balsa or foam, but all through-deck fittings are encapsulated in fiberglass. The nonskid pattern provides sure footing with a teak grabrail close at hand on the cabin trunk.  There are 11 opening stainless steel portlights and five overhead hatches for ventilation. The boat we sailed had all Lewmar hardware, including an Ocean System mid-boom mainsheet traveler and self-tailing winches.
         The T-shaped cockpit is roomy and well thought out. A cutout just behind the binnacle allows easy maneuverability and yet the helmsman can still steer comfortably from the lee side. All control lines are led aft, including a single line slab reefing system. However, 75 percent of new Calibers are now fitted with a Z-Spar internal furling mainsail, a surprisingly affordable option. The cockpit seats are long enough for most NBA power forwards to sleep on, and the stern boarding platform with a fold-up ladder makes it easy to board a dinghy or take a swim. And, of course, a handheld shower lets you rinse off right on the platform. My only concern about the cockpit is the lack of a substantial companionway bridgdeck, but a close examination of most new boats will reveal that designers consider ease of entry to be more important than the possibility of a renegade wave finding its way aboard and slopping below.
        The Caliber 35 carries its

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