I just purchased a CAL 2-29 today! This is my first large sailboat. I have some work to do to get it in the water. Mostly cosmetic but I plan to rewire the mast and check all safety items. I will need a new marine head to begin with. I finished taking several sailing courses this year and decided to fulfill my life long dream of studying whales using a sailboat. I am a marine biologist. Except when I was a kid with a small sailboat I have always used power boats for research purposes. The Owners I made the purchase from had the original full color brochure, the Owner's Guide and the specification sheets and other manuals that came with the vessel. What a treasure trove! In 1973 I had just finished my third year of college in marine biology at the University of West Florida. It is then that the idea of sailing my own boat to research and observe the Gulf of Mexico and oceans first came to me. Unfortunately circumstances of a young family did not permit this. last year my doctor told me I needed to do the things I had been putting off for time was growing short. So as soon as I could I started the ASA sailing classes. I came into enough cash to buy a used sailboat. I looked and looked at sailboat listings and ads. Even bid on a few boats and almost got burned on one. Saw the light just in time and spotted the Cal 29 at a repair marina. The owner of the boat ways had a Catalina 27 so I climbed aboard and tried it out for size. This was tooo little for this bear. He offered the Cal 29 at half market... I tried it out for size and the rest is history. My only question is: What took me soooo long?
NEW Cal 2-29 Owner!
- Thread starter RGMORI
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You will find that your 2-29 is not just any "old boat". She is sturdy and can handle handle any conditions you get her into without shedding pieces of her hull and rigging. 2-29's will get up and go: her waterline of 24-plus feet means that she will keep up with larger boats with similar waterline lengths. Just don't go picking on the modern lightweight "sleds" that are mostly waterline. (Unless there's a really stiff breeze: they will be reefing to avoid knockdowns - you, with over 40% of your weight in ballast, will be barreling along under full main and working jib). The canoe shape underwater will part oncoming waves and give a fairly soft ride. There's a little almost-flat spot in the bottom shape adjacent to the keel: sailing on a reach with a following sea, she will get up and surf on that flat spot - don't be surprised if you see the knotmeter surge up well over 8 knots in those conditions. In short, these boats are a lot like a well bred and well trained saddle horse - she will give a safe and reliable ride as you get to know her, but she's ready to respond when you ask for an all-out "gallop". Your 2-29 is a master design from a master designer. He's gone now, so these boats are truly the last of a very special breed. Fred T
You will find that your 2-29 is not just any "old boat". She is sturdy and can handle handle any conditions you get her into without shedding pieces of her hull and rigging. 2-29's will get up and go: her waterline of 24-plus feet means that she will keep up with larger boats with similar waterline lengths. Just don't go picking on the modern lightweight "sleds" that are mostly waterline. (Unless there's a really stiff breeze: they will be reefing to avoid knockdowns - you, with over 40% of your weight in ballast, will be barreling along under full main and working jib). The canoe shape underwater will part oncoming waves and give a fairly soft ride. There's a little almost-flat spot in the bottom shape adjacent to the keel: sailing on a reach with a following sea, she will get up and surf on that flat spot - don't be surprised if you see the knotmeter surge up well over 8 knots in those conditions. In short, these boats are a lot like a well bred and well trained saddle horse - she will give a safe and reliable ride as you get to know her, but she's ready to respond when you ask for an all-out "gallop". Your 2-29 is a master design from a master designer. He's gone now, so these boats are truly the last of a very special breed. Fred T
Yahoo link
There isn't much to add to what Fred said.... Here's the link to the Yahoo group --> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Cal_Boats/
There isn't much to add to what Fred said.... Here's the link to the Yahoo group --> http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Cal_Boats/
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