's a beautiful boat, with no blistering problems and solidly built. But, as with ALL old boats, you have to be prepared for surprises. Our's was raced pretty hard in the 1980s, and the house lifted a bit, which has generally thrown the rigging off a bit. We've fixed it as best as possible, but it's cost a bit. We've had to add a windlass, redo the retro-installation of a holding tank (they weren't built with them installed in the 1970s), add self-tailling winches, buy new sails, and replace the engine's heat exchanger, raw water pump, high pressure fuel pump, etc. All in all, we've put another $35,000 into her. Had we been handy enough to do much of the labor ourselves, the additional would still have been $20,000. Bottom line -- we love the boat. She's got the classic style and feel we think a sailboat should have, and to replace her with an equivalent new boat (say a Tartan 37 or 41) would cost $300-$350,000. But I think you're dreaming if you think you can get a quality Cal 39 that you can go cruising with in $40-$50,000.
Cal 39
My wife and I bought a 1980 Cal 39 II two years ago. Price $64,000 after some haggling and a survey that showed her to be a pretty good deal -- well, turns out the surveyor didn't look deep enough. She's a beautiful boat, with no blistering problems and solidly built. But, as with ALL old boats, you have to be prepared for surprises. Our's was raced pretty hard in the 1980s, and the house lifted a bit, which has generally thrown the rigging off a bit. We've fixed it as best as possible, but it's cost a bit. We've had to add a windlass, redo the retro-installation of a holding tank (they weren't built with them installed in the 1970s), add self-tailling winches, buy new sails, and replace the engine's heat exchanger, raw water pump, high pressure fuel pump, etc. All in all, we've put another $35,000 into her. Had we been handy enough to do much of the labor ourselves, the additional would still have been $20,000. Bottom line -- we love the boat. She's got the classic style and feel we think a sailboat should have, and to replace her with an equivalent new boat (say a Tartan 37 or 41) would cost $300-$350,000. But I think you're dreaming if you think you can get a quality Cal 39 that you can go cruising with in $40-$50,000.
My wife and I bought a 1980 Cal 39 II two years ago. Price $64,000 after some haggling and a survey that showed her to be a pretty good deal -- well, turns out the surveyor didn't look deep enough. She's a beautiful boat, with no blistering problems and solidly built. But, as with ALL old boats, you have to be prepared for surprises. Our's was raced pretty hard in the 1980s, and the house lifted a bit, which has generally thrown the rigging off a bit. We've fixed it as best as possible, but it's cost a bit. We've had to add a windlass, redo the retro-installation of a holding tank (they weren't built with them installed in the 1970s), add self-tailling winches, buy new sails, and replace the engine's heat exchanger, raw water pump, high pressure fuel pump, etc. All in all, we've put another $35,000 into her. Had we been handy enough to do much of the labor ourselves, the additional would still have been $20,000. Bottom line -- we love the boat. She's got the classic style and feel we think a sailboat should have, and to replace her with an equivalent new boat (say a Tartan 37 or 41) would cost $300-$350,000. But I think you're dreaming if you think you can get a quality Cal 39 that you can go cruising with in $40-$50,000.
Dreaming
Thanks for the info. . . I should have been a little more specific on my expectations for the price though. I'm looking to spend $40-50k to start the project off and not for a finished product. I expect to begin serious cruising in about five years so that should give enough time to get the boat in prime shape. My current project is a powerboat and I've done everything from gelcoat repairs and interior upgrades to total engine and outdrive rebuilds (two of them! It's a twin) as well as a transom rebuild. I've got a pretty good understanding of the risks of an old boat (see "transom rebuild" above) The rigging of a sailboat will be a new. . . ummm. . . challenge, but overall, I feel up to it
Anyway, thanks for the info!
