Design and Construction
Lapworth increased the beam from 8 feet to 9 feet and beefed up the toerail to nearly 2 inches. These were modest-looking but consequential upgrades over the original Cal 25. Wider side decks made it easier to move fore and aft, while inboard shrouds, rather than shrouds attached to the outside of the hull, further cleared the passage along the side decks.
The hull was built using a traditional hand-laid fiberglass process, with a solid fiberglass hull and deck. Its fin keel encapsulated 2,000 pounds of lead, eliminating concern about failing keel bolts. The design also has a spade rudder and tiller steering. Yacht broker Chris Rooke noted that Cal did a very good job with delamination by removing excess resin during production.
Rig and Handling
The Cal 25-2 is a well-designed, nicely equipped masthead sloop with a tall rig and 314 square feet of sail area. The mainsail is on the small side and easy to handle. A traveler and boom vang help with sail trim. The traveler sits on the bridgedeck just forward of the companionway opening, where it stays clear of the cockpit seating.
The deep keel and wide beam make the boat less tender. It also performs remarkably well in light winds, thanks to its tall rig, generous sail area, flat bottom, and balanced keel.
Test sailors considered the well-balanced helm a defining trait. The boat points nicely, although testers also found that it pounded when heading upwind in a chop. Owners say the tiller is so well balanced that a 60-pound person can easily handle the boat in 25 knots of breeze.
Accommodations
The redesigned interior provides 5 feet 10 inches of headroom in the saloon and 5 feet 6 inches in the head—a real improvement in standing room over the earlier boat. The V-berth is roomy enough for two full-size adults. In all, the boat has five full-size berths: two settees, a quarter berth, and the V-berth.
The head compartment closes with a sliding door, providing privacy without taking up valuable cabin space. This addressed a shortcoming of the original Cal 25, which had no privacy screen.
A fold-down dinette table serves for meals. The galley makes efficient use of the available space, with a 4.5-cubic foot icebox, two-burner alcohol stove, and single-basin stainless steel sink. Fresh water is stored in a 21-gallon tank.
Known Issues
Some owners have expressed concern about excessive mast compression, indicated by fiberglass crazing at the maststep on deck or near the interior cabin liner beneath it. Potential buyers should inspect for cabintop sag in that area. Other signs include slack standing rigging and a sliding head privacy door that no longer operates smoothly.
Through-hull fittings should be examined for wear, and the standing rigging checked for cracks at the swages. Owner reports also suggest that the electrical system may require attention if it was improperly installed after the original purchase.
Spongy areas on the foredeck may indicate water intrusion into the fiberglass layers and subsequent delamination, often caused by leaking chainplates.
Engines, Refits, and Ownership
The boat was available with an optional inboard diesel rather than an outboard engine. Specific engine options included a 15-horsepower gasoline OMC Saildrive, an 11-horsepower Universal 5411 inboard diesel, and an 11-horsepower Yanmar inboard diesel.
Common owner upgrades include self-tailing winches, a replacement for the portable toilet, a non-pressurized alcohol stove, self-steering, and control lines led back to the cockpit.
Jensen Marine is no longer in business. A licensed version was also built and sold in Brazil as the Martinique 25, which had a shoal draft of 3 feet 5 inches.
The Verdict
The Cal 25-2 is a mature redesign of a classic Lapworth small cruiser. It trades the original boat’s flat-top austerity for more room, greater safety, and better balance. Its encapsulated lead keel, wider beam, and inboard shrouds make it a practical, forgiving boat to sail and maintain. The known mast-compression and chainplate-leak issues are well understood and can be inspected rather than remaining structural mysteries.
Pros
- Raised cabin and 9-foot beam provide genuine headroom and easier movement fore and aft on deck
- Encapsulated 2,000-pound lead keel removes keel-bolt failure from the worry list
- Strong light-air performance and a balanced tiller make sailing single-handed or with a light crew realistic
- Five full-size berths and a private head provide real cruising utility in a 25-foot boat
Cons
- Mast compression at the step can craze the fiberglass and cause the cabintop to sag if left unchecked
- Leaking chainplates can lead to foredeck delamination over time
- Electrical work may need correction if it was improperly altered after the original purchase
- Pounding upwind in a chop is part of the flat-bottom trade-off
