Posted by Katriana Vader (67.243.214.248) on November 12, 2003 at 07:04:59:
In Reply to: which 46 is best l ,ll or lll ? posted by William Segal on November 10, 2003 at 11:37:05:
William,
I'm not an expert on Cal 46's, but assuming you're not familiar with the differences between them, I can give you a quick run down.
First of all, whether it's a Cruising Cal 46, a 2-46 or a 3-46, whichever one a person owns is usually their favorite, so it's hard to say which is 'best'. All Cal 46's have the same hull.
The Cruising Cal 46 (first production run) is Bill Lapworth's favorite. It has a smaller forward stateroom and a very large aft stateroom. The engine is way aft, accessed by an outside hatch, and is driven with a V-drive. It also has an inside steering station. I believe the insde steering station is to starboard and the outside steering station is to port.
The 2-46 has large windows like the Cruising Cal, but a different deck configuration and an entirely different layout inside. The engine is located in the center of the boat and accessed via the companionway between the salon and aft stateroom. The aft stateroom is fairly spacious and includes a full head with shower. The salon is large with the galley to starboard and settee to port. There are two configurations of the settee; L shaped, or two facing booth seats (like at a coffee shop) that are raised to look out the windows. The chart table is in the companionway. The forward stateroom is slightly larger than the Cruising Cal's and has a head w/o a shower.
The 3-46 has the same deck as the 2-46, but the windows are much smaller. I believe the forward and aft staterooms are the same as the 2-46, but the salon and galley are very different. Engine access is from the aft head. The galley is in the companionway with the sink to midship. The salon is spacious and includes the chart table.
My husband and I are building our Cal from a bare hull and we don't really have a favorite (except ours, of course!). But we especially like the Cruising Cal's aft stateroom & port steering station; and the roominess of the salon in the 2-46 and 3-46.
It's a personal preference - but the one thing we all have in common is that we all love our Cals.