What a great boat. The size, the gally, the versa helm, Solar power, wonder if they use Lithium batteries...? And you can already get one in 2027 lol. Nice one Toby 👍🏼
@@angela1984a I'd hope so. It would say a lot about their production system and attitude if they could/could not incorporate them. I'm sure they've thought about it and perhaps went with the "packaging" they liked for this hull.
Port forward locker is sealed from the rest of the port hull. You can also request to not have forward berth door to the starboard forward locker. for this price, you get semi-custom work, re these points.
Very well designed boat. At 11 Tonnes (24,250 lbs), it is a bit heavy, approximately 50% heavier than a "performance" catamaran. The owner of "Seawind" catamarans described this style as BMW's; that is quick and sporty family sedans (as opposed to Lotus and Aston Martin). There is a very big market segment that wants boats just like these.
A bit heavy? For reference a Lagoon 46 is nearly 17 tons lightship displacement. Yes there are lighter performance boats, but not ones most wives would be willing to join us on for a few years. Would you consider the HH50 a performance boat? It has the same waterline and is 11.8 tons.
@@kirkb3473 By definition, a "performance" boat will sail in 5 knots of wind while the others have to motor. So, the only production "performance" boats currently produced in Europe are Marsaudon and Dazcat; which Toby mentioned in a previous video. They lack amenities to save weight so you are right, wives don't like them. Plus, and this is important, the difference between boys and girls: at 12 knots; the boys: "Go faster Dad" and the girls: "Daddy, slow down!" There is not a large market for the lighter boats so they are mostly made by custom shops. Meanwhile, Lagoon is setting sales records.
@@realpaddy5270 So good news, by your definition the Balance 482 is a "performance" boat because it does sail at 5 knots in 5 knots of wind! (I've actually sailed on a 482) It is a newer boat so you might not be aware of the performance capabilities of Balance cats, she will also do 20+ if you feel like pressing her. They are produced in South Africa, not Europe so you are correct there are only a couple of European builders building performance cats. This is definitely not a racing catamaran though like the others you mention, those two would undoubtedly outperform with competent crew. These cats are made for the buyers who still want a windspeed boat they don't have to motor in light winds that a couple can comfortably sail around the world clipping off 200+ mile days and are willing to give up a bit of comfort...but not too much like on a Dazcat or Marsaudon which are awesome boats for what they are.
@@kirkb3473 There are websites and TH-cam channels that focus on "performance" boats which are generally custom built. Examples: Chris White, Mumby, Lerouge, Shuttleworth, Grainger, Looping, etc. The original Danson designed Outremers were "performance" boats while the modern Outrmemers cater to a cruising crowd. Characteristics: they have very narrow hulls which can't support a lot of weight so, therefore, they are light. As a general guide, multiply the length (in feet) by 333 to get the upper limit in dry weight (lbs). Generally, they do not have washer/dryers, A/C, heating, big battery banks, etc.
As an electrician with ocd, the way they layout the electronics and mechanic components is so satisfying. One thing that I liked from the outremere that I think balance could adopt is that u shaped aft cockpit area, for a family with young kids that is a really safe design choice.
flush hatches come with so many problems, the longevity, maintenance and money saving aspect of the ones on this boat are far superior to any flush hatch.
I like that, a lot. Very attractively styled and umbra practical layout/access for systems and storage. Shame the audio dropped out for the deck walk-around, but otherwise a really informative review. Thanks.
Nice boat, I like how the cockpit is protected from the elements But I don't like the height of the bed to fit one row of drawers, to remove those drawers the height would be ideal I mean with all the storage space these couple of drawers are really redundant
The height of the forward berths is set by the bridge deck height; the drawers just take advantage of the space below the beds where they cantilever into the hulls.
@@peterpawlak8418 Yes, the beds were set up a little differently, they had their own idea of using the space I am a tall man so it would be interesting to sleep on them😉
@@ownitnow7451 Why raise the ceiling? When the drawers are too high I understand that they want to use every space, but considering the whole space, I think that they are free to remove them
Great quick walkthrough Toby. Looking forward to see the sea trail, also you did not say what the headroom actually is on this one. No one does actually in any reviews. I'm 6.7 and would love to have that included in your reviews going forward as even if some of the designs both on monos and cats are brilliant a large number of them are not really comfortable for us taller ones.
Good point Thor and I certainly always try to where relevant in our proper full reviews in the magazine, but would not usually have the time to go through measuring during quick boat show tours! I'll bear it in mind if I get to sail the Balance though thanks
@@mikemendes7598 Thanks for your reply Mike. however those 3 inches is a massive diff when you are 6.7 especially for the purpose buying a cruising sail yacht, you just dont want to wing it..
