Cal 3-30 Buyer's Guide
The Cal 3-30 on the brokerage market is a 1973-74 Lapworth cruiser-racer built by Jensen Marine, an evolution of the Cal 30 and Cal 2-30 and conceived as an IOR three-quarter-ton racer with coastal cruising ability. With only about 100 to 200 produced, she is a scarce find compared to earlier Cals, and buyers should understand her as a vintage solid-fiberglass fin-keel sloop rather than a modern light-displacement cruiser.
Layouts on the Used Market
Every Cal 3-30 shares the same Lapworth hull: 30.07 feet overall, 26.31-foot waterline, 10.17-foot beam, 10,500-pound displacement, and a 5.5-foot fixed fin keel with spade rudder. The belowdecks plan is the luxurious hand-finished teak cruising interior the boat was originally marketed with, so used Cal 3-30s differ mainly in upkeep and owner-added gear rather than in factory layout variations. The Universal Atomic 4 gasoline engine (30 hp, 20-gallon tank) is the standard powerplant buyers will encounter.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Electric winches are often seen on listed boats, a meaningful upgrade for solo or short-handed sail handling on a masthead sloop whose standard genoa can reach 150 percent. Beyond that, buyers should evaluate each boat on its own canvas, navigation, and energy setup rather than expect a uniform inventory. The original rig accepts a 419-square-foot genoa and spinnakers to 856 square feet, so a powered winch package directly reduces crew fatigue when flying overlapping headsails.
What to Inspect
The standard Cal hull-to-deck joint of the era was bonded with polyester putty and mechanically secured with pop rivets, so examine that seam for weeping or fastener corrosion. The fiberglass-encased galvanized steel mast beam transfers rig compression to the bulkhead and is a known Cal-era item to check for rust staining or bulkhead softening. Confirm the Atomic 4 gasoline system is intact and vented, given the 20-gallon tank and older fuel plumbing.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
Cal 3-30s are found in the United States market. For a shopper, the short checklist is: verify the teak interior condition, test the Atomic 4 and fuel system, confirm the hull-deck joint and mast beam, and assess whether electric winches are fitted for easier handling. Expect a rare but original Lapworth cruiser-racer worth patient searching.
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Cal 3-30. The line shows the median ask each month; the bars show how many listings appeared.
Monthly breakdown · 1 row
| Month | Listings | Median ask | Δ vs. last mo. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 26 | 3 | $6,500 | — |
Where they're listed
Cal 3-30 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 3.
Country view
3 listings · 1 country| Country | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d | Share |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $6,500 | 3 | 0 | 100.0% |
Comparable models
Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.
Similar boats to compare
8 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beneteau First 30 (Mauric) | 29.36' | $ 79,787 | 44 | 13 |
| CS Yachts 30 | 30' | $ 24,499 | 27 | 5 |
| Judel/Vrolijk J/30 | 29.83' | $ 14,500 | 26 | 9 |
| Pearson 30 | 29.79' | $ 7,000 | 20 | 8 |
| Tartan 30 | 29.92' | $ 9,950 | 18 | 5 |
| Custom 30 | 29.75' | $ 19,646 | 16 | 1 |
| Sparkman & Stephens 30 | 30.5' | $ 62,500 | 8 | 0 |
| CAL 3-30You are here | — | $ 6,500 | 3 | 0 |