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main salon (drop down) full bed, and two full-sized quarter<br />
berths. Comforts include a full galley to port, roomy head,<br />
and two pressure sinks. The twin-sized quarter berths can<br />
accommodate children, or provide accessible large storage<br />
for hundreds of pounds of food and gear. The linear galley<br />
is away from the companionway, so you don’t trample your<br />
meals coming and going. The onboard shower, roomy head,<br />
and spacious cockpit provide all the comforts necessary.<br />
Spacious headroom and teak woodwork below decks<br />
makes it feel like a larger boat. The companionway opening<br />
is large, allowing for easy in-and-out tasks, and the step to<br />
go below can be raised to make extra seating around the<br />
table. We lived aboard with dogs, kids, and herb gardens,<br />
and had enough room to invite up to 18 for dock cocktails<br />
and eight for dinner.<br />
Every rose has its thorns, and Cals do have limitations.<br />
They are sometimes referred to as “around the world”<br />
boats, but anyone who has been in heavy seas in one can<br />
attest that they were not built for that purpose. It is fun for<br />
a day or two, but handling the Cal in large seas for day after<br />
day gets old. Famous 16-year-old circumnavigator Robin<br />
Graham may have partially inspired the round-the-world<br />
myth. (Graham’s boat, Dove, was a California (Cal) 24<br />
designed by Bill Lapworth, who designed the Cals and had<br />
them built by Jack Jensen. Cals have taken the credit for circumnavigation<br />
ever since.)<br />
Other distance limitations include the measly tankage<br />
and provisioning storage. They have a lot of headroom and<br />
interior space for a boat that size and weight, but the additional<br />
living space limits storage volume. It’s a trade-off, but<br />
we like to get off the boat often, anyway, and carried a folding<br />
bike in the V-berth for provisioning. So she’s roomy<br />
enough for two adults, two children, and a bicycle to fit<br />
inside! Having a shelf board in the V-berth allows for<br />
greater storage, and there are 11 access points under the<br />
cushions to fill.<br />
Some Cal 2-29 flaws relate less to design and more to<br />
decades of sailing. Some of them have been abused by racers,<br />
the scoundrels. Almost all unrestored ones suffer from worn<br />
decks. The strut holding the prop on can be a weak point if<br />
electrolysis goes unchecked. While we have not experienced<br />
this problem, we have heard that rust of the post that supports<br />
the mast can be a lurking invisible issue. Keel-to-hull<br />
connection problems and blistering issues were non-existent<br />
Mistral, the author’s latest Cal, at the dock.<br />
Along with a roomy cockpit, If you’re looking for speed, comfort,<br />
maneuverability, and economy, try the Cal 2-29.<br />
USED MARINE GEAR<br />
In Business since 1994<br />
BUY - SELL - TRADE - CONSIGNMENT<br />
Gear - Decorative - Hardware - Fishing - Everything<br />
2341 Porter Lake Dr. #104<br />
Sarasota, FL 34240<br />
941-377-1555<br />
Two Locations:<br />
1030 US Hwy 41 Byp South<br />
Venice, FL 34285<br />
941-485-5089<br />
www.thenauticaltrader.com<br />
News & Views for Southern Sailors SOUTHWINDS January 2013 45
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