I've been on multiple 482s. The headroom is excellent for perf class and this size boat. It was a gating requirement for me. But for fact-checking purposes......it's not 6'10 everywhere. I'd guesstimate the range to be between 6'5 - 6'8 in most places. I'm 6'3. It might be 6'10 in the aft section of the cockpit. I found the only other boat in this perf category/size that compares is the HH/OC 50. Again, the headroom is comparatively excellent. FWIW Sitting upright in the standard forward berths isn't possible for someone my height, but they will elevate the ceiling in the berth a little, as well as lower the stowage underneath by some. By adding a slightly slimmer, but quality, mattress, I'm hoping to pick up another 3-4 inches in headroom when sitting on the bed. Also, they are expanding bulkhead/door clearances so I can walk thru without ducking or turning sideways (semi-custom yard). I couldn't be more excited about the purchase, and the Balance Cape Town team is stellar to work with. Stellar. I hear the same about the Nexus team in St Francis (526). The 526 may have some more headroom, but I can't speak as definitively on it.
Anybody else tired of white and gray sailboats yet? This is probably a very capable and fast catamaran, but the aesthetics do nothing for me. The moveable helm is awesome, if it is as reliable as a stationary one.
if money is no object, anyone would choose balance over leopard in a heartbeat. its way way better in every regard. leopards are cheaply built and are a brick to sail. the only advantage is the additional space due to fatter hulls, but in big cats like these, the gain is very negligible. however, at the same size, balance is at least twice as expensive. u could buy two or a much larger leopard for the same price.
if you have the extra dinero, Balance. But if you don't care as much about the actual sailing, and prioritize socializing and comfort, then save the extra money and buy the Leopard. There is no shame in that approach. It annoys me immensely when people talk so condescendingly in chat rooms about charter-esque/production boats...... how do YOU want to use YOUR boat, is all that matters.
Why do most of these newer designed catamarans have an IKEA cold feel to their insides. No look of elegance in design at all. I suppose it makes them easier to clear with everything so flat.
Perhaps down to material and design choices to minimise weight, like the light weight foam insulated laminates woods as oppose to real solid hardwoods furniture that a quality monohull would have.
Contort with some speed and very good solutions (Balance) does have a price well deserved. Congrat Toby as usual.
Thanks Toby & Yachting World!
Looked like an elbows out review. Can tell why it would be a VERY popular boat. Cheers for the vid.
Excellent video. Thank you
What a beast!
What a great boat. The size, the gally, the versa helm, Solar power, wonder if they use Lithium batteries...? And you can already get one in 2027 lol. Nice one Toby 👍🏼
There is another video about Balance using Lithium batteries, so pretty sure, yes they do. Better energy density, life, etc.
Wonderful boat, I hope to buy an used boat balance 482 in 2 or 3 years if you there have
Yay! Toby covering one of my favorite boats! I like the Balance boats and Phil's design philosophies a lot! Thanks Toby and Balance!
This I seriously like! I would want crash bulkheads forward, given the speeds possible.
I'm with you on this. What happened to Crash bulkheads?
@@o4pureh2o Yeah. The older I get, the more careful I am yet the more aware of my chances of screwing up! OK and of random stuff happening...
@@hogey74 I'm sure you could specify crash bulkheads for both hulls...
@@angela1984a I'd hope so. It would say a lot about their production system and attitude if they could/could not incorporate them. I'm sure they've thought about it and perhaps went with the "packaging" they liked for this hull.
Port forward locker is sealed from the rest of the port hull. You can also request to not have forward berth door to the starboard forward locker. for this price, you get semi-custom work, re these points.
2 things!! 1 - pls invest in a better mic! 2 - why in in 2022 do they still have trip-hatches? (besides that I love the boat)
Is that door leading to the bulkhead through the starboard forward cabin water tight? Seems a bit like a security issue doesn't it?
I'm sure you could specify a water tight construction if you order one... Toby explicitly said that these boats are "semi-custom"...
the cat is one of the best. I would choose it without a doubt but waiting 3 or 4 years is too much
Maybe there's an open build slot now after the economic downturn... ;-)
Very nice :)
Beautiful boat but too many sharp corners for my liking.
