With a beam of just over 23 feet and an empty displacement near 25,000 pounds, the 4.2 is a comfort-oriented multihull rather than a stripped-out racer. Its CE certification runs from category A for 10 people to category D for 28, reflecting its intended role as a versatile coastal-and-offshore platform.
Design and Construction
The hulls carry a long chine that also serves as a spray knocker, running from stem to transom. The bows have the now-fashionable reverse rake, described elsewhere as stubby and inverted.
A distinctive black reveal runs along the hulls. It isn’t merely cosmetic: it provides both longitudinal reinforcement and a rain shield. The keels have a relatively short chord and minimal planform area, keeping draft to around 4 feet and favoring access to sheltered water over deep-rooting stability.
The coachroof nacelle is topped by a large roof overhang, a Bali signature that shades the forward lounge. A Multihulls World reviewer found the finish much more polished than on its predecessors, marking a clear improvement in fit and detail over the outgoing 4.3 and 4.5.
Rig and Handling
The 4.2 stands apart within the range for its spreader-less rig—for the moment, it is the only Bali so equipped. Its aluminum mast is slightly enlarged fore and aft to provide optimum stiffness, while the standing rigging uses a pair of cap shrouds and lowers rather than a conventional spreader arrangement.
The mast sits quite far aft, and the sail plan is deliberately short. One reviewer described it as a short rig, perhaps calibrated to keep charter sailors safe. Standard sail area is around 968 square feet, with a maximum upwind area of 1,259. The SA/D is 16.53 light and 14.16 loaded—modest figures that support the editorial judgment that this cat is designed for comfort rather than speed.
The steering and sail-control station is to starboard on the upper-deck level. A lounging pad lies to port, with provision for solar panels to starboard.
Deck and Accommodations
Life aboard centers on two main cockpits, one forward and one aft, with a third lounging area over the aft bimini. From the aft patio, deck steps rise on both port and starboard to the upper steering level.
On the main deck, a large galley occupies the port-forward area, with a chart-table-like workspace to starboard. A dinette and settee sit aft, while access to the forward cockpit is just starboard of the galley. The forward cockpit has settees and a dining table, and the trampoline ahead makes a perfect sunning perch.
Buyers can choose between two accommodation plans. The three-cabin, three-head version devotes an entire hull to an owner’s suite, with its head and shower forward. The four-cabin, four-head layout is aimed at the charter trade. In the three-cabin version, three couples could spread out very comfortably.
Verdict
The Bali 4.2 is a thoughtfully developed comfort catamaran that trades outright pace for volume, shelter, and a refined finish. Its spreader-less rig and reinforced black hull reveals are genuine engineering distinctions. Multiple cockpit areas and a choice of cabin layouts make it plausible both for private ownership and for the charter fleet it clearly serves.
Pros
- Unique spreader-less rig with a stiffened aluminum mast within the Bali range
- Black hull reveal that acts as longitudinal reinforcement and a rain shield
- Choice of three- or four-cabin layouts, including a full-hull owner’s suite
- Three distinct outdoor lounging areas, including a shaded forward cockpit
- More polished finish than the earlier Bali 4.3 and 4.5
Cons
- Short rig and low SA/D reflect a comfort brief rather than an emphasis on speed
- Minimal-planform keels favor shallow draft over deep-rooting stability
