Cal 24 Buyer's Guide
The Cal 24 is an early fiberglass Lapworth design that has all but disappeared from brokerage listings because its owners keep them. Built by Jensen Marine and later Cal Yachts from 1958 to 1965, with sources differing on the completed count (184 per Wikipedia, 187 per SAIL Magazine), the original MORC racer survives as a trailerable pocket cruiser rather than a common used-boat commodity. A buyer shopping the United States market is hunting a scarce boat, so the inspection matters more than the search.
Layouts on the Used Market
The Cal 24 was sold either as a complete ready-to-sail boat or as a kit for amateur completion, and that split still matters when evaluating a used example. The fractional sloop layout carries a double V-berth in the bow, two straight settee quarter berths in the main cabin, and a head under the forward berth, with a port-side galley just aft of the bow cabin. Cabin headroom is 54 inches. The fixed stub keel with cutaway forefoot and retractable centerboard defines the boat: 4.50 feet with the board down, 2.50 feet up for trailering. A buyer should confirm which version they are looking at, since a kit-finished hull may not match a factory boat's structural care.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
The Cal 24 was normally fitted with a small 3 to 6 hp outboard for docking, and the most consequential used-market work centers on the wood-to-glass interfaces rather than added gear. Owners who have renewed these boats replaced leaking wood-trimmed windows with stainless steel frames, rebuilt the toerail in epoxy-laminated mahogany and pine, and updated the electrical panel. A small pressure-water sink and mahogany bulkhead veneer appear on refitted boats. None of this equipment is standard in a predictable tier—what a buyer actually encounters is the state of the original windows, toerail, and centerboard trunk more than any option list.
What to Inspect
Documented known issues center on the oldest structures. One 1963 boat showed a delaminated cabintop and a centerboard rusted in the trunk anchor, so the trunk and board must be cycled fully. Owners report the wood-trimmed windows leak as the bedding fails anchor, and a careful buyer checks for stains at the bulkheads and under the deck edge. Period reviews also warned that not all kit boats were finished to an acceptable standard of quality anchor, making a survey of hull-to-deck joint and interior glasswork essential on any amateur-completed example. Mast corrosion is another owner-reported item, addressed by unstepping the mast.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
The Cal 24 is found in the United States market, where it remains relatively rare because owners hold on. A buyer's short checklist:
- Verify the centerboard retracts freely and the trunk is not rusted shut
- Inspect cabintop and wood-trimmed windows for delamination and leakage
- Confirm kit versus factory build and scrutinize finish quality
- Check mast and rigging for corrosion from age
- Test the 3 to 6 hp outboard and the electrical panel condition
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Cal 24. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 2 rows
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 25 | 2 | $5,500 | — |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $8,500 | +54.5% |
Where they're listed
Cal 24 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 1.
Country view
1 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $8,500 | 1 | 0 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
2 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catalina 27 | 26.83' | $ 7,900 | 77 | 20 |
| Cal 24You are here | — | $ 8,500 | 1 | 0 |