Just Bought CAL 3-30 w/ Atomic 4

[chris.m.johnson]

Hey Everyone!
I've been a sailor all my life on the lower Chesapeake Bay. I enjoy cruising the bay and princilally use my motor to 1; motor out of my slip, 2;motor back into my slip and 3; motor off sandbars. Actually, my primary motivation for mechanized power, is to motor off of sandbars. Of course, I'm a really great sailor and I never run aground when I stay in the middle of the channel, but somehow, I occasionally manage to find the bottom at the most inopportune times. Thus years ago I resolved to always have a sailboat with a good solid, dependable, trusty, faithful engine.

I just bought a '74 CAL 3-30 with no engine in it. The price was "really good" and me, following the path of least resistance, figured I'd put another A-4 (is it politically correct to say "A-4"?) back in. I've had a boat in the water for about the last 20 years and having a boat with an inboard gas engine will be a first. The last boat I bought 7 years ago, a '69 CAL 2-30 had just been repowered from an Atomic 4 to a Yanmar diesel. Actually, all of the machinations to fit that particular motor in place seemed a bit much, especially since I had to finish the install. All of the Atomic 4 literature came with the boat and I put it on my technical literature shelf. And here I am today, planning on reinstalling a gas engine, reviewing my literature in hand and looking at as many pictures as I can (I'm a visual learner). I look forward to "sharing" another learning experience with everyone, and will try not to ask too many dumb questions.
Chris

[ButchPetty]

Hi Chris. Welcome to the dock party. Sounds like your in the same boat I'm in ....well sorta. My boat had no motor when I got it. And originally had the A4 in it also.
First thing, you can forget the "dumb questions" promise. I'm sure you'll find many as I did.
Second, if you go forward and purchase an A4 you will instantly install yourself squarely among the ranks of the Afourians. Think long, think hard, very hard. Is that really where you want to be?

[Laker]

Chris ,

I would be interested to know what prompted you to give up a Cal 2-30 for a 3-30. If I understand correctly the original Cal 30 differs significantly from the 2-30 , but I am not clear on the 3-30.

(footnote : My first keelboat was a Cal 20. Gave that one up almost 30 years ago , still miss her.)

Laker

[chris.m.johnson]

Move up from CAL 2-30 to CAL 3-30

Hey Butch, Laker,
The CAL 2-30 is a wonderful boat. I've sailed one for 7 years and have really enjoyed it. As odd as it sounds, buying a CAL 3-30 is moving up a boat size. The 2-30 is just a smaller boat. The cockpit is smaller, the cabin is smaller and the engine compartment is smaller. I've loved sailing the boat. It is fast, stable and turns on a dime, but I'm getting a little older and am looking for a little more room to work with (read between the lines). The 3-30 has a huge engine compartment, the cabin layout allows for easy movement and the cockpit is much bigger, and 1.5' longer LWL. The 2-30 is more of a fast coastal cruiser/racer and the 3-30 was designed to be a 3/4 ton ocean racer. I'm not going to race - I'm a cruiser now, but with the 1' wider beam, no reverse transome, higher freeboard, larger head and different/more accomodating cabin layout, I'm looking at a easier cruising.

Ok, I may be a bit cheap...bigger boat for same slip fee. I have bought another A-4 to go back in. I actually have it sitting in the battery box, about 1 1/2' away from the engine bed..."the longest mile." I actually have a better feeling about this A-4 project, than I did with the Yanmar project 7 years ago. The engine acted like it wanted to go in the boat. We had it rigged on a chain fall and I let go of the chain to grab something. The engine went zipping down right through the bench seat hatch, 1/2" to spare on either side and I grabbed the chain before it hit bottom, then gently lowered her down to rest beside the engine bed. Step 1 was very easy. Hope I'm not jinxing myself.
Chris

[Laker]

Chris ,

Everything you told me about the trade-up you've made makes sense. I will look for line drawings for further understanding. And , I don't think you are jinxing yourself ; it sounds like you are on a roll.

Carry on and have fun with the install,

Laker.

[edwardc]

... and will try not to ask too many dumb questions.
Chris

Hi Chris,

Welcome aboard! You'll find the folks here to be quite helpful and knowledgeable. The only "dumb" question is an unasked one!

[dvd]

Chris,

Welcome aboard. I too have a 1974 Cal 3-30. Mine came with a good A-4 and it is working out well. I have hull #20. The cal 3-30 has a lower phrf than the older 2-30. There are some oldtimers that think the 2-30 is faster but I havent got the opportunity to race one yet. In SF Bay the phrf for the 3-30 is 156 full race and the 2-30 I think is about 180. Good luck with her and with your repower. Mu understanding would be that the boat probably came with an a-4.

dvd

[chris.m.johnson]

Thanks All

All,
Thanks for the welcome.
DVD,
My particular CAL 2-30 had PHRF of 183. I can't imagine how the 2-30 could be faster than a 3-30 though. The 3-30 has 1.5' longer waterline. I've got hull # 19. I'm kind of excited about getting the engine installed, and the boat back in the water. I'll definately let you know about the speed comaprison between the 2 models. I don't think my sailing habits will change between 2 boats.
Chris

[dvd]

Chris,

Hull # 19. Your boat was built just one boat before mine. The cal 3-30 is a relatively fast boat for what it is. It is quite a bit heavier than the 2-30, weighing in at 10500 lbs out of the box. The a-4 is a great power plant for this boat. Mine has a 2 to 1 gear which seems to give me plenty of power. A close friend has a morgan 30, which I believe is a little lighter, 9500lbs?, equipped with an m-25 universal diesel. My a-4 is much faster than his diesel as I frequently must slow down for him to say with me. When repowering you need to try to get the 2 to 1 gear.

dvd

[RNC725]

ok, what are ya'lls thoughts bout a 1967 Cal 30?

faster, longer, bigger, smaller, cramped,

I bought mine last year, love it, have yet to see a 2-30 or 3-30, but would love to hear about changes that I could posible make on ours

Have been told we have the biggest cockpit and largest vberth LOUSIEST engine access, crazy wild curved floor etc.

thanks