Cal Boats

Founded by Jack Jensen during the 1960s, Jensen Marine first built and sold a boat called the Lapworth 24. The name eventually changed to California 24, and then eventually Cal— a name that would stick with the company until 1989, when Cal boats eventually ceased production. For many years, Cal boats were considered “'93the most celebrated production racing yachts of all time.” ” In 1980, the Cal Yacht factory was purchased and moved to Tampa, Florida. The company changed hands, moved locations, and shifted manufacturing priorities several times during its successful run in the industry. The first boat in production was the Cal 24, a centerboard version of the famous Lapworth 24. One of the last boats produced was the Cal 39, a model that was again built in 2001 when the molds were sold to George Crowell. Today, used Cal boats are still a regular fixture on the boating scene and can be purchased for anywhere from a few thousand dollars to over $100,000. Though rumors of a regenerated Cal boat industry have never proven true, it is obvious that Cal boats, themselves, are not going anywhere any time soon. As one of the first mass-production sailboat manufacturers, Cal boats are here to stay.