The Cal 40 is widely regarded as the most influential production fiberglass sailboat ever constructed. Designed by C. William "Bill" Lapworth and launched in 1963 by Jensen Marine, it shattered the prevailing design conventions of the era. At a time when offshore racing was dominated by heavy-displacement, full-keeled vessels with rudders attached to the trailing edge of the keel, the Cal 40 introduced a separate fin keel and a high-aspect spade rudder. This radical departure, combined with a relatively light displacement of 15,000 pounds and a flat-bottomed hull, allowed the boat to do what few 40-footers could then achieve: surf downwind at sustained speeds of 15 knots or more. As noted by Latitude 38, the design was so successful in ocean racing that it is often credited with causing the demise of the Cruising Club of America (CCA) handicap rule.
Cal 40 Sailboats for Sale & Market Overview
- Make
- Cal
- Model
- 40
- Builder
- Jensen Marine
- Designer
- C. William Lapworth
- Number Built
- 108
- Production Year(s)
- 1963 - 1971
Below are the most recent Cal 40 sailboat listings (up to 10).
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| Source | Year | Make | Model | Price | Cabins | Heads | City | Country | Listing Date | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DISCLAIMER: We are not affiliated with any external listing websites in any way. We simply aggregate publicly available listings to make it easier for buyers to find sailboats for sale. We cannot guarantee the accuracy of the listings, so please verify all information with the seller before making any decisions.
Market Overview
Price & Volume Trends
Monthly breakdown
| Month | Listings | Median Asking Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Jul 2025 | 1 | $68,000 |
| Jan 2026 | 1 | $68,000 |
| Mar 2026 | 2 | $68,000 |
| Model | LOA | Median Price (USD) | Listings | Recent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Performance 40 | 40.42' | $123,500 | 21 | 12 |
| Elan 40 | 39.04' | $94,163 | 19 | 5 |
| Tartan 40 | 40.25' | $89,900 | 14 | 0 |
| Caliber 40 | 40.92' | $169,000 | 14 | 3 |
| Swan 40 | 39.3' | $117,692 | 14 | 3 |
| X-Yachts X-40 | 40' | $184,958 | 10 | 6 |
| Pogo 40 | 39.96' | $92,840 | 10 | 7 |
| CAL 31 | 31.5' | $10,500 | 9 | 2 |
| CAL 34 | 33.24' | $19,900 | 9 | 3 |
| Cal 40 | $68,000 | 4 | 2 | |
| Jensen Cal 28 | $4,000 | 1 | 0 |
| Country | Median Price (USD) | Listings (past 12 months) | Recent (90d) |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | $68,000 | 4 | 2 |
Frequently Asked Questions
- How much does a used Cal 40 cost?
- The median asking price for a used Cal 40 over the past 12 months is $68,000. Prices vary by condition, year, equipment, and location.
- How many Cal 40 sailboats are for sale?
- We have tracked 4 Cal 40 listings over the past 12 months, with 2 listed within the last 90 days.
- Are Cal 40 prices going up or down?
- The median asking price for the Cal 40 has remained stable over the last 3 months compared to the 12-month average.
- What are similar sailboats to the Cal 40?
- Comparable models include the Performance 40, Elan 40, Tartan 40. See the comparison table above for pricing and availability.