Really nice, has some good features. Would still go with a Marsaudon orc50, just need to win the lottery. Fingers crossed 🍀
Very well designed boat. At 11 Tonnes (24,250 lbs), it is a bit heavy, approximately 50% heavier than a "performance" catamaran. The owner of "Seawind" catamarans described this style as BMW's; that is quick and sporty family sedans (as opposed to Lotus and Aston Martin). There is a very big market segment that wants boats just like these.
Agreed - a very big segment seemingly!
A bit heavy? For reference a Lagoon 46 is nearly 17 tons lightship displacement. Yes there are lighter performance boats, but not ones most wives would be willing to join us on for a few years. Would you consider the HH50 a performance boat? It has the same waterline and is 11.8 tons.
@@kirkb3473 By definition, a "performance" boat will sail in 5 knots of wind while the others have to motor. So, the only production "performance" boats currently produced in Europe are Marsaudon and Dazcat; which Toby mentioned in a previous video. They lack amenities to save weight so you are right, wives don't like them. Plus, and this is important, the difference between boys and girls: at 12 knots; the boys: "Go faster Dad" and the girls: "Daddy, slow down!" There is not a large market for the lighter boats so they are mostly made by custom shops. Meanwhile, Lagoon is setting sales records.
@@realpaddy5270 So good news, by your definition the Balance 482 is a "performance" boat because it does sail at 5 knots in 5 knots of wind! (I've actually sailed on a 482) It is a newer boat so you might not be aware of the performance capabilities of Balance cats, she will also do 20+ if you feel like pressing her. They are produced in South Africa, not Europe so you are correct there are only a couple of European builders building performance cats.
This is definitely not a racing catamaran though like the others you mention, those two would undoubtedly outperform with competent crew. These cats are made for the buyers who still want a windspeed boat they don't have to motor in light winds that a couple can comfortably sail around the world clipping off 200+ mile days and are willing to give up a bit of comfort...but not too much like on a Dazcat or Marsaudon which are awesome boats for what they are.
@@kirkb3473 There are websites and TH-cam channels that focus on "performance" boats which are generally custom built. Examples: Chris White, Mumby, Lerouge, Shuttleworth, Grainger, Looping, etc. The original Danson designed Outremers were "performance" boats while the modern Outrmemers cater to a cruising crowd. Characteristics: they have very narrow hulls which can't support a lot of weight so, therefore, they are light. As a general guide, multiply the length (in feet) by 333 to get the upper limit in dry weight (lbs). Generally, they do not have washer/dryers, A/C, heating, big battery banks, etc.
They should fire the person who thought of those paddle boards :-D
0:04 "the new BALANT" ??? :)
$1.5 and no flush deck hatches, wtf mate
I think they don’t do them as flush hatches are more of a pickle if they leak.
It’s an apartment on a pontoon not a boat
Performance cat with a Bruce # of 1.30...not sure!
Too narrow and claustrophobic for me. I would ask for less. Is there 2m headroom in the kitchen? No word about limitations. No good review.
Sorry, not claiming to be a review, but a quick first look at a busy boatshow!
flop flop sailing. Thanks but no thanks...
Well done Tobes! I was hoping you`d review this boat! Can`t wait for you to have a drive, she looks like a go-er!
Thanks Bert - and yes really hope to get a sail this season now one's in Europe
As an electrician with ocd, the way they layout the electronics and mechanic components is so satisfying.
One thing that I liked from the outremere that I think balance could adopt is that u shaped aft cockpit area, for a family with young kids that is a really safe design choice.
Fantastic boat and incredibly well designed!
most confortable of performance catamaran in its size or most sporty of cruising ones ? in any case i like this channel and all the reviews
That boat only needs recessed hatches, its beautiful!
flush hatches come with so many problems, the longevity, maintenance and money saving aspect of the ones on this boat are far superior to any flush hatch.
I agree w/ P Red btw
For USD$1,157,000 you are getting a lot. I thought for sure that the price would start at 2 or 3 million. Great review!
Plan on someplace in the middle of your number and 2m ;)
Audio is crap!!!!! Your mumbling!!! R u having a mini stroke???
Amazing boat
Really want to see you do a test sail on a Dragonfly 40, preferably the C version.
metoo even if the price is outrageos
Me too! Hopefully soon
Lovely boat!
I like that, a lot. Very attractively styled and umbra practical layout/access for systems and storage. Shame the audio dropped out for the deck walk-around, but otherwise a really informative review. Thanks.
Nice boat, I like how the cockpit is protected from the elements
But I don't like the height of the bed to fit one row of drawers, to remove those drawers the height would be ideal
I mean with all the storage space these couple of drawers are really redundant
The height of the forward berths is set by the bridge deck height; the drawers just take advantage of the space below the beds where they cantilever into the hulls.