Thanks for the info. . . I should have been a little more specific on my expectations for the price though. I'm looking to spend $40-50k to start the project off and not for a finished product. I expect to begin serious cruising in about five years so that should give enough time to get the boat in prime shape. My current project is a powerboat and I've done everything from gelcoat repairs and interior upgrades to total engine and outdrive rebuilds (two of them! It's a twin) as well as a transom rebuild. I've got a pretty good understanding of the risks of an old boat (see "transom rebuild" above) The rigging of a sailboat will be a new. . . ummm. . . challenge, but overall, I feel up to it
Anyway, thanks for the info!Dreaming
Thanks for the info. . . I should have been a little more specific on my expectations for the price though. I'm looking to spend $40-50k to start the project off and not for a finished product. I expect to begin serious cruising in about five years so that should give enough time to get the boat in prime shape. My current project is a powerboat and I've done everything from gelcoat repairs and interior upgrades to total engine and outdrive rebuilds (two of them! It's a twin) as well as a transom rebuild. I've got a pretty good understanding of the risks of an old boat (see "transom rebuild" above) The rigging of a sailboat will be a new. . . ummm. . . challenge, but overall, I feel up to it Anyway, thanks for the info!
Thanks for the info. . . I should have been a little more specific on my expectations for the price though. I'm looking to spend $40-50k to start the project off and not for a finished product. I expect to begin serious cruising in about five years so that should give enough time to get the boat in prime shape. My current project is a powerboat and I've done everything from gelcoat repairs and interior upgrades to total engine and outdrive rebuilds (two of them! It's a twin) as well as a transom rebuild. I've got a pretty good understanding of the risks of an old boat (see "transom rebuild" above) The rigging of a sailboat will be a new. . . ummm. . . challenge, but overall, I feel up to it
Anyway, thanks for the info!About that Cal-39
I may know where your Cal39 is, if you are still searching. The only problem is she berths in Ft. Lauderdale. I'll be getting her details shortly. This was the first sailboat over 10ft I ever had the pleasure of climbing aboard, I remember her fondly. contact geonaught@hotmail.com and I'll try to get some more info.
I may know where your Cal39 is, if you are still searching. The only problem is she berths in Ft. Lauderdale. I'll be getting her details shortly. This was the first sailboat over 10ft I ever had the pleasure of climbing aboard, I remember her fondly. contact geonaught@hotmail.com and I'll try to get some more info.
About that Cal-39
I may know where your Cal39 is, if you are still searching. The only problem is she berths in Ft. Lauderdale. I'll be getting her details shortly. This was the first sailboat over 10ft I ever had the pleasure of climbing aboard, I remember her fondly. contact geonaught@hotmail.com and I'll try to get some more info.
I may know where your Cal39 is, if you are still searching. The only problem is she berths in Ft. Lauderdale. I'll be getting her details shortly. This was the first sailboat over 10ft I ever had the pleasure of climbing aboard, I remember her fondly. contact geonaught@hotmail.com and I'll try to get some more info.
cal 39
I went from an O'Day 27 to a Cal 39. The Cal is a great boat, very strong and fast, with tons of storage. No problems except for stuff you might have to fix on any boat, ie, plumbing upgrades, some engine work, etc. I did have to haul out to re pack the stuffing box. There's not enough clearance to do it in the water, and you can't get the shaft all the way out without dropping the rudder, but to repack you only have to take it out a little. I can still take this boat out and catch just about any sail you can see on the horizon, and I'm talking about boats like larger Swans, Hunters in the 40 plus size, catalinas, you name it. This boat can cover some territory and do it comfortably.
I went from an O'Day 27 to a Cal 39. The Cal is a great boat, very strong and fast, with tons of storage. No problems except for stuff you might have to fix on any boat, ie, plumbing upgrades, some engine work, etc. I did have to haul out to re pack the stuffing box. There's not enough clearance to do it in the water, and you can't get the shaft all the way out without dropping the rudder, but to repack you only have to take it out a little. I can still take this boat out and catch just about any sail you can see on the horizon, and I'm talking about boats like larger Swans, Hunters in the 40 plus size, catalinas, you name it. This boat can cover some territory and do it comfortably.
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