Design and Construction
Lapworth modified the original 1970 Cal 39 in 1978 to produce the Mk II, giving it a spade rudder and a fin keel with a vertical trailing edge. The hull is solid fiberglass with 7,000 pounds of lead ballast encapsulated in the deep fin keel, while the decks are balsa-cored with plywood coring in high-stress areas. The deck and hull meet on an inward-facing hull flange secured with through-bolts and an adhesive bond, and interior bulkheads are tabbed to the hull to provide stiffness and the attachment points for stainless-steel chainplates. Molded liners finish the cabin sides and top. A solid teak toerail is attractive and functional but a known maintenance headache, and stainless-steel chafing strips protect the rubrails at the cleats.
Rig and Handling
The aluminum mast is keel-stepped with single spreaders supported by dual lower and single upper shrouds, and a double-spreader tall rig was also available. A removable inner forestay and a short cabintop track for staysail sheeting extend the boat's versatility, while genoa tracks sit inboard of the toerail and aft toerail tracks handle outboard genoa or spinnaker sheets. The boom is an aluminum extrusion with mid-boom sheeting to a traveler over the companionway and a slab-reefing system built in. Barient winches were standard, delivered with primaries, secondaries, and two mast halyard winches. Under sail the spade rudder gives tight control on all points, and test sailors found steering needed only fingertip effort with a slight weather helm for safe command. The boat drives well to windward, easily pointing within 35 degrees apparent while reefed, and shows little roll on a deep reach. Under power she tracks straight with little helm correction and a mild prop walk to starboard in reverse.
Accommodations
The teak interior finish is better than expected, with a spacious saloon laid out around an L-shaped port settee and a straight starboard settee, the port side converting to a double berth and a pedestal table unfolding for six. Forward, the V-berth with insert sleeps two and runs 6 feet 8 inches, flanked by hanging lockers and finished with teak ceilings and cubby panels. The head to port discharges to a 15-gallon holding tank and includes an in-head shower. The U-shaped galley to port carries a three-burner stove and oven, two-basin sink, and a 7.7-cubic-foot icebox with optional refrigeration, supported by a pressurized hot and cold water system. A chart table with swing-out seat sits to starboard with a quarter berth behind it, and the companionway stairs remove for engine access. A three-cabin version moved the saloon forward, shrank the head, and added a second head aft.
Known Issues
Leaks have been reported at the hull-to-deck joint. The rudder's fiberglass shell around a stainless armature with foam fill can admit water and saturate the foam. Water entry through the keel-stepped mast has been reported, so the keel step warrants inspection and repair. Some owners report deck delamination and leaky joints as exceptions rather than rule, and the original teak-and-holly cabin sole may need work from poor support. The Pathfinder diesel, a marinized VW, has had problems in later boats.
Refits and Ownership
The review boat hull #103 underwent an extensive refit with mast, boom, and oversized rigging for offshore sailing, and its owners fitted Newfound Metals portlights in place of the original plastic openings. Boomerang also carries wind-vane steering. Owners have made significant offshore passages in the design, which remains widely raced and competitive with newer boats, posting a PHRF of 114 on San Francisco Bay (108 for the tall rig).
The Verdict
The Cal 39 Mk II blends Lapworth's race-bred hull sense with genuine cruising comfort, delivering a stiff, seakindly passagemaker that still holds its own on the racecourse. The secure cockpit, full bridge deck, and manageable rig make her an able offshore vessel, though the mid-boom sheeting complicates singlehanding and a few structural joints deserve survey attention.
Pros
- Quick, responsive handling with fingertip-effort steering and tight spade-rudder control
- Solid glass hull with lead-ballasted fin keel and well-tabbed bulkheads
- Roomy teak interior with convertible saloon and practical U-galley
- Proven offshore and racing record with strong PHRF showing
Cons
- Reported hull-to-deck joint leaks and rudder foam saturation risk
- Mid-boom sheeting makes short-handed sailing difficult
- Pathfinder diesel variants have known problems
- Teak toerail and original sole need ongoing care
