1968 Cal 36 Pitfalls?

[titan1969]

I will be looking at a rough 1968 Cal 36. I will of course, get a survey if I get serious about it, but what should I look for on my first walk thru the boat? Any links to this boats review?
Owners opinions?
It will be strictly a Great Lakes boat. occasional anchoring for the weekend.

[delmarrey]

I owned a Cal back in 1980 (not a 36') and was happy with it's construction for just coastal sailing. They are a little heavy but solid and fairly roomy.

[GordMay]

Originally Posted by delmarrey

I owned a Cal back in 1980 (not a 36') and was happy with it's construction for just coastal sailing. They are a little heavy but solid and fairly roomy.

I thought they were reputed to be light?

Check out the “Old Cal Yachts webpage”
➥ Sailing older Cal Yachts homepage

And

➥ Sailboats built by Cal Boats/Jensen Marine on Sailboatdata.com

➥ Untitled Document

➥ Jensen Marine's Cal 34 Yacht - Win in Comfort

➥ The New CAL 36's Racing Everywhere, Winning Everywhere!

Surveying Fiberglass Sailboats: A Step-by-Step Guide for Buyers and Owners
by Henry C. Mustin
➥ Surveying Fiberglass Sailboats: A ... - Google Books

[cal40john]

Most of the Cal designs, and I believe the 36 is one of them, have a galvanized steel beam under the cabin sole to resolve the mast compression forces, after many years this beam can be badly rusted, especially if it was standing in water due to clogged limber holes or poorly placed ice box drains. Inspection requires a bore scope or as a previous owner has done to my boat put in inspection ports. The beam on my 65 Cal 40 is in good shape, so they can last.

This person went all out, I have read other accounts where they have not taken out the bulkhead and a lot less of the cabinetry.

Wilkie's Sailboat Page

I think a member of cruisersforum did this job on a Cal 29 in about a week. I don't know if he's still active, Clausont.

IMO this is either a walk away problem or a chance at a huge price reduction if you're good at boat work.

There's a Cal owners group on Yahoo with lots of experience.

John

[delmarrey]

Originally Posted by GordMay

I thought they were reputed to be light?

It seemed at nearly 7000# for a 27 footer was a bit heavy. But she was comfortable at sea for a smaller boat.

[L124C]

Originally Posted by cal40john

Most of the Cal designs, and I believe the 36 is one of them, have a galvanized steel beam under the cabin sole to resolve the mast compression forces, after many years this beam can be badly rusted, especially if it was standing in water due to clogged limber holes or poorly placed ice box drains. Inspection requires a bore scope or as a previous owner has done to my boat put in inspection ports. The beam on my 65 Cal 40 is in good shape, so they can last.

Looking at a 1968 Cal 36. The beam appears to be in reasonable shape, though it has some corrosion around the penetration for cables. The owner thinks it's aluminum, but I think it's galvanized (as you describe) due to the corrosion (plus, it looks galvanized). Thoughts?
Did the OP get the boat? If so, how did it work out?

[L124C]

The boat (68 Cal 36) has apparently circumnavigated at least once.

Apparently, it was converted to a wheel. Do they need a wheel (wheel vs. Tiller arguments notwithstanding), or were they balanced with the tiller.

I'm guessing this rigging is original? Wonder what the hardware (diagonal lines) was?

[Azul]

The original tiller placed the helmsman far forward in the cockpit, my 1968 Cal 34 was converted to Edson wheel steering which makes the cockpit roomier and the tiller can be remounted in seconds if needed. It's tight squeezing past the wheel as newer designs incorporate a T shape floor to accommodate the wheel. Further, mine has had a "short boom, mid sheeting conversion" with a Schaeffer traveler which eases weather helm by reducing mainsail square footage and is easier to single-hand.

While I have seen photos of corroded mast supports, mine is fine and can be seen by looking in the port dinette locker and also under the sink in the head area, most should outlast the rest of the boat.

Decks and coach roof will feel solid even with wet delaminated cores due to the thickness of the outer fiberglass skin. The laminate is 3/8 inch fiberglass-1/2 inch marine plywood- thin CSM fiberglass- gel coat headliner. Look and tap with the handle of a screwdriver around all deck penetrations (wet areas should have a dull thud where the plywood delaminates, the area may be extensive as water tracks down scored channels in the plywood which were used to bend the plywood to the deck's crown,) the companionway and near bulkheads. Cals are lightly tabbed and the wooden bulkhead may be rotten under the tabbing. If there is a little vertical crack or stain anywhere along the joint where the foredeck meets the coach roof there is probably wet plywood. Numerous evenly spaced drill holes in any area of the deck would indicate a temporary core damage repair. Be very wary if the salon bulkheads are painted instead of oiled or stained.

I would also take a close look at the fuel tank and water tank, mine are not original.

Just my two cents, most Cals are worth fixing up.

[Azul]

Regarding the "heavy vs light" controversy, some Cal models were designed to be cruisers (such as the 7000 pound 27) and are not as svelte as the models that mimic the Cal 40, as a reference a Cal 34 weighs 9500 pounds. The hulls are all very substantial where strength is needed and not prone to blistering.

[roverhi]

A wheel was an option on the Cal 36, even the 40. They have a balanced rudder so helm should be just fine for a tiller. The galvanized anchor step is the expensive achilles heel of the the early CAL boats. If yours was a freshwater boat, it should be fine.

The 36 was designed as a little brother to the CAL 40. Not nearly as successful racer as the 40 but still a responsive boat. Heavy doesn't necessarily make a boat slow but usually makes them way more comfortable. Only in off wind surfing conditions does a light boat excel

[L124C]

[QUOTE]

Originally Posted by roverhi

A wheel was an option on the Cal 36, even the 40. They have a balanced rudder so helm should be just fine for a tiller. The galvanized anchor step is the expensive achilles heel of the the early CAL boats. If yours was a freshwater boat, it should be fine.

What is the "anchor step"? The boat has been in salt water.