Design and Construction
The Cal 24-3 is a recreational keelboat of fiberglass construction with wood trim, carrying a raked stem, a raised counter, and a slightly reverse transom. At 24.33 feet overall with an 8-foot beam and a 20-foot waterline, it displaces 3,300 pounds and draws 4.25 feet on the standard fixed fin keel, or 3.33 feet with the optional shoal draft keel. The standard keel carries 1,175 pounds of lead ballast; the shoal version carries 1,400 pounds. A telling change from the earlier Lapworth Cal 2-24 was the replacement of that boat's iron bulb keel with an external lead keel bolted to a stub, which yielded less maintenance, a thinner keel section, and a lower center of gravity anchor. Steve Henkel rated the construction as mid- to upper-end in quality—a cut above O'Day and on a par with Pearson, though below Pacific Seacraft—and noted good-quality hardware throughout anchor. The boat is steered by a tiller through a spade-type rudder.
Rig and Handling
The Cal 24-3 is rigged as a masthead sloop with a Bermuda rig, carrying 260.65 square feet of sail area across a 122.31-square-foot mainsail and a 138.34-square-foot jib or genoa. The foretriangle measures 29.75 feet high on the I dimension and 9.30 feet at the J base, with a mainsail luff of 25.75 feet and foot of 9.50 feet. With a PHRF average handicap of 213 and a hull speed of 6.0 knots, the design sits firmly in the light-displacement racer-cruiser bracket. Period assessment credited the external lead keel with lowering the center of gravity, and the tiller-steered spade rudder gives direct control. Henkel observed that the standard winches supplied were too small for full-range sailing, while Barient #19ST two-speed self-tailing winches and a boom vang were offered as extra-cost options for those wanting better control anchor.
Accommodations
Below, the Cal 24-3 sleeps four, with a double V-berth in the bow cabin and two straight settee quarter berths in the main cabin; a pull-out double for the port settee was an option. The galley sits to starboard just aft of the companionway ladder and is equipped with a two-burner stove and sink, while the head is just aft of the bow V-berth on the port side. A hanging locker stands to starboard of the companionway, an anchor locker is in the bow, and cabin headroom is 60 inches. Ventilation comes from a large forward deck hatch, which Henkel singled out as a plus anchor. Fresh water capacity is 15 U.S. gallons.
Equipment and Power
Docking and maneuvering are normally handled by a small 3 to 6 hp outboard motor, though a Yanmar 7.5 hp diesel with a 12 U.S. gallon fuel tank was a factory option for those seeking more autonomy. The outboard bracket, however, was mounted on the transom where it is hard to reach from the cockpit, a noted nuisance in day-to-day handling anchor.
The Verdict
The Cal 24-3 is a thoughtfully executed small racer-cruiser that balanced offshore aspirations with trailerable dimensions. Its Hunt-designed hull and lead-on-stub keel gave it a lower center of gravity and easier upkeep than the Lapworth boat it replaced, and the construction quality stood respectably among its peers. The compromises are typical of the size: tight headroom, modest standard winches, and an awkward outboard location.
Pros
- External lead keel lowered center of gravity and cut maintenance versus the iron bulb predecessor
- Mid- to upper-end construction quality with good hardware throughout
- True four-berth layout with practical galley and head arrangement
- Trailerable yet designed as an offshore-capable blue-water boat
Cons
- Standard winches too small for full-range sailing without paid upgrades
- Outboard bracket hard to reach from the cockpit
- Only 60 inches of cabin headroom limits comfort below
