balance 52 catamaran

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

• Sailing Blogs
• List Your Catamaran For Charter
• List Your Catamaran For Sale

Balance 526

Daggerboards or Fixed Keels You can opt for either fixed keels or daggerboards (interesting in itself) and she is easy to sail short-handed despite a powerful sail plan.

Swing the helm up for a birds eye view in the sun, or swing it down and you are well protected under the bimini. They call it the Versa Helm – it’s probably this boat’s biggest USP.

This epoxy carbon reinforced racing cat is a beauty and very comfortable. You will need deep pockets and patience to buy a new one though.

The driving force for the Balance 526 came from the desire to design and build the finest performance voyaging catamaran for a couple or small family.

Multihull racer, author and designer Phillip Berman, naval architect Anton Du Toit, and reknowned catamaran builder Jonathan Paarman teamed up to develop this multihull which will take you to places in speed and comfort while retaining the ability to carry significant weight (translation: lots of toys).

You can also read our Balance 526 Owner’s Review from Tiffany and Frank on ‘Little Bird’.

• A great balance between performance and comfort. The 526 aims high in both of these departments and delivers. She really does live up to that brand name.
• She is able to soak up some weight, so you will get performance with all the creature comforts and toys that you need.
• That Versahelm gives you the best of both worlds. Pop out of the coachroof when the sun is out, or head down into the aft cockpit when the weather turns for the worse.
• Very high quality finish that is streets ahead of most production cats.
• The 526 is a semi-custom boat so you can tailor it to your needs.
• The visibility from both helm positions is good and obviously something that the designers worked hard on.
• That huge shower and head in the Owner´s suite – that’s a real wow factor isn’t it?
• I also like the orientation of the Owner´s berth: athwartships forward with good ventilation.
• The Balance 526 is not a cheap boat. Sure, with production in South Africa you get good value for money for the spec, but this is a high end catamaran.
• Those steps up from the hulls to the salon are pretty steep. You have to watch your footing in a seaway.
• With slender hulls for speed, you lose space down below. That´s the compromise, of course, but it really comes into play in the guest hull, especially if you have gone for the daggerboard option. With fixed keels, you have more space in the hulls. The owner´s hull is very comfortable however and up top, the living space is extensive.

Other than this brand, we can only think of the Slyder 49 when it comes to achieving that balance between performance and comfort. But nobody pulls it off quite like Balance.

The design team of the Balance 526 has a lifetime of experience sailing, racing, cruising and building long distance blue water catamarans. Phillip Berman alone has sold over 500 catamarans through The Multihull Company. In short, these guys know their stuff.

A Powerful Sail Plan She sails at high speeds with ease: this is a boat that has been designed to clock off the nautical miles. Her rig, reefing systems and sheet handling are as simple as a charter cat- she´s a forgiving boat to sail despite her powerful sail-plan, her top speed, and the way in which she pulls the apparent wind forward.

Flexible Helm Position The self-tacking jib is efficient and all of the sail handling can be done at the helm: lines come back to a winch station just to the starboard side of her Versahelm in the “up position.” Or you can opt for lines to run into the aft cockpit- it´s customisable.

Another standout feature is the visibility. Someone has been doing some serious sight-line checking on this boat- even when sailing on autopilot, with the remote control in hand, the visibility is superb. Whether you are down below, up top, sitting in the saloon, or in the aft cockpit, the visibility is top notch.

And the finish of the interiors is high quality. She doesn´t quite hit the quality of something like the OC60 catamaran from Ocean Explorer, but that´s not a fair comparison. Value for money for the quality level you get, the Balance wins.

This is the area where the Balance 526 scores top marks. One of the philosophies behind balance was to achieve the optimum mix of performance and comfort. They have aimed high in both departments. One key objective for the designers and builders was to keep the weight of this yacht down to under 10 tons light-ship- this gives owners plenty of margin for extras and toys.

The build quality is high and the overall philosophy is to keep things simple, just in case something breaks in the middle of nowhere (as it will on a boat).

Sailing in the Teens The Balance 526 likes to sail in the double digits in a decent breeze. She should approach true wind speed, sailed well with the right sails up, and she gets going quickly in light winds. On a long passage, you´ll hit 20 knots and over.

Once you have 16 knots of wind or more, this boat really takes off and will average 12 to 15, and more down the waves. Upwind she will point from 31 to 34 degrees apparent, comparable to the the best monohulls. And all this while able to carry a significant payload.

Designed for Short-Handed Sailing The Balance 526 has been designed to be comfortably sailed by a couple, or even solo. She has two headsails on furlers, one being the self-tacking jib, and all the lines run back into the cockpit, so you can sail totally protected in bad weather (Versahelm down).

But the 526 is a semi-custom boat. Some owners handle their lines in the upper helm position alone, some have line handling, like the mainsheet for example, in the aft cockpit. Everything is very tidy with all the line ends tucked away in a big storage box .

The standard boat comes with an aluminum mast made by Southern Spars, but there is an option for a carbon spar, also by Southern Spars. The same goes for the fore-beam and longeron.

Polar Diagrams

Polars for Fixed Keels and Daggerboards. In the Daggerboard version, the polars map the speed achieved with the boards fully down. In reality, the speed will increase further off the wind as the boards are raised.

Under Power

The 526 comes with dual Yanmar 45s but everyone upgrades to the 57s as there is no weight penalty. They’ll shift you along at 10 knots when you are going full pelt. Motor her on one engine at a decent RPM (2300) and you’ll see 7-8 knots. She’s got a good range at this speed.

Both engines are housed in their own aft compartments, away from the living spaces with thick sound insulation, so she is very quiet under power.

The Best Shower on the Market? The owner´s hull shower and head (aft) is huge: something that was developed at Berman’s insistance.

The master suite has a queen-sized bed athwartships forward. This has allowed the designers to keep the hulls sleek for maximum speed through the water while keeping the comfort levels up.