@@peterpawlak8418 Yes, the beds were set up a little differently, they had their own idea of using the space
I am a tall man so it would be interesting to sleep on them😉
@@vorda400 FWIW I made a few related comments above to Thor's query.
@@ownitnow7451 Why raise the ceiling?
When the drawers are too high
I understand that they want to use every space, but considering the whole space, I think that they are free to remove them
Great quick walkthrough Toby. Looking forward to see the sea trail, also you did not say what the headroom actually is on this one. No one does actually in any reviews. I'm 6.7 and would love to have that included in your reviews going forward as even if some of the designs both on monos and cats are brilliant a large number of them are not really comfortable for us taller ones.
Good point Thor and I certainly always try to where relevant in our proper full reviews in the magazine, but would not usually have the time to go through measuring during quick boat show tours! I'll bear it in mind if I get to sail the Balance though thanks
This would definitely be a boat on your short list then. Head room is 6’10”…even in the shower! There are a number of taller owners such as yourself.
I am pretty sure Phil Berman is 6' 4" himself, so he builds boats with headroom! It's a tie between you and Wiley Sharp for best boat tour guide!
@@mikemendes7598 Thanks for your reply Mike. however those 3 inches is a massive diff when you are 6.7 especially for the purpose buying a cruising sail yacht, you just dont want to wing it..
I've been on multiple 482s. The headroom is excellent for perf class and this size boat. It was a gating requirement for me. But for fact-checking purposes......it's not 6'10 everywhere. I'd guesstimate the range to be between 6'5 - 6'8 in most places. I'm 6'3. It might be 6'10 in the aft section of the cockpit. I found the only other boat in this perf category/size that compares is the HH/OC 50. Again, the headroom is comparatively excellent. FWIW Sitting upright in the standard forward berths isn't possible for someone my height, but they will elevate the ceiling in the berth a little, as well as lower the stowage underneath by some. By adding a slightly slimmer, but quality, mattress, I'm hoping to pick up another 3-4 inches in headroom when sitting on the bed. Also, they are expanding bulkhead/door clearances so I can walk thru without ducking or turning sideways (semi-custom yard). I couldn't be more excited about the purchase, and the Balance Cape Town team is stellar to work with. Stellar. I hear the same about the Nexus team in St Francis (526). The 526 may have some more headroom, but I can't speak as definitively on it.
Lots of competition, Outremer, HH. And mono hulls like Amel 50. Somebody should do a comparison.
Feed the algorithm
Anybody else tired of white and gray sailboats yet? This is probably a very capable and fast catamaran, but the aesthetics do nothing for me. The moveable helm is awesome, if it is as reliable as a stationary one.
Buyers can choose whatever colors they like.
If one were choosing between a Leopard or a Balance which one would you guys go for if your intention is to live on it on a permanent basis?
if money is no object, anyone would choose balance over leopard in a heartbeat. its way way better in every regard. leopards are cheaply built and are a brick to sail. the only advantage is the additional space due to fatter hulls, but in big cats like these, the gain is very negligible. however, at the same size, balance is at least twice as expensive. u could buy two or a much larger leopard for the same price.
if you have the extra dinero, Balance. But if you don't care as much about the actual sailing, and prioritize socializing and comfort, then save the extra money and buy the Leopard. There is no shame in that approach. It annoys me immensely when people talk so condescendingly in chat rooms about charter-esque/production boats...... how do YOU want to use YOUR boat, is all that matters.
Were they manual winches?
I believe they are all electric.
Why do most of these newer designed catamarans have an IKEA cold feel to their insides. No look of elegance in design at all. I suppose it makes them easier to clear with everything so flat.
Perhaps down to material and design choices to minimise weight, like the light weight foam insulated laminates woods as oppose to real solid hardwoods furniture that a quality monohull would have.
@@alexfuller818 That would be my choice, but then again, I'm old school
"Elegance" is highly subjective...
You will get plenty of bruises on all those Square corners on the cockpit furniture, not good on so called Bluewater Boat.
I’m highly suspicious when they point at a hatch and say that’s the engine room. Engine room is arguably the most important space on a boat.
It's a free video on TH-cam... I'm sure Balance will supply whatever info you want if you're a serious prospective buyer...
I am not sure are you reviewing or selling the boat?
A review from a first look at a boat show?! Certainly not Thierry - just a video tour from a show
A review from a first look at a boat show?! Certainly not Thierry - just a video tour from a show