The new model replaces both the 4.8 and the 5.4, each of which reached 200 units built. In doing so, the 5.2 consolidates Catana Group’s new commercial positioning for Bali as a volume-oriented multihull marque.
Design and Construction
The 5.2 measures 53'1" overall and 50'7" on the hull, with a 26'9" beam and a shallow 4'7" draft. It is a broad, low-slung platform with 1,241 square feet of usable deck area.
The builder describes an open-cockpit concept with a Beach Club aft. On the rooftop, a sunbathing area and table share the space with a helm seat that tilts to suit different uses.
Bali Catamarans uses its established construction method: vacuum-infused fiberglass with closed-cell PVC foam cores rather than balsa. The rigid composite foredeck, fitted in place of a trampoline, is carried over for structural stiffness.
Bali’s signature tilt-and-turn aft door combines the saloon and cockpit on one level. CE certification is A:14, B:16, C:24, D:40 persons, underscoring the boat’s charter-scale carrying intent.
Rig and Handling
The standard sail plan covers 1,571 square feet, while the maximum upwind area is 2,141 square feet. Multihulls World noted that the optional overlapping genoa provides a slight increase in power over the standard self-tacking jib.
The boat was put through its paces at Saint-Mandrier, France, in 15 to 17 knots of wind and slight chop. That moderate test window says little about behavior in extreme seas, but it confirms the design’s baseline cruising condition.
At the stern, a hydraulic platform can carry a tender of almost 14 feet and 770 pounds—a substantial stowage solution for a boat in this class.
Accommodations
The Bali 5.2 was offered with several layouts. The five-cabin, five-bathroom charter configuration provides 10 to 12 berths and five separate wc compartments. In the six-cabin version, each aft cabin accommodates three people, and the bathrooms are divided into separate shower and toilet rooms.
Social space is a clear priority. A large L-shaped bench surrounds a table with seating for 12, while the open cockpit and aft Beach Club blur the boundary between interior and exterior living. The tilt-up aft door and forward saloon access also allow continuous-level movement through the hulls.
The Verdict
The Bali 5