We Found a 1979 Cal 39 That’s Been Sitting in a Barn for 10 Years | Tour

When maritime surveyors Tristan and Save the Day Jay from BoatFools Sailing investigated reports of a classic 1979 Cal 39 Mk II dry-stored inside a protected boatyard barn for ten consecutive years, they initiated a forensic marine survey to determine whether this forgotten coastal cruiser could be resurrected for active offshore voyaging. Named Moxy, the California-built fiberglass sloop designed by legendary naval architect C. William (Bill) Lapworth had spent a full decade undisturbed in dry shelter, escaping the ultraviolet degradation and freeze-thaw cycles that condemn neglected vintage sailboats to salvage yards.

Approaching the towering hull on the hard, the surveyors encountered a preserved time capsule featuring gleaming original gelcoat, a spotless Perkins 4-108 auxiliary diesel engine, solid teak joinery, and crisp Dacron sails with clear canvas dodger windows that appeared virtually unused. Their technical walkthrough evaluates the enduring engineering quality of Jensen Marine, the hydrodynamics of Bill Lapworth’s hull geometry, and the disciplined recommissioning steps required to return a long-dormant cruising yacht to safe ocean operation.

Naval Architecture and Bill Lapworth Pedigree of the Cal 39

When the marine inspection team from BoatFools Sailing conducted an extensive forensic walkthrough of the 1979 Cal 39 dry-stored in the yard, the vessel’s hull lines immediately showcased the distinguished pedigree established by naval architect Bill Lapworth, whose groundbreaking designs originated from Southern California waters near San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, United States. Evaluating a classic barn find sailboat of this caliber requires looking back at the golden era of production fiberglass yacht design, when Jensen Marine and Lapworth revolutionized the racing and cruising landscape across North America.

Lapworth pioneered separate fin keels and spade rudders with the famed Cal 40, hastening the shift from CCA rules to the IOR era. Produced between 1978 and 1982, the Cal 39 Mk II incorporated flat bilges that allow the hull to surf downwind under spinnaker. Displacing 17,000 pounds with 7,000 pounds of lead ballast, the boat boasts a ballast ratio over 41 percent. With a sail area-to-displacement ratio of 17.5, a PHRF rating of 114, a comfort ratio of 28.5, and a capsize screening formula of 1.86, the Cal 39 balances coastal speed with ocean seaworthiness.

Forensic Hull, Keel, and Spade Rudder Survey on the Hard

Standing beneath the dry-docked hull, the inspection crew from BoatFools Sailing examined the underwater geometry of the 1979 Cal 39, noting how Bill Lapworth configured this barn find sailboat to deliver high righting moment and exceptional tracking along coastal passages stretching from San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, United States to bluewater offshore routes. Surveying a fiberglass hull laid up during the late 1970s begins with a systematic sounding of the laminate, inspecting the lead fin keel, and evaluating running gear tolerances.

Percussion soundings across the hand-laid fiberglass laminate bottom revealed zero delamination voids or osmotic blisters. The deep 6-foot-8-inch fin keel features internal lead ballast fully encapsulated within the molded fiberglass hull skin, eliminating external keel bolt rusting and the troublesome Cal smile. Stern running gear includes a bronze strut supporting a 1-inch prop shaft with a fresh zinc anode, a line cutter for lobster warp, and a three-bladed bronze cruising propeller. The massive, rearward-raked spade rudder showed zero transverse bushing play, ensuring responsive helm authority.

Deck Integrity, Rigging Sounding, and Cockpit Ergonomics

Ascending to the topsides, the maritime specialists from BoatFools Sailing audited the structural decks of the 1979 Cal 39, examining how Bill Lapworth engineered this barn find sailboat to withstand grueling ocean conditions found offshore of San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, United States. A thorough deck survey requires sounding the sandwich balsa core for delamination, evaluating high-stress deck hardware, and inspecting the deep, ocean-ready cockpit architecture designed to protect crew members in heavy weather.

