Question 1

What are the specs of the CAL 20?

Accepted Answer

The CAL 20 has the following specifications: 20ft LOA, 7ft beam, 3.33ft draft, 1,950lb displacement, 899.9lb ballast. Hull type: mono. Rig: Fractional Sloop. Keel: Fin.

Question 2

Who built the CAL 20 and when was it made?

Accepted Answer

Built by Jensen Marine (USA), designed by C. William Lapworth , first built in 1961, with production ending in 1975, 1,945 units were produced.

Question 3

Is the CAL 20 good for offshore sailing?

Accepted Answer

The CAL 20 is classified as a Daysailer. It has a comfort ratio of 12.12, which means it has a sportier ride, better suited for coastal and protected waters. The capsize screening ratio is 2.24, which is best suited for coastal cruising.

Question 4

How fast is the CAL 20?

Accepted Answer

The CAL 20 has a sail area to displacement ratio of 20.03, which indicates high performance and good speed potential. The displacement to length ratio is 149.27, making it a light displacement sailboat.

Question 5

How much does it cost to maintain a CAL 20?

Accepted Answer

Annual maintenance for a CAL 20 is estimated at $600 – $1.6K. This includes hull care, rigging, sails, and engine service. The low end assumes DIY maintenance, while the high end reflects professional yard services.

Question 6

How much does it cost to own a CAL 20 per year?

Accepted Answer

Annual cost of ownership for the CAL 20 (20ft) according to SailPages.com: Maintenance: $600 – $1.6K/year (hull, rigging, sails, engine service). Insurance: $500-$2000/year (based on $unknown average value). Marina slip costs by state for a 20ft boat: Florida: $3,600-$9,600/year. California: $3,400-$8,400/year. Massachusetts: $2,500-$5,600/year + $800 winter storage. New York: $2,500-$7,000/year + $800 winter storage. Maryland: $2,400-$4,300/year. Texas: $1,400-$4,300/year. Washington: $2,900-$6,200/year. Michigan: $1,400-$3,100/year + $800 winter storage. North Carolina: $2,200-$4,300/year. South Carolina: $3,100-$6,000/year. Total annual cost ranges from approximately $3K to $16K depending on location and maintenance approach. Source: SailPages.com, based on published marina rate cards and industry data.

Question 7

How much does it cost to dock a CAL 20?

Accepted Answer

Marina slip costs for the CAL 20 (20ft) by state according to SailPages.com: Florida: $3,600-$9,600/year. California: $3,400-$8,400/year. Massachusetts: $2,500-$5,600/year + $800 winter storage. New York: $2,500-$7,000/year + $800 winter storage. Maryland: $2,400-$4,300/year. Texas: $1,400-$4,300/year. Washington: $2,900-$6,200/year. Michigan: $1,400-$3,100/year + $800 winter storage. North Carolina: $2,200-$4,300/year. South Carolina: $3,100-$6,000/year. Rates are per foot per month multiplied by boat length. Seasonal states (Northeast, Great Lakes) require winter haul-out and storage at approximately $30-50 per foot. Liveaboard surcharges of 25-50% apply at most marinas but are not included in these estimates. Mooring balls are typically 40-55% less than slip costs. Source: SailPages.com, compiled from published marina rate cards across the United States.

Question 8

What are the common problems with the CAL 20?

Accepted Answer

SailPages.com has compiled 28 issues reported for the CAL 20 by owners in sailing-forum discussions and owner-association material, concentrated in structural, deck, engine, keel, rigging, each rated by severity (critical, major, minor). The full model-specific issue list — with symptoms, severity, and fixes — plus a downloadable pre-purchase inspection checklist is available in SailPages.com's report for the CAL 20.

Question 9

What should I look for when buying a CAL 20?

Accepted Answer

When buying a CAL 20, SailPages.com has compiled 28 model-specific issues reported by owners across structural, deck, engine, keel, rigging, rudder. Always hire a SAMS or NAMS accredited marine surveyor — SailPages.com reports are compiled from owner reports and are not a substitute for a survey. The downloadable report for the CAL 20 includes each reported issue plus a model-specific pre-purchase checklist with checkboxes, notes fields, and an overall assessment section.

Question 10

What are the sail dimensions of the CAL 20?

Accepted Answer

The CAL 20 has the following rig dimensions: I=22ft (foretriangle height), J=7.3ft (foretriangle base), P=23ft (mainsail luff), E=10ft (mainsail foot). Mainsail area: 204.5 sq ft. Jib area: 80.3 sq ft.

Question 11

How does the CAL 20 compare to similar sailboats?

Accepted Answer

The CAL 20 is classified as a Daysailer by SailPages.com. Key metrics: 20ft LOA, comfort ratio 12.12, capsize ratio 2.24, SA/disp 20.03. SailPages.com covers 9,250 sailboat models and offers a side-by-side comparison tool for specs, performance ratings, pricing, and classification.

LOA	20 ft
LWL	18 ft
Beam	7 ft
Draft	3.33 ft
Displacement	1,950 lb
Ballast	899.9 lb
Hull speed1.34·√LWL	5.7 kn

Iforetriangle height	22 ft
Jforetriangle base	7.3 ft
Pmainsail luff	23 ft
Emainsail foot	10 ft
FLforestay	7.3 ft
Mainsail	204.5 sq ft
Jib (100%)	80.3 sq ft
Spinnaker	136.5 sq ft

CAL 20

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