In the guest hull, there’s a double in the aft cabin that runs fore and aft in the aft cabin. On the port side, the head and shower rooms are separate which makes it more comfortable when both cabins for and aft are occupied.

In the salon, there´s a cosy nav/office station with good views around and a U-shaped galley. A big sofa wraps around convertible tables, and the window aft is a slider to connect the salon with the aft cockpit. The whole area is well thought out for long distance live-aboard cruising, whatever the weather, highly finished and very comfortable.

Which Balance 526 Catamarans Have Been Launched?

526-01 Ondine 526-02 Bliss 526-03 Galileo 526-04 Dragonfly 526-05 Kai Pai 526-06 Alani 526-07 Vingilótë 526-08 Ohana 526-09 Blue Diamond (Nov 20) 526-10 NuWay (May 21) 526-11 Wahoo (Mar 22) Balance 526 Mark II 526-12 Little Bird

Balance 526 Brochure

Once you have experienced this boat, you will appreciate that the designers Berman and Du Toit have tapped into thousands of hours of sailing experience to produce this catamaran. She’s a real beauty.

How much is a Balance 526? Well, that depends on the options you go for of course, but prices start at $1,440,000 FOB from the  South African Factory. A fully cruise equipped model is approximately $1,650,000 FOB from the South African Factory.

Which is the better catamaran? The 526 with daggerboard or the 626 with fixed keels? You will achieve faster speeds to windward with less leeway with the daggerboard version, so if that if performance is a top priority, then that answers your question. But the difference is less than you might think – the fixed keel 526 is still a very fast boat and comes with some advantages – less complex to sail, less to go wrong, more room in the hulls amidships and so on. The main advantage with the daggerboards is in lighter winds.

Other Boats

The competition is hotting up in the 50ft performance catamaran segment. You’ll also probably want to check out our Seawind 1600 review and take a look at the HH50. The Balance is a tough boat to beat however.

Technical Specification

Contact Katamarans

Share your details with us and we’ll be in touch to discuss further.

" * " indicates required fields

• Privacy Overview
• Strictly Necessary Cookies
• Cookie Policy

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again.

More information about our Cookie Policy

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

Best bluewater multihulls: Balance 526 and 482

• Toby Hodges
• October 27, 2021

South African catamaran builders Balance launch a new 482, while the Balance 526 earns its place in our list of the best bluewater multihulls, by Toby Hodges and François Tregouet

Balance is a shrewd name for these catamarans, which target that elusive balance of comfort, speed and space, typified by the Balance 526.

Founded in 2013 by Phillip Berman, Balance has its headquarters in Florida and shipyard in South Africa.

After selling hundreds of brokerage catamarans, Berman found most cruising catamarans too sluggish, yet felt performance cats lacked the suitable liveability for long term voyaging. Hence, Balance was born.

The Balance 526 launched four years ago. Designed to suit short-handed sailors and families looking to sail long distances, it can carry large payloads and promises easy maintenance. It looks good too – the Balance 526 was our cover star on the September issue of Yachting World, which features our list of best bluewater multihulls .

Berman’s Versahelm design is a key feature. The wheel cantilevers, allowing the helmsman to steer from outboard with clear sightlines, or from the hardtop protection of the aft cockpit. The helm seats and platforms also adjust for optimum views forward.  

Builds involve infused or vacuum-bagged epoxy, carbon reinforcements, foam composite bulkheads and foam cored furniture. The Balance 526 is available with retractable daggerboards or fixed keel options.

The first Balance 482 launches this autumn, and features raked wave piercing bows, and daggerboard or fixed keel options.

The new Balance 482 catamaran

It carries 1,432 sq ft of canvas, with a blade jib and reefing station designed for ease of short-handed sail handling.

Balance 526 price

Ex VAT: US$1.54m

Read our full list of the best bluewater multihulls of all time.

If you enjoyed this….

Yachting World is the world’s leading magazine for bluewater cruisers and offshore sailors. Every month we have inspirational adventures and practical features to help you realise your sailing dreams. Build your knowledge with a subscription delivered to your door. See our latest offers and save at least 30% off the cover price.

• Catamarans and multihulls , News , SAILBOATS

Balance Catamarans: a brand entirely built by blue water sailors

• Emerson Carson
• July 4, 2024

Balance Catamarans – a brand entirely built by blue water sailors and big wave surfers, will tell you its origins go back to one simple concept: listening to the wisdom and needs of other sailors.  

Today, this innovative catamaran builder offers five models – a 442, a 482, a 526, a 580, and a 750. They are built along the Southern coast of South Africa a place where the company’s U.S.- based company and founder have a strong history as a former world champion sailor who took his honors in Cape Town in 1979 at the Hobie Cat World Championship which had representatives from 72 nations competing. 

That moment sealed his bond with both the place and its people.

Balance Catamarans Today

Today, Balance Catamarans is the fastest growing catamaran builder in the world, a credit to its designs and mission – to create a balance between performance and luxury at sea.

“The name Balance is no fluke, it is our core mission,” says Phillip Berman, its founder and CEO . “We wanted to achieve excellent open-water performance and livability at a time when no builder focused on this sailing mission.”

Berman partnered with yacht designer and engineer Anton du Toit in Cape Town in 2012 and began co-designing the first Balance Catamaran , a 526, with him. Their very first boat was hailed as the “perfect performance package,” by reviewers and won the prestigious Import Boat of the Year Award in 2017 when it was introduced to the world. And this model would go on to win the highly competitive Cape2Rio race in 2023 .

From here, Berman and du Toit co-designed a 482 quickly followed by a Balance 442. Both models were immediate hits with blue water sailors and immediately sold out the builder’s capacity. What followed was increased production at both two factories that build the catamarans as well as the addition of two more model designs, the Balance 580 the first of which will be launched this fall and the amazing Balance 750 that will launch later this year as well.

“Balance partnered with incredible sailors and big wave surfers that I had known for some time,” explained Berman. “Jonathan Paarman is the manager of Nexus Yachts in St. Francis, South Africa. “He is literally a surfing legend who I tease grew up with salt in his ears. He and his brother Roger are long-time trusted partners of Balance Catamarans,” explains Berman. The factory they run builds the Balance 526 and the new Balance 580.

