Cal 39 Mk II Buyer's Guide
Shopping the used market for a Cal 39 Mk II means looking at a Bill Lapworth performance-cruiser built from 1978 with 184 hulls produced, a boat that one longtime owner described as more suited to cruising than the Spartan Cal 40. These are vessels that have made serious offshore passages and still race competitively, so the brokerage examples you meet are often seasoned but capable. In the United States they turn up as classic aft-cockpit Lapworths with either the standard two-cabin or the rarer three-cabin interior.
Layouts on the Used Market
The standard plan places the saloon with an L-shaped settee to port and a straight settee starboard, a forward V-berth owner's cabin, and a quarter berth aft of the chart table. A three-cabin version moved the saloon forward, reduced the head, and added a second head aft to port with the galley shifted to starboard. Cockpit seats are short at 52 inches but extend past seven feet with teak inserts, and the T-shaped seating wraps an Edson pedestal. The companionway stairs lift out for engine access, and the galley counter hides a hatch over the motor for quick checks.
Equipment and Common Upgrades
Most boats carry Barient primaries, secondaries, and mast halyard winches as standard, with a keel-stepped aluminum mast and mid-boom traveler. A removable inner forestay and staysail track show the boat was rigged for offshore use, and a double-spreader tall rig was a factory option. Power came from a Perkins 4-108 originally, with later Universal or Pathfinder diesels; some owners have repowered. Buyer-consequence upgrades seen on individual boats include wind-vane steering for passagemaking, Newfound Metals portlights replacing original plastic, and oversized offshore rigging after refit.
What to Inspect
Leaks have been reported at the hull-to-deck joint, and some owners report deck delamination as an exception. The rudder is a foam-filled fiberglass shell on a steel armature, and water can saturate the foam if it leaks, so a careful rudder exam is warranted. Water entry through the keel-stepped mast has been documented, meaning the keel step should be inspected and repaired as needed. The original teak-and-holly sole may lack support and need attention, and any Pathfinder diesel should be treated as a known problem child.
Availability and Buyer's Takeaway
These boats are found in the United States, typically as single-owner or lightly traded cruiser-racers. When viewing, check the rudder for saturation, the mast step for water staining, and the deck joint for leaks. Confirm which engine is fitted and whether the sole has been reinforced. A sound Mk II with the Perkins and a clean rig is a capable, enduring Lapworth cruiser.
- Inspect rudder foam and hull-to-deck joint for leaks
- Verify keel-step mast interface is dry
- Identify engine make; avoid problematic Pathfinder if unrepowered
- Check teak sole support and toerail condition
Price & volume trends
Monthly asking-price and listing-volume trends for the Cal 39 Mk II. 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. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 25 | 1 | $74,900 | — |
| Apr 26 | 1 | $45,500 | -39.3% |
Where they're listed
Cal 39 Mk II 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 | $45,500 | 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
6 similar designs| Model | LOA | Median ask | Listings · 12 mo | Active · 90 d |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catalina 34 Mk II | 34.5' | $ 62,900 | 75 | 24 |
| Sabre 38 Mk II | 38.67' | $ 60,000 | 17 | 1 |
| Moody 39 | 38.58' | $ 54,307 | 12 | 2 |
| Baltic 39 | 38.76' | $ 75,938 | 9 | 0 |
| CAL 39 | 38.67' | $ 41,000 | 8 | 5 |
| Cal 39 Mk IIYou are here | — | $ 45,500 | 1 | 0 |