Back story of the Cal 46
The early Cal boats were built by Jensen Marine in the old 70's Mecca of fiberglass boatbuilders that was Cosa Mesa, California. Columbia and Islander were there too. For a decade they dominated the burgeoning market for relatively in-expensive "maintenance-free" boats.
Jack Jensen and designer Bill Lapworth were a the forefront of this revolution, beginning their long association in 1958 with the introduction of the Cal 24. The famous Cal 40 stung from the family tree in 1963, winning SORC the next year. Despite such notoriety as a racer, the Cal 40 and many others in the line were described as good, all around family boats with modern divided underbodies, relatively light weight, and hence they had an emphasis on performance.
The Cal 46 was introduced in 1967. For several years it was called the Cal Cruising 46. The Cal 2-46, with a redesigned deck, cockpit and interior layout, succeeded it from 1973 until 1976. The Cal 3-46, virtually the same as the 2-46 except for some minor interior changes, was built in 1977 and 1978.
A 1972 profile of Lapworth in Yachting magazine said "A prototype of the Cal Cruising 46, Hale Field's FRAM, embodying able sailing characteristics with motorsailer cruiser comfort, made a circumnavigation of North America. Many of these boats have circumnavigated.
There is a devotion of Cal 46 owners and both Lapworth and Jensen chose the boat as their personal retirement yachts for extended blue water cruising.
In 1972 Columbia countered the Cal 46 with its 45 foot motor sailer, but by most counts, it wasn't as successful or as pretty. Today the Cal in many ways stands ahead of its time, combining as it did a daringly different layout with 270-degree visibility from the deckhouse, a spade rudder and a long cruising keel. That they are still revered is no surprise.
Practical Sailor- February 15, 1992
Jack Jensen and designer Bill Lapworth were a the forefront of this revolution, beginning their long association in 1958 with the introduction of the Cal 24. The famous Cal 40 stung from the family tree in 1963, winning SORC the next year. Despite such notoriety as a racer, the Cal 40 and many others in the line were described as good, all around family boats with modern divided underbodies, relatively light weight, and hence they had an emphasis on performance.
The Cal 46 was introduced in 1967. For several years it was called the Cal Cruising 46. The Cal 2-46, with a redesigned deck, cockpit and interior layout, succeeded it from 1973 until 1976. The Cal 3-46, virtually the same as the 2-46 except for some minor interior changes, was built in 1977 and 1978.
A 1972 profile of Lapworth in Yachting magazine said "A prototype of the Cal Cruising 46, Hale Field's FRAM, embodying able sailing characteristics with motorsailer cruiser comfort, made a circumnavigation of North America. Many of these boats have circumnavigated.
There is a devotion of Cal 46 owners and both Lapworth and Jensen chose the boat as their personal retirement yachts for extended blue water cruising.
In 1972 Columbia countered the Cal 46 with its 45 foot motor sailer, but by most counts, it wasn't as successful or as pretty. Today the Cal in many ways stands ahead of its time, combining as it did a daringly different layout with 270-degree visibility from the deckhouse, a spade rudder and a long cruising keel. That they are still revered is no surprise.
Practical Sailor- February 15, 1992