In Cape Town, Berman partnered with Mark Delany, a second-generation boat builder who grew up working in the boatyards of his parent’s Two Ocean Marine, a company he took over after he completed his marine studies. Today, Balance Catamarans Cape Town builds its 442, 482, and 750.

“ We now employ just over 750 people in South Africa between the two factories,” explains Berman. “We have talented builders, technologists, and carpenters who work hard every day to make our mission a reality for sailors all over the world.” While Balance has become a well-know and very popular catamaran with North American sailors over the last decade and is just now breaking into the European market.

“This summer you will be able to spot our distinctive Balance Catamarans sailing the Mediterranean, sailing in Norway, and, of course in France both at sea and at the Cannes Yachting Festival where we will be displaying a B526 and a B442 ,” adds Berman.

Why is Balance Catamarans so popular? These sailing vessels are indeed sleek, performance-driven catamarans that offer handcrafted wood cabinetry and signature razor sharp performance hull shapes. But it is also the sailing innovations that are at almost every turn making it clear that sailors designed and built this boat with ease of operations foremost in their minds. Best know is the very popular (and now widely copied) VersaHelm. 

And there are lots of little details as well – solar panels that fit into frames to cool them more effectively, lines that drop out of sight to always keep the decks clear and safe, stairs that are built with times ascendence and descendance in mind, hidden drawers for tools and champaign glasses, and more.

The latest innovation comes from Balance’s longstanding partnership with Integrel Solutions. Seven years ago, Balance pioneered the use of Integrel’s high -output alternators to harness the spare power generated by diesel engines to charge the battery bank that runs all the catamarans appliances. “Integrel uses a 48-volt system that is very efficient,” explains Berman. “We partnered with them in 2018 to test this new system and have remained a key innovation partner with them ever since, leading recently to our adoption of the new Integrel e-Drive hybrid propulsion system.”

“ E-Drive is set to be a game changing system that not only reduces emissions and fuel consumption but also provide boat owners with the choice of reducing their environmental impact,” said Trevor Howard, CEO of Integrel Solutions . This new system boasts up to 30kWs of power generation and 40hp of electric drive with a multihull. This is a dramatic breakthrough to more environmentally sound and safe propulsion and power generation while at sea, adds Berman.

Because Berman launched Balance with such a different vision, he began making videos to explain his ideas. He took cameras into the factories to let others see for themselves what he meant. He introduced the audience to his partners and the people and places of South Africa.

He took a fully open and transparent approach to his work and that of others, something the industry had not been known for then.

He let audiences watch as new models were designed and built in stages. Today, Balance Catamarans has a strong following on YouTube and Berman is recognized for his videos by a passionate sailing audience. The build videos are among the most popular Balance Catamarans creates.

If you want to see a Balance Catamaran in person, you can contact Balance Catamarans directly or you can attend the Cannes Yachting Festival September 10-16. Berman and his team will be there displaying a recently launched Balance 526 as well as a Balance 442.

The Balance 526 is currently captained by two top sailors who provide offshore sailing for “adventurous souls,” according to their website. OUTERPASSAGE.COM . The crew, Daren and Amanda, has raked up over 35,000 nautical miles and will be at the Cannes Boat Show to talk about their experiences onboard the Balance 526, Pippilotta.

To make a reservation to tour the boats in Cannes, contact [email protected]

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Language switcher

Browse categories.

You might be interested in

Halma Rib debuts in Genoa, with new RIBs on display at Marina Porto Antico

Prestige F5.7, the perfect family yacht: spacious, high-performance, dreamlike

Selva Marine launches the 300 XSR, the perfect Mediterranean-oriented outboard

Jeanneau conquers new markets: all the latest additions from Cannes 2024

© 2021 – THE INTERNATIONAL YACHTING MEDIA Designed by BLive Communication

ABOUT YACHTINGNEWS.COM

Yachting News is an interactive multimedia magazine dedicated to the world of boating.

The International Yachting Media is the worlds most widely read boating magazines network. Whit its portal It broadcast its original contents in five languages and in more than 200 countries developing 950,000 views a week. Our web portals are the main source of information for yacht and boat owners, the place where they can find anything about their boating passion.

THEINTERNATIONALYACHTINGMEDIA.COM  | SUPERYACHTS.NEWS | YACHT DIGEST

VIRTUAL BOAT SHOW |  TUTTTOBARCHE |  TOUSLESBATEAUX |  TODOSLOSBARCOS

BOATING NEWS FREE APP

To provide the best experiences, we and our partners use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us and our partners to process personal data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site and show (non-) personalized ads. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.

Click below to consent to the above or make granular choices. Your choices will be applied to this site only. You can change your settings at any time, including withdrawing your consent, by using the toggles on the Cookie Policy, or by clicking on the manage consent button at the bottom of the screen.

Subscribe For Latest Updates

Sign up to receive the best of Yachting News, sea trials, boat review and world premieres .

The only ADVERTISING FREE newsletter

Catamaran Show.com

Total produced

Catamarans/year.

State of Balance

Sail Performance

Length (ft):, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14.

8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

  Didn't Find Yours?  

Do Our Boat Quiz!

Answer  the 5 most critical questions when choosing a catamaran, and we give you 3 boats that match your sailing plans best. It's easy, fun!

Compare Favourites!

Compare three catamarans side by side. What better way to see and find out their differences in specifications and looks, and make an educated choice! 

Find Your Brand

Find out who is who when it comes to different catamaran manufacturers. They all serve a different clientele, find the brand story you vibe with!

You've made the Quiz, compared your favourites and gotten to know all the Brands but still havent found your boat. Dont worry, we are here for you!

