The Cal 21 is an American trailerable sailboat that was designed by C. William Lapworth as a cruiser and first built in 1969.[1][2][3]
The design was built by Jensen Marine/Cal Yachts, a division of Bangor Punta Corp. in the United States. Production ran from 1969 to 1976,[3] with 500 boats completed, but it is now out of production.[1][3][4][5]
The Cal 21 is a recreational keelboat, built predominantly of fiberglass, with wood trim. It has a fractional sloop rig; a raked stem; a reverse transom; a transom-hung mahogany, non-folding rudder, controlled by a tiller and a swing keel. It displaces 1,100 lb (499 kg) and carries 360 lb (163 kg) of ballast.[1][3]
The boat has a draft of 4.30 ft (1.31 m) with the keel extended and 10 in (25 cm) with it retracted, allowing beaching or ground transportation on a trailer.[1][3]
The swing keel is lowered from a slot in the hull, which is then plugged with a cover that sealed the opening to reduce drag. The cable to raise the keel had to be reattached to lower or raise the keel.[1]
The boat is normally fitted with a small 3 to 6 hp (2 to 4 kW) outboard motor for docking and maneuvering.[1][3]
The design has sleeping accommodation for four people, with a double "V"-berth in the bow cabin and two quarter berths in the main cabin. The head is located under the "V"-berth in the bow cabin on the starboard side. Cabin headroom is 49 in (120 cm).[1][3]
The design has a PHRF racing average handicap of 258 and a hull speed of 5.5 kn (10.2 km/h).[3]
In a 2010 review Steve Henkel wrote, "In good weather a pair of sleepers can be accommodated on her unusually spacious (eight feet long) cockpit seats, Worst features: The mahogany rudder is detachable but not folding, a potential problem in shallows. The iron keel is subject to pitting and rust. The keel hoisting system is said by some owners to be a weakness."[3]