Percussion soundings across the end-grain balsa core deck revealed firm, resonant composite with zero soft spots under foot testing, as dry indoor storage preserved core seams from water intrusion. Foredeck hardware includes a Lofrans Tigres horizontal electric windlass with an enclosed topside motor shielded from locker dampness. The offshore cockpit features a compact T-shaped footwell to limit flooded water volume if boarded by heavy seas, flanked by high coamings, a raised bridge deck, an upgraded Harken traveler, Enkes 28 winches, and a sealed locker housing dual LP tanks with gauges.

Below-Deck Joinery, Structural Bulkheads, and Accommodations

Descending the remarkably shallow-angled companionway steps, the survey team from BoatFools Sailing entered the interior of the 1979 Cal 39, discovering that Bill Lapworth and Jensen Marine outfitted this barn find sailboat with solid teak craftsmanship rarely seen in modern production vessels built across San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, United States or overseas yards. A meticulous below-deck audit involves inspecting structural bulkhead bonding, checking chainplate integrity behind solid joinery, and assessing whether ten years of dormant storage caused moisture or fungal degradation.

The interior exhibits hand-fitted Burmese teak joinery, solid teak sole boards, and clean vinyl headliners. Marine plywood bulkheads remain firmly tabbed to the hull laminate, securing stainless chainplates backed by heavy reinforcement plates with zero corrosion. The salon centers around a large U-shaped dinette opposite a settee, a stained-glass locker, and a Taylor diesel heater. The galley features a deep centerline double sink providing positive drainage on either tack, a Force 10 stove, 12V refrigeration, and a cockpit locker waste hatch. Accommodations include an aft quarter berth, a nav station, a spacious head with upgraded plumbing, and a forward V-berth with cedar lockers.

Recommissioning Protocol for the Dormant Perkins 4-108 Auxiliary Diesel

Moving to the auxiliary machinery space, the technical crew from BoatFools Sailing analyzed the propulsion compartment of the 1979 Cal 39, determining how to safely revive the dormant Perkins 4-108 diesel aboard this barn find sailboat designed by Bill Lapworth before undertaking ocean passages from San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, United States. Recommissioning an auxiliary diesel that has remained idle in dry storage for a decade requires strict mechanical discipline to prevent catastrophic metal scoring and fluid contamination.

The 50-horsepower Perkins 4-108 marine diesel offers legendary simplicity without delicate electronics. The forward companionway cabinet slides forward to provide 360-degree maintenance access to the raw water pump, sea strainer, and alternator, while a side panel and cockpit locker expose the Velvet Drive transmission and packing gland. Reviving the engine follows five steps: pull injectors and soak cylinder bores with oil; manually rotate the crankshaft 720 degrees; replace the raw water pump impeller and flush the heat exchanger; drain old fuel and install fresh Racor filters; and refill crankcase oil with new AGM batteries before bleeding fuel lines and initiating compression.

The Financial Equation: Barn Find Sailboat Restoration Costs vs. Market Value

Calculating the realistic restoration budget for the 1979 Cal 39 requires the analytical perspective of BoatFools Sailing, weighing the acquisition costs of a vintage barn find sailboat against the capital expenditures needed to achieve bluewater seaworthiness for departures from San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, United States, under the enduring legacy of Bill Lapworth. While neglected fiberglass cruisers frequently become financial money pits, rare well-preserved hulls present an enticing pathway to ownership when approached with rigorous cost forecasting.

In the brokerage market, a turnkey Cal 39 Mk II commands between $42,000 and $58,000. Neglected outdoor project boats often demand over $35,000 in fiberglass repairs. Because Moxy was sheltered indoors, its original gelcoat, solid balsa decks, mint teak, and reusable Dacron sails reduce refit expenses by 60 percent, focusing outlays on mechanical renewal and navigation electronics.

Acquiring this vessel at a barn-clearance price between $12,000 and $18,000 and investing $13,050 in refit yields an all-in capitalization of $25,000 to $31,000, creating an ocean-ready cruiser capable of transoceanic voyaging at a fraction of modern yacht pricing.

Frequently Asked Questions

The following detailed inquiries address critical technical, survey, and historical aspects encountered by the marine inspection team from BoatFools Sailing when evaluating this 1979 Cal 39 designed by naval architect Bill Lapworth, representing an extraordinary barn find sailboat surveyed for offshore seaworthiness from San Pedro, Los Angeles, California, United States.