Venez vivre l’expérience des Antilles avec nous à bord d’Ohana 8

On vous emmène à la découverte de la Martinique, une île antillaise reconnue pour la splendeur de ses paysages et sa richesse culturelle et historique. Celle que l’on nomme l’île aux fleurs sait charmer par ses activités, ses villas de rêve, sa nature luxuriante et sa population chaleureuse. Voici ce qu’il ne faut pas manquer dans ce voyage : les randonnées dans les montagnes et forêts tropicales, les baignades à la plage, les sites de plongées sous-marine, la route des rhum et bien plus encore!

7 jours et plus en Martinique

7 jours et plus dans les Antilles

Journée Magique

Une journée à bord

Clair de lune

Soirée/nuitée à bord

Explorez nos forfaits→

Ce que les gens disent

«  Nous avons fait 10 jours de voile de la Martinique à la Dominique. Forfait diamant à l’abri des chemins trop touristiques. Excellent rapport qualité/prix, n’hesitez pas à réserver et vivre des instants authentiques. Merci au skipper Daniel et à l’hotesse Geneviève pour ces beaux moments. »

«  Le plus beau catamaran que j’ai eu la chance de voir! »

— Tristan C.C.

«  Ohana, confort, luxe et performance, dans un paysage tropical majestueux! »

— Daniel (capitaine)

«  Une semaine de rêve avec des gens agréables »

— Martin A.

«  Superbe voyage à bord d’Ohana. Magnifique catamaran confortable et douillet! Une nouvelle façon de voyager avec une hôtesse accueillante pour nous faire vivre les plus beaux moments. Bon voyage! »

«  Un séjour sur Ohana 8 , c’est un cadeau de découvertes à savourer le présent : pour soi-même et en équipe… »

«  Tomber en amour avec la Martinique par la mer, une expérience vécue à bord d’Ohana-8. »

Réservez vos vacances

2022 Balance Catamarans 526

Performance Catamaran Comparisons

Performance cruising cats are becoming more popular and mainstream. A lot more brands have become available on the market over the last 10 years. Some of the most popular and well known performance cat brands are Catana, Outremer, HH Catamarans, and Balance. These boats’ popularity is not only driven by their amazing sailing abilities but also by YouTube channels like Sailing La Vagabond with their Outremer 45 and Gone with the Wynns who recently bought an HH 50 OC.

We Joined the Performance Catamaran Enthusiasts!

Catamaran Guru acquired a Catana Ocean Class 50. We take possession of the boat in September 2022 at the Cannes Yachting Festival .  After a hiatus for a few years to focus on the Bali range, Catana released in 2022 their Catana OC 50 that has the industry abuzz including ourselves. Its new bulkhead helm station, the open plan design, the comfort, interior spaciousness, and the affordability convinced us to take the leap and buy one. Read our review here>>

Let’s Look at Some Fundamentals

Of course, before we bought the Catana OC 50, we did a little research on the most popular performance catamarans. We wanted to see how these boats compare in performance.  One of the big factors that determines performance is Power-to-Weight ratio (or sail area to displacement ratio). We calculated the Bruce number and SA/D for the Catana OC 50, HH 50 OC, HH 50 Performance, Balance 482, and Outremer 51 . This is not the be-all and end-all but one do get a good indication of performance for these boats in steady sea conditions.

But before we dive down into it, let’s heed this advice from two veterans in the industry. Measuring a multihull’s performance is a complex issue that we all tend to want to boil down to a simplistic solution, which it is not. In the words of Tony Grainger: “…as a species hard wired for optimism, we’re prone to magical thinking, especially in the hands of marketing pros and advocacy scientists delivering theoretical solutions to complex problems.” As he says, “Prediction of performance and actual Observation are two very different things”. Phillip Berman from Balance Catamarans concurs: “Even the most accurate input, polar performance numbers on cruising catamarans are seldom achieved”. So, take this for what it is, simply numbers on a spreadsheet.

Some definitions:

• Bruce Number – a power-to-weight ratio for relative speed potential for comparing boats. It takes into consideration the displacement and sail area of main and jib (100% fore triangle only), no overlapping sails. Light boats are more easily driven than heavy boats and more sail gives you more drive.
• SA/D (sail area / displacement ratio): indicates the power of the sail plan relative to the displacement of the boat, regardless of the length. 

We used the Bruce-SA/D calculator  to calculate the SA/D range of values:

• 16 to 18 Heavy offshore cruisers
• 18 to 22 Medium Cruisers
• 22 to 26 Inshore cruisers, racing boats
• 26 to 30 Extreme racing boats

Catamaran Measurements

Points of Consideration

• We used the published numbers on the manufacturers’ websites to do the calculations and some of those numbers may be slightly off. We tried to verify but have not received feedback. Any input is welcome! 
• We used only the mainsail and jib area on all the boats to get an apples to apples comparison.
• The “Lightship Displacement” quoted in each of the manufacturer’s specifications was used in the Bruce number calculation. Note there is an anomaly in that the Outremer, which is the biggest boat with the least carbon fiber, is quoted as being the lightest boat of the group. We think the lightship displacement quoted on the Outremer website might be inaccurate because it is unlikely that a predominantly E-Glass boat would be lighter than a full Carbon boat such as the Balance or HH performance. If anyone has reliable numbers for Outremer, we would love to hear from you! *We have received new information and have updated the weight of the Balance with new actual published numbers.

