Design and Construction
Lapworth treated hull and keel as two distinct entities, giving the 40 a fin keel that is really long in chord and a spade rudder set well aft — a combination he had approached on earlier fin-keeled boats but pushed further here. The hull form shows a modest beam of 11 feet for an L/B of 3.63, a wide BWL, and very little deadrise through the midsection, although the deadrise does increase at the transom. A very firm turn to the bilge, a tight radius at the keel-to-hull tuck, and a hint of tumblehome amidships give the section shape that Practical Sailor noted departed from conventional wisdom: light displacement, long waterline, and flat bilges intended to encourage surfing. The bow carries Lapworth's signature big, full radius at the stem, modest freeboard, a pronounced spring to the sheer, and a low, short house. The hull is solid hand-laid fiberglass with wooden bulkheads and interior structures; ballast is an internal lead casting dropped into the keel before the interior was assembled. The deck is a solid fiberglass layup with molded-in colors and non-skid, and the hull-to-deck joint is an inward-turning flange bonded to the deck molding, through-bolted and capped with a through-bolted teak toerail.
Rig and Handling
The Cal 40 carries an ultrasimple masthead, single-spreader rig with inline cap shrouds and fore-and-aft lowers, the mast stepped through the deck to a fitting at cabin-sole level. Chainplates are secured to a transverse bulkhead at the mast station and tied into an aluminum weldment in the bilges that also supports the mast step, while the shrouds themselves land inboard of the toerail — a then-unusual innovation. The boat is a very stiff boat and well enough balanced to be controlled with the stock big tiller, which many helmsmen prefer to a wheel for the feedback it gives. The spade rudder set well aft confers good maneuverability under most conditions. She is in her element in heavy air, especially off the wind, where her long waterline and flat bilges help her get up and go on reaches and runs, surfing in heavy air; owners agree she sails best with the rail in the water. On the wind, though, the flat hull forward pounds in waves and chop, which slows her somewhat and is irritating, and she is not dry on the wind, so a dodger is a welcome feature. Under power she will do about six or seven knots depending on the plant and propeller.
Accommodations
The interior is very traditional, with V-berths forward separated from the main cabin by a head and hanging locker to port. Pilot berths and extension settees port and starboard provide sleeping for four, and flanking the companionway steps are the quarterberths known as "torpedo tubes," which extend from the main cabin through to the lazarette for good air circulation. All told there are sleeping accommodations for eight, though that is too many on a 40-footer except perhaps when racing, and the extension transom berths do not lend themselves to use under way. The galley sits to port and a nav station to starboard with a chart table over the voluminous icebox. One of the best features is the dining table, set slightly to port and supported by a sturdy sole-to-overhead stainless steel post at each end with a gimbaled mahogany tray between them. The cockpit is roomy but properly designed for offshore work with relatively low volume, a bridgedeck, and small companionway, its length stopping well short of the transom and accentuated by long teak coamings.
Known Issues
Practical Sailor found that the tabbing securing the wooden structures to the hull is rather lightweight and has been reinforced in some boats, and noted some complaint of minor leaking along the hull-to-deck joint in a few boats. One owner reported that his lifeline stanchion bases had to be reinforced, and because no interior metal backing plates are provided under deck winches, cleats, and other hardware, the deck relies on reinforcement designed into the layup. Wiring was installed prior to the interior, making it quite inaccessible in some areas, and the age of any surviving Cal 40 means molded-in finishes will look tired unless renewed.
Refits and Ownership
Engine fitment varied across the build: some early hulls carried Atomic 4 gasoline engines, while later hulls got Graymarine 4-112 gasoline or Perkins 4-107 diesels, with the engine tucked under the cockpit between the torpedo tubes and driving the prop through a V-drive gearbox. Access to both sides is possible but not especially convenient. A used boat will likely need attention to the lightweight structural tabbing, the hull-to-deck joint seal, and any deck hardware bearing loads without backing plates, plus a rewire given the buried original runs.
The Verdict
The Cal 40 is a landmark racer-cruiser whose flat-bilge, fin-and-spade hull and inboard chainplate rig delivered a level of offshore speed and stiffness that defined a generation. Its simple, traditional interior and tiller-balanced handling still reward the sailor who accepts its on-wind wetness and chop pounding in exchange for surfing runs and a direct helm.
Pros
- Fin keel and aft-set spade rudder give strong maneuverability and a balanced tiller helm
- Long waterline and flat bilges produce surfing performance in heavy off-wind air
- Traditional interior with torpedo-tube quarterberths and a gimbaled dining table
- Proven record as the most dominating production ocean racer of its era
Cons
- Flat forward hull pounds and is not dry on the wind
- Lightweight hull tabbing and occasional hull-to-deck joint leaking need vigilance
- Deck hardware lacks interior backing plates; wiring is largely inaccessible
