Design and Construction
The 4.4 holds to the Bali blueprint rather than reinventing it: a rigid composite foredeck replaces the trampoline, the tilt-and-turn aft "Bali door" opens the saloon to the cockpit, and side bay windows plus a forward door extend the indoor-outdoor flow. Test sailors found the composite sandwich underfoot very stiff, evidence of careful construction, and the solid foredeck plainly expands social space. The hull form itself uses outboard chines and a 45-degree angle on the inboard topsides; the builder claims this pairing delivers maximum agility while preserving a favorable waterline beam. With a usable deck area near 946 square feet and an integral foredeck flowing into a high-low aft platform, the deck is laid out for relaxation as much as passage-making. The large aft door measures 11 feet 6 inches across and 6 feet 3 inches high, opening electrically in under 25 seconds, while the forward door gives access to that rigid foredeck, which testers noted is entirely covered with sunbeds.
Rig and Handling
The standard sail plan covers 1,248 square feet, with maximum upwind area reaching 1,614 square feet. A self-tacking solent cuts the headsail from 796 to 452 square feet, and the yard-promoted Code 0 brings an obvious speed bonus reaching up to about 70 degrees off the wind. The tested sail-area-to-weight ratio of 8.68 square meters per tonne reads more favorable than the 7.07 of the smaller 4.2. On the flybridge, accessible from both sides, the helm is offset to port and sits beside a raised L-shaped starboard sofa; aft of it lies a lounging area wrapped in padded rails. Testers described maneuvering as simple because everything is handled from that helm, and the 4.4 is given an assertive, seakindly character in the builder's own framing. The test boat carried optional twin 57-horsepower Yanmars.
Accommodations
Below, the 4.4 is unapologetically a floating home. The saloon carries over seven feet of headroom in places and as much as 7 feet 3 inches, with the option of two lounge chairs to starboard. The galley shows a large L-shaped counter backed by a sideboard and a plus-sized fridge-freezer presented as a Bali standard. The three-cabin owner's layout places the entire port hull in the owner's hands: a big island double, dressing table, huge bathroom, hull windows, two opening portlights, and abundant stowage reached down five steps. Starboard offers an aft en-suite matching the port dimensions with a minimum headroom of 6 feet 5 inches, plus a forward en-suite whose 4-foot-9-inch bed sits higher—nearly three feet off the floor against just under two feet aft. A sturdy handrail guards the starboard companionway, useful in chop. The Elegance finish on the test boat added upgraded upholstery, club chairs, and an integrated bar. Big windows throughout drew tester praise, and the aft cockpit holds a roughly nine-foot bench forward of the sugar scoops and hydraulic platform.
The Verdict
The Bali 4.4 refines a proven comfort-cat template rather than breaking from it: a stiff, solid-decked platform with an expansive indoor-outdoor envelope, a helm-forward flybridge, and a owner-minded three-cabin layout that reads as a private apartment afloat. She is built for those who treat cruising as living on the water, and the agility claims around her chined hull suggest she need not feel sluggish for her size. The CE certification spans A:12 through D:38 persons, underlining her family-vacation intent.
Pros
- Rigid foredeck and 11'6" electric Bali door create exceptional social deck space
- Owner's port hull is a full-suite apartment with island berth and large bath
- Self-tacking solent and Code 0 broaden the usable wind range
- Stiff composite construction underfoot
Cons
- Forward cabin berth is narrower and mounted markedly higher than aft
- High comfort focus may suit live-aboard lounging more than raw performance sailing