Some Observations and Conclusion

For performance cruisers there is a fine balance between speed and comfort and they are not for everyone. Speed does not always make for comfort. Operation of daggerboards, bigger and more powerful rigs and more complex running rigging require more skill, making them not suitable for the average cruising sailor. The conclusion we drew from this exercise is that all these boats are essentially very similar cruisers with very similar performance characteristics, except for the Balance, which stands out as the real performance boat. *Updated information shows that this boat is very similar now to the other boats. We believe that most of these boats are capable of good performance in light conditions, which is of course the beauty of a performance cat. These are our observations:

• The measurements for these boats are all very similar.
• Balance is the lightest boat (full carbon) at 25,353lbs 29321lbs  with a big sail plan at 1,432 sq ft. These boats are super light and fast and moves in very light air.  *We updated the Balance weight with new actual published numbers. 
• According to the SA/D numbers, the Balance is rated in the “extreme racing” category at 26.549 and a Bruce number of 1.292.   The Balance turns out to be very similar to the other boats SA/D “inshore cruisers / racing boats” category like the other boats
• The rest of the cats all fall into the SA/D “inshore cruisers / racing boats” category. So, these boats should all perform similarly and sail well even in light conditions.
• The Catana OC 50 (carbon deck and bulkheads) and the HH 50 Performance (full carbon), surprisingly are rated very similarly. The Catana is heavier but has a bigger sail plan and thus has similar performance to the HH.
• The HH 50 OC has mini keels rather than daggerboards and will likely not have the same performance to weather as the daggerboard boats.
• The Catana is the heaviest boat at 31,164lbs with the biggest sail area at 1469 sq ft.
• The Catana has the highest load carrying capacity of 10,723lbs – great for cruising and living onboard.
• The fuel tanks on both the HH catamarans are 4 times the size of the water tanks which is curious and nearly double the size of any of the other cats. That seems a little odd, but we could be wrong.
• Fuel capacities vary greatly between the boats, with Outremer having the least fuel capacity at 88 gal.
• Water capacity varies slightly, also. Catana and Balance carry around 210 gals while the others carry around 100 gals, which is a bit small for live aboard in our opinion.

We also concluded that while these stats are interesting data, they should not be the overriding factor when choosing a boat in the performance cruising category. Other factors to consider include quality, comfort, livability, equipment, safety, resale value, etc. Price is also a very big consideration. Balance (South Africa) and HH cats (China) are way more expensive than the French-built cats, Catana and Outremer, partly because the Balance and HH Performance are full carbon boats while the others have carbon infused deck and/or bulkheads. We believe that the Catana’s interior volume and comfort make it an extremely livable boat while still having the performance benefits of an express blue water cruiser and it is extremely affordable at around $1.5 million.

Having said all that, with the advancement of technology, more people will be able to sail these performance cats safely and will be able to afford them as more hulls are built and costs come down.

Here is another very interesting analysis Sailing into Freedom. The top 10 performance catamarans – Dazcat 1495, ORC 50, Odisea 48, Balance 526, Outremer 45, Outremer 51, Catana OC, HH 50, OC 50, Balance 482, HH44, Seawind 1370, Seawind 1600, Slyder 49, Privilege, Windelo 50. We would love for everyone to join the discussion. Let us know what you think in the comment box!

Learn how to sail a performance catamaran

Our sailing school facility in Fort Lauderdale will start training on the Catana OC 50 with certified RYA instructors in March 2023. Contact us for more information about our sailing school dates and pricing.

Wanda Anglin

Join our community.

Get the latest on catamaran news, sailing events, buying and selling tips, community happenings, webinars & seminars, and much more!

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Recent Posts

Top 10 Reasons to Sell (and Sail) Your Catamaran in Annapolis, MD

We have a new home in Annapolis! The office is located in Annapolis, Maryland

Top 10 Reasons to Sell (and Sail) Your Catamaran in Texas

Our Texas Office is located in the Watergate Marina Center in Clear Lake Shores,

Annapolis Boat Show 2024

Meet with our team!    Want to learn more about the Bali and Catana

Exploring the Catana OC 50 Catamaran: A Comprehensive Overview

The Catana OC 50 Catamaran, the latest addition to the Catana Ocean Class series,

For more than 30 years, we have been a part of the catamaran community and created Catamaran Guru™ to encourage and educate all the aspiring sailing out there. We understand the dream of traveling the world by catamaran and created a one-stop-shop to make that dream a reality for you.

• Stephen & Estelle
• Testimonials

Get Started

• Yacht Sales
• Used Yachts
• Charter Management
• Boat as Business Programs
• Seminars & Events

6 Best Performance Cruising Catamarans (Buyer’s Guide)

As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. We may also earn commissions if you purchase products from other retailers after clicking on a link from our site.

Performance cruising catamarans are impressive-looking vessels that focus on speed above comfort. These fast boats are ideal for racing and long cruising vacations. But with the numerous brands and models on the market, how do you know which is the best one?  

The best high-speed performance cruising catamarans are the Outremer 4x, McConaghy MC50, Nautitech 44, Gunboat 62, Balance 526, and Marsaudon Composites ORC50. All these boats deliver outstanding speeds and are light in weight, relatively comfortable, and incredibly safe.  

This article will explore the brands and models that I believe have the best combination of performance and comfort . We’ll look at their speeds and what makes them cruise so fast. We’ll also examine the factors to consider when shopping for a performance cruising cat.  

Table of Contents

How Fast Are Performance Cruising Catamarans? 

Cruising catamarans are generally faster than monohulls of similar lengths. This means most well-built and well-balanced cats will arrive at their destination much sooner, and the cruise is much more comfortable. Performance cruising cats like the Nautitech include deep daggerboards and rudders, narrow waterline beams, hull chines, and big sail plans that allow for faster sailing than a standard cruising cat.

Outremer 4X

Outremer Catamarans are well-known for their high speeds. These exciting cats sport brilliant designs, narrow bows, and large rigs. Built in Southern France, the vessels are strong and long-lasting since their structures feature materials such as carbon, glass, and vinyl ester. 

The Outremer 4x is a stable and comfortable high-speeding cruising catamaran that performs ocean crossings and confronts any weather with remarkable ease. Named the European Boat of the Year in 2017, this 48-foot (14.6 m) bluewater cruiser sails faster than wind speed and attains maximum cruising speeds of 20 knots.

The 4x is an upgrade of the extremely popular Outremer 45, thus retaining Outremer’s core values of speed, safety, and comfort. It’s built for maximum performance and enjoyment, with the lightweight, carbon fiber structure allowing for additional speed under sail . 

