Design and Construction
At 13.60 meters overall, with a 7.42-meter beam and an 11.60-tonne displacement, the Bali 4.5 is a substantial platform. Its hulls are foam-cored and vacuum-infused. The fiberglass skin, deck, and bimini are all built using vinylester infusion over closed-cell PVC foam rather than balsa.
A chine sits about two feet above the water, while the blunt hull ends should make boarding easier when moored Mediterranean-style. Fixed keels bolt into watertight recesses at the base of each hull; those recesses also serve as gray-water holding tanks, neatly combining structure and plumbing. The saildrive units are turned 180 degrees from their conventional orientation.
The boat’s most distinctive feature is its solid fiberglass forward nacelle. In place of the trampoline normally stretched between a catamaran’s bows, the Bali has a rigid, cushioned platform. At the other end of the boat, the transom’s lower panel drops to lengthen the cockpit by two feet.
Rig, Helm and Performance
The Bali 4.5 has a Sparcraft mast, Elvström sails, and a fractional sloop rig. A self-tacking solent on a Facnor furler simplifies short-handed close reaching. The bowsprit provides an attachment point for a Code 0 and can also be used with a furlable downwind sail. An optional square-topped mainsail was available.
Buyers could choose between two helm arrangements. The starboard bulkhead helm is accessible from either the cockpit or the side deck and sits ahead of a two-person seat. This arrangement also allows the boom to sit lower. The alternative is a flybridge helm positioned amidships above the bimini, with a bench for four and excellent visibility forward. In that layout, however, the boom must be raised to provide headroom for occupants.
In 12 to 15 knots of wind, testers recorded 7.2 knots at a 60-degree apparent wind angle, about 7.5 knots on a beam reach, and 5.1 knots after bearing away to 120 degrees. Closehauled in roughly 15 knots, the boat made a little better than 6 knots.
Under power in flat water, it reached 6.8 knots at 2,000 rpm and 8.6 knots at the wide-open setting of 3,200 rpm. Underway, the structure didn’t make a squeak.
Cockpit and Interior
The forward nacelle is much more than a solid substitute for a net. It forms a patio with two tables and forward-facing seating for eight, along with a nearly full-beam lounge that can accommodate six sunbathers. A Quick horizontal windlass is tucked beneath the seating.
A large central glass window in the saloon lowers at the touch of a switch, allowing food and air to pass between the galley and the bow. At the stern, sliding doors open the saloon to the aft cockpit. There, a dinette to port seats eight at a squeeze, complemented by a lounge to starboard.
The standard charter arrangement has four cabins and four heads. In the three-cabin, three-head version, the owner’s suite occupies the port hull and includes a wide berth, sofa, desk, and his-and-hers sinks. Two cabins and two heads are located in the starboard hull. Bali also offered a three-cabin, two-head option and a two-cabin, two-bath layout. The companionways into the hulls are a little tight for easy movement below.
The galley is arranged across both sides of the saloon. To port are an Eno cooktop and an eye-level oven. To starboard is a full-size, side-by-side AC refrigerator with an ice maker. A forward-facing navigation station also serves the helm.
Equipment and Auxiliary Power
Auxiliary power came from two 40hp Nanni (Kubota) diesels, while some boats were fitted with the optional 50hp models. The saildrive units are installed in their reversed orientation.
An oversized 225-amp alternator on the port side charges a 720Ah house bank. Also to port is an Aquabase engine-driven watermaker rated at 50 gph. An 11kW Onan genset supports the AC refrigeration and other hotel loads. At the stern, stainless steel dinghy davits lower to the waterline to make tender handling easier.
The Verdict
The Bali 4.5 is a thoughtfully engineered cruising catamaran that sets aside the familiar performance-cat formula of daggerboards and knife-like bows. In its place, it offers a livable, rigid platform with substantial outdoor space. The forward patio and folding transom provide more usable social room than almost any peer, while the use of the keel recesses as gray-water tanks shows real economy in the design.
This isn’t a lightweight sprinter, but its sailing figures and motoring performance are entirely respectable for a 44-foot cruiser. Its quiet, squeak-free structure also speaks well of the infusion work. The trade-off is clear: blunt hulls and fixed keels favor load-carrying ability and easier boarding over upwind agility.
Pros
- Solid forward nacelle and folding transom greatly increase usable cockpit and lounging space
- Foam-cored, vinylester-infused construction, with watertight keel recesses serving as gray-water tanks
- Several accommodation plans, ranging from a four-cabin, four-head charter layout to a three-cabin owner’s version with home-style features
- Self-tacking solent, Code 0 bowsprit, and optional square-topped mainsail suit crews with varying abilities
Cons
- Hull companionways are a little tight for easy movement below
- The flybridge helm requires a raised boom, giving up the lower-boom convenience of the bulkhead arrangement
- Blunt hulls and fixed keels trade upwind agility for load-carrying ability and easier boarding
