Cal 34-Iii Sailboat Review, Specs, and Listings

Design and Construction

Lapworth's hand-laid fiberglass hull carries solid construction with a balsa-cored deck, and the Mark III pairs a fin keel with a spade rudder anchor. At 33.24 feet overall with a 26-foot waterline, 10-foot beam, 10,200-pound displacement, and 4,650 pounds of lead ballast, the boat is internally ballasted—a trait shared with the broader Cal 34 line that makes the toe of the keel vulnerable to damage on a hard grounding. The earlier Cal 34 had a relatively unsophisticated hand laid-up hull, and owners considered the series above average in strength of hull, deck, and rig, with light-displacement Cal 34 hulls drawing a lot of stiffness from the bonding of furniture to the hull rather than from massive material. Older Cal boats were not heavily built, with relatively light furniture and bulkhead tabbing, yet the series is relatively free of structural defects from poor workmanship or materials.

Rig and Handling

The Mark III carries a masthead sloop rig suited to coastal racing or family passages, renowned for its balance and speed in 10 to 20 knots of wind with a spacious interior for its era, and is forgiving yet capable offshore anchor. The standard rig shows an I dimension of 41.25 feet and J of 13.75 feet, while a genoa of roughly 150 percent LP spans 425.93 square feet and a symmetrical spinnaker reaches 869 square feet. The taller rig seen on the later Cal 2-34 and 3-34—just over two feet taller with a three-foot shorter boom than the original—gave the sail plan much more modern proportions, reducing mainsail area by 40 square feet and lifting the main's aspect ratio from about 2.5:1 to 3.25:1; those boats held a PHRF rating six seconds per mile faster than the original, and owners surveyed found the Cal 34 about the same speed upwind as similar boats but somewhat faster downwind. The shorter boom allowed the traveler to move to the bridgedeck, a layout good for cruising since the helmsman could handle mainsheet and tiller.

Accommodations

The Mark III's shift toward cruising brought a bridge deck and added wood trim, and the broader Cal 34 series shows how the layouts evolved: the later Cal 3-34 adopted a conventional arrangement with the galley placed aft to port and a quarterberth with chart table to starboard, while the saloon settee runs to starboard opposite a port dinette, and more creature comforts than earlier models. Both layouts place V-berths forward with the head between the main cabin and forward cabin, and the boat easily has as interior space as older boats three feet or more longer, with 6-foot-2 headroom on centerline in the main cabin. Later boats went to the oiled teak interior of the 1970s, whereas the original varnished mahogany plywood is lighter and brighter but needs more upkeep and blackens when exposed to salt water.

Known Issues

A number of owners report that the main bulkhead tends to delaminate from leaking chainplates, a potentially serious structural problem that warrants careful survey of that area along with the deck around the mast step and the fiberglass keel molding anchor. The keel molding should not ring hollow when tapped, which would indicate a loose ballast casting from a hard grounding. Several owners report chainplate failure due to metal fatigue, and some note sloppy rudders from wear of the fiberglass tube serving as stuffing box and bearing. Crazing is very common on deck gelcoat, the distinctive blue Cal sheerstrake is likely badly faded unless painted, and older boats had gate valves rather than seacocks on through-hulls that should be replaced. The boat also lacks backing plates on stanchions, which can cause localized deck crazing, and has leaking aluminum-framed cabin ports. Owners recommend larger cockpit scuppers since the two small stock scuppers are inadequate for the big cockpit.

Refits and Ownership

Wheel steering is standard on the Cal 3-34 built in 1976 and later, and its installation is one of the most common modifications to earlier boats, freeing cockpit space dramatically though requiring mainsheet relocation on longer-boom versions. The engine sits under the cockpit and is reasonably accessible from the quarterberths, driven through a V-drive; some owners report problems with that unit, and many note the boat pulls strongly to starboard under power. Diesel engines appeared mid-1970s including Farymann, Westerbeke, and Perkins, but parts for the Farymann are difficult or impossible to find, while the old Atomic Four gas engine may be the most desirable for parts availability and longevity.

The Verdict

The Cal 34-III is a rare, refined closing chapter of Lapworth's racer-cruiser lineage, blending the unchanged seaworthy hull with a cruising-oriented bridge deck and a tall, modern-proportioned rig that rewards balanced handling. Its modest production makes it a specialty find, but the known bulkhead and chainplate vulnerabilities demand a disciplined survey.

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