Featuring comfort typical of much larger vessels, the Outremer 4X features 4 double cabins, hot water showers, a full kitchen, spacious storage, and excellent ventilation. There’s also an expansive deck, an unobstructed cockpit, and large trampoline areas. Most importantly, your safety is assured through the cat’s unique features including a robust structure, offshore design, stability, and unrivaled speed potential.

The 4x’s cutting-edge design makes it ideal for competitive racing or blue water cruising, and it does both without compromising your comfort, safety, or onboard livability. However, to sail at maximum speed, the boat must remain lightweight, requiring your interior to be fitted out quite minimally. The other downside is the high price tag; the Outremer 4X commands a price between $912,322 and $1,202,945 .

McConaghy MC52

The McConaghy MC52 is a performance luxury cruising cat reflective of McConaghy’s 50 years of experience in building high-tech composite projects. The luxurious boat features a flybridge, retracting centerboards, optimized hulls, and an open space bridgedeck combining the salon with the cockpit. You can also customize the boat to your specifications.

This hi-tech cat comes with sizeable sliding salon windows and frameless doors that provide fantastic views. Its wave-piercing bows can cut through waves, thus helping to increase performance by minimizing pitch resistance, while still retaining a smooth ride. Also, the saloon offers spacious dining space for up to 8 people, and the galley area is more like a penthouse.

The manufacturer’s background in building high-end racing yachts has resulted in an incredibly strong and lightweight vessel capable of reaching 22 knots (40.7 km/h or 25.29 mph). The main downside to this boat is the boom placement on the mast, which is much higher than other high-performance cats. This makes accessing the mainsail somewhat challenging. It also increases the MC50’s center of gravity and center of effort.

You can get the MC52 for about $1.6 million.

Nautitech 44

The Nautitech 44 easily blends comfort and fun to deliver an impressive sailing performance, whether you take short trips or long ocean crossings. The boat offers a good balance under sail, and it features helming stations on each hull. Plus, there’s an integrated hardtop bimini complete with sunroof opening. Slim hulls translate to higher speeds, with the vessel reaching up to 17 knots (31.4 km/h or 19.51 mph).

The well-laid-out interior boasts a functional design, ample storage space, plus all the equipment you require for ocean cruising, such as a fridge, watermaker, and solar. 

Nautitech 44’s twin helms give you the real sailing experience with a fantastic view of the sails and great visibility when maneuvering into port. However, you might not appreciate being stuck in the aft helm position without protection in lousy weather or during hot days.

Nevertheless, the boat’s responsiveness makes sailing more pleasurable. Plus, it’s affordable; the price is between $236,000 and $334,000.

Marsaudon Composites ORC50

Marsaudon Composites vessels are ideal for both racing and cruising. The sporty-looking ORC 50 comes with large inverted bows, an angular coachroof, a high freeboard, and a sturdy rotating carbon mast. In addition, the vessel is light which allows it to accelerate quickly, while the angular coachroof offers lots of space and excellent visibility. 

The ORC50 can attain 23+ knots (42.5+ km/h or 26.41+ mph) and is among the fastest high-performance livable multihulls. It’s capable of doing more than 350 miles (563.27 km) per day.   

The downside to the ORC50 is it’s a bit technical to sail, thus requiring a skilled sailor. Furthermore, its immense power and speed can be intimidating to less experienced sailors. Solely designed for speed, the ORC50’s interior is simple, less roomy, and somewhat spartan; hence the boat might not be all that comfy. Still, it’ll get you where you want to go pretty fast, and it’s an excellent value for money at approximately $787,751.25.

Gunboat 62 

The Gunboat 62 is a true high-speed catamaran capable of sailing at 20 knots (37 km/h or 23 mph) over true wind speeds and known to notch up speeds of 36+ knots (66.7+ km/h or 41.45 mph) on a surf. The initial 3 Gunboat 62 boats featured epoxy, E-glass, and carbon fiber construction, but the fourth vessel was all carbon, sported a taller rig and a more expansive sail area. 

These structural features made the Gunboat 62s extremely light, and they formed the original luxury high-performance cruising cats.

This multihull sailboat boasts a carbon mast, round hull sections for a minimized wetted surface area, high-aspect rudders, and retractable daggerboards. The steering station offers 360-degree visibility and sports overhead hatches that you can use to monitor the mainsail trim. The boat also contains 3 private cabins with queen berths, 2 spacious heads with showers, an aft cockpit, galley, and lounge.

On the downside, Gunboats are pricey cats; hence they’re also expensive to maintain. The Gunboat 62 isn’t that spacious either as it’s more focused on speed, but it’s extremely comfortable, plus there’s plenty of space for hanging out. You can buy this catamaran starting from $2 million .

Balance 526

Built with a combination of carbon fiber, E-glass, epoxy, closed-cell foam, and composite bulkheads, this boat is strong, light, and can withstand terrible weather. The retractable daggerboards allow for good upwind performance. All high load areas contain carbon fiber, while furniture and cabinets feature cored sandwich construction, producing the lightest yet most robust catamaran. 

A Balance 526 will reach speeds of up to 20knots without stressing the rig too much.

The boat is available in various layouts and comfortably accommodates 6 people. The spacious aft cockpit and saloon provide panoramic visibility. And since Balance 526 can handle the extra weight, you get performance plus all the creature comforts you desire.

Still, Balance 526’s pricing is on the higher end, beginning at $1,440,000 . Also, the slender hulls result in less space down below. Nevertheless, the boat lives up to its name, achieving the perfect balance between superb performance and comfort.

What Makes Performance Cruising Catamarans So Fast? 

Performance Cruising Catamarans Have Narrow Hulls 

Performance catamarans contain two small narrow hulls, which cause them to have less water resistance. Smaller hulls mean the vessels have much smaller bow waves to fight, allowing them to move extremely fast. In addition, the less hull area is underwater, the faster the boat is capable of moving since there’s less drag.

Having said that, it’s important to note that a narrow hull is more prone to burying its bows in rough seas. The wider the hull, the more buoyancy it offers, but only up to a given point. After which, the excessive width becomes unmanageable and performance suffers. The key lies in finding the right balance.

