The design was originally marketed by the manufacturer as the Cal 39, but is now usually referred to as the Cal 39 (Hunt/O'Day) to differentiate it from the earlier unrelated C. William Lapworth-designs: the 1970 Cal 39, the 1978 Cal 39 Mark II and 1983 Cal 39 Mark III, which were all marketed under the same Cal 39 name.[1][3][4][5][6]
The Cal 39 (Hunt/O'Day) is a recreational keelboat, built predominantly of fiberglass, with wooden trim. It has a masthead sloop rig, a raked stem, a reverse transom with a cut-out for a ladder and swimming platform, a spade-type rudder controlled by a wheel and a fixed fin keel. It displaces 17,500 lb (7,938 kg) and carries 7,000 lb (3,175 kg) of ballast.[1]
The boat has a draft of 7.00 ft (2.13 m) with the standard keel and 5.33 ft (1.62 m) with the optional shoal draft wing keel.[1]
The design has sleeping accommodation for six people, with a bow cabin with a "V"-berth, a U-shaped dinette table berth and settee berth and an aft cabin on the starboard side, under the cockpit. The head is located on the port side at the foot of the companionway steps, opposite the galley. The gallery includes a three-burner stove, double sinks and an icebox.[1]