Performance Cruising Catamarans Have Considerable Length

The longer a cruising cat is, the faster it’ll move. While each vessel bears a maximum hull speed, in most cases, the lengthier the boat, the higher the speed it can reach. The length of the hull (length on the waterline) also has a significant impact on the speed performance. Thus, the cat attains maximum speeds when the wavelength is equal to the length on the waterline (hull speed).

Therefore, the longer the length of the hull, the better the performance of a high-speed cruising cat. You can also compare two cruising cats’ speeds based on this measure. 

Performance Cruising Catamarans Have Quality Builds

Modern cat manufacturers continue designing more innovative high-performance cruising cats that deliver a new blend of performance and cruising features. They achieve this by using advanced construction materials, better daggerboard designs, and creative weight allocation. They also keep a keener focus on onboard amenities. For instance, asymmetrical daggerboards placed midships in each hull can help achieve proper balance and hull trim.

The overall goal is to design cruising cats that offer high speeds, outstanding performance, and enough offshore comfort. 

Here’s an article if you are wondering what daggerboards and centerboards are and why they impact performance so much.

Performance Cruising Catamarans Are Light-weight

The lighter a cruising catamaran, the greater its performance. And some of the most popular high-performance catamarans find an optimal balance between performance and comfort. As a result, modern performance-based cruising cats have embraced the use of carbon composite construction for hulls, daggerboards, and rigging, instead of the somewhat heavier glass fiber materials.

A weighed-down cat produces less speed, which means excess immersion of the hulls renders the boat sluggish . The hull submersion also reduces the bridge deck clearance, promoting uncomfortable hull slamming.

You won’t find much difference in top speed between performance catamarans bearing similar lengths because they all have displacement hulls and mostly sail to hull speed with occasional surfing. This means that under skilled hands, these cats should exhibit roughly the same performance. A cruising cat’s performance is also highly dependent on the state of the sea, wind direction, and speed, amongst many other factors.

What To Consider When Choosing a Performance Cruising Catamaran

Speed is the number one consideration when choosing a high-speed cruising cat. Yet there are other factors just as important since they contribute to the overall cruising performance, including:

•  What you’ll use the vessel for and where. Are you planning on doing coastal cruising or serious offshore cruising? Consider the number of people that you’ll be sailing with and the activities you’ll engage in. This also helps determine the size catamaran you’ll need.  
• Comfort. While some racing enthusiasts might prefer spartan accommodation plans, most enjoy relative comfort on the high seas. In any case, modern high-speed cruising cats are designed to provide a certain level of creature comforts. And since most performance cats are custom-made, new boat owners may decide precisely which features to include in their cats. 
• Quality. To produce light boats, builders employ the use of fine resins, carbon, epoxies, foam cores, and fiberglass. They build using a combination of vacuum-bagged techniques, foam cores, foam composite bulkheads, and make furniture and cabinetry with cored sandwich construction . 
• Livability. One cannot underrate the appeal of sailing in a vessel with no heeling, not to mention the high privacy attained from separate living and sleeping areas. Panoramic views and exceptional deck space for lounging and entertaining are also essential in ensuring maximum cruising comfort. Fortunately, most high-speed cruising cats offer all these features and more.
• Equipment. Sailing upwind is a challenge for cruising cats since they tend to make lots of leeway. To make things easier, high-speed cruising cats come equipped with bigger rigs and either daggerboards or centerboards. However, this also means skilled sailors are required to operate them. 
• Cost. Catamarans are generally expensive, but a cat built with longer, leaner hulls and less costly materials can still give an outstanding performance. Such materials include foam cores, epoxy bulkheads, and epoxy resins. Furthermore, it’s not necessary to use only carbon to build a lightweight boat. 

Final Thoughts

Performance cruising catamarans are built using exotic, high-tech, lightweight materials to deliver an electrifying sailing experience. And as we’ve seen from the above list, these boats deliver performance plus much more. They’re not only speed cruisers, but they also provide a smooth, comfortable, and enjoyable cruising experience. 

So, whichever option you go for – from the luxurious Gunboat 62 to the much more affordable Nautitech 44 – you’re sure to get a boat that suits your needs. 

• Wikipedia: Spinnaker
• Wikipedia: High-Performance Sailing  
• Yachting World: Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 Review
• Aeroyacht: Catamaran Speed
• Cruiser’s Forum: Nautitech 44…
• Nautitech Catamarans: Nautitech
• Katamarans: Marsaudon Composites ORC50 (TS5) Review
• Outremer USA: New Outremer 4x Performance Catamaran
• Dutoit Yacht Design: Balance 526 Review
• Go Downsize: How Fast Do Catamarans Go?
• Catamaran Guru: The Cruising Catamaran Performance Debate
• The Boat App: The Fastest Cruising Catamarans of 2020
• Sail Magazine: Performance Cruising Cats Set New Standards in Sailing Speed
• Cruisers Forum: Fast Cruising Catamarans – How Fast?
• Lagoon – Inside: The Secrets of a Catamaran’s Performance
• Sail Magazine: 10 Great Cruising Cats
• Cruising World: 40 Best Sailing Catamarans and Trimarans, Cruising Catamarans…

Owner of CatamaranFreedom.com. A minimalist that has lived in a caravan in Sweden, 35ft Monohull in the Bahamas, and right now in his self-built Van. He just started the next adventure, to circumnavigate the world on a Catamaran!

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name and email in this browser for the next time I comment.

Recent Posts

Must-Have Boat Gear for Catamaran Sailors!

Sailing is probably the most gear-intensive activity I've ever done; there are so many decisions to be made about what gear to buy now, for tomorrow, and what to definitely never buy. The gear on...

6 Best Trailerable Trimarans For Bluewater and Coastal Sailing

Having a boat costs a lot of money, even when you are not using it, marina fees, etc. And once it is in the water most sailors never go very far from their "home marina" and sailing will be somewhat...

• News & Reviews

The agile multi-tasker is the ideal performance cruiser for island hoppers yet fully capable of trans-oceanic adventure travel.

Performance

With her carbon reinforced foam core hulls and powerful sail plan the Balance 442 is a fast and able voyager. Upwind she points high, with little leeway, in the 6 to 8.5 knot range with her high aspect daggerboards. Reaching she enjoys speeds between 7 and 13 knots. Dropping down a swell she’ll surge even faster, steering like a surfboard with her high performance spade rudders.

* Polars are known as Velocity Performance Predictions (VPP’s) and are calculated using advanced computer modeling at base boat weight assuming vessel in flat sea state, trimmed sails and clean bottom. Polars do not guarantee specific performance. Vessel performance in real world conditions vary due to sea state, hull condition, payload, and the skill of the helmsman. To learn more about performance, click below to view our videos on Polars

• Model Diagram

Carbon Cross Performance Hull

We use E-glass (a Silica -based fiber) with significant carbon-fiber reinforcement in the high-load areas of our hulls and decks. Every Balance 442 is hand-laminated and vacuum-bagged with closed cell foam cores with a combination of polyester inner-skin resin and vinylester outer-skin resin.

Guided Walk Through

Design Your Balance

• Design your own

Designing your dream catamaran and how to use our visualization tool

“It has been a privilege to work so closely with Anton, Jonathan, Roger and Phil to build my dream boat.”

“It’s the whole package. Performance, safety, comfort, ease of use/maintenance, quality. Not to parrot their marketing material – but they really did find the perfect balance.”

“Having owned and maintained more than a dozen yachts, including a Hinkley, Oyster, J-boats, Swan and Nautitech, Balance is by far and away the best boat I have ever owned and sailed!”

“Balance Catamarans were the perfect compromise for us as they are fast, comfortable, practical, beautiful and very well built, by people who also love to sail.”

“Aesthetics were also a big factor for us in deciding to order our new Balance 526. We find her crisp contemporary lines and modern interior finishes to be satisfying to our eyes. Also, as experienced sailors, we were drawn to the fact that the 526 is a truly handmade labor of love crafted by passionate builders who were happy to let us make a wide range of choices on finishes and equipment that larger production builders will not accommodate.”

“Superb craftsmanship, delightful to work with, and absolutely beautiful boats.”

“She’s pretty, she’s built like a rock, she’s light, super intelligently designed and is going to be a blast to sail. I think the name Balance says it all.”

“Balance Catamarans, being a smaller, high-end, boutique shipyard, were prepared to work carefully with me to build the catamaran of my dreams.”

“As experienced sailors, we were drawn to the fact that a Balance is a truly hand-made labor of love crafted by passionate builders who were happy to let us make a wide range of choices on finishes and equipment.”

“After years of planning we found Balance Catamarans to be the best combination of performance, quality of build and value on the market.”

“Every once in a while, you connect with a group of people you know will always be in your life in a very good way. I think building in South Africa, you get a lot more for your money. The craftsmanship is top-notch.”

“The team at Balance has an attention to detail, workmanship and overall quality that makes us very proud to be part of the Balance family.”

Truly impressive…With the scaled-down 442, Balance fills out the family offering with dimensions and a price point that make their designs more accessible to a broader swath of the cruising market. The result is a performance catamaran that’s perfectly positioned to appeal to an experienced sailing couple looking for quality, livability, speed, and savvy systems, all in a true 44-foot package that is a kick to sail.

3 Cabin Interior Layout

3 cabin storage volume, 4 cabin interior layout, 4 cabin storage volume, deck exterior layout, deck storage volume, overall length.

13.50 m / 44.29 ft

Waterline Length

Beam overall.

7.6 m / 24.93 ft

75.6 m2 / 813 ft2

Working Self-Tracking Jib

29.81m / 321 ft2

Sail Area (100% Foretriangle)

112.0 m2 / 1,205 ft2

Asymmetric Spinnaker

152.83m / 1645 ft2

Draft (Boards Down)

2.15 m / 7.05 ft

Draft (Boards Up)

1.16 m / 3.81 ft

Draft Keeled Version

Air draft / mast clearance.

20.01 m / 65.65 ft

Bridgedeck Clearence

818mm / 2.807 ft

DISP (Base Boat)

11,800 kgs / 26,014 lbs

DISP (Base Boat – Keeled)

250 kgs / 550 lbs per arm Max Length Tender: 3.5m / 11′ 6″ Max Weight Tender w/OB: 214 kgs / 472 lbs

Screacher/Reacher

59.64m / 642 ft2

YANMAR 3YM30AE X SD 25 2×22 kW / 2× 29 HP /

Fuel Capacity

2 x 400 ltrs / 2 x 106 gals

Fresh Water Capacity

2 x 350 ltrs / 2 x 92 gals

Black Water Capacity

2 x 42 ltrs / 2 x 11 gals

Maximum Load Displacement

15,340 kgs / 33,818 lbs

Please note that, based on component availability and other factors, specifications are subject to change without notice.

The weight of each yacht we build varies based on her interior fit-out, materials chosen, hardware and added equipment. All our catamarans are designed for best-in-class weight and sailing performance, without compromising strength or quality.

Underwing clearance will vary based on the final fit out of the yacht together with what is stored on her, the amount of fuel and water she carries, and the number of passengers onboard.

“The choice of materials is qualitative (the foam core and wood veneer for furniture), as well as the overall finish, in a word: impeccable.”

“I think the Balance 526 represents an important moment in the history of multihull design and evolution…there was something missing in the marketplace that Phil recognized: a high-performance voyaging cat that an experienced couple could take anywhere…finally, we have that a couple can really sail well.”

“Pretty as she is, every aspect of her design seems to have been refracted through a simplicity prism. Access for repairs is exceptional. The movement from helm to side decks and from side decks to foredecks is a breeze. The wiring and systems installations all reflect a commitment to functional excellence.”

“Several Balance 526 owners have reported 24-hour periods covering 260 miles or more. This is one very, very fast catamaran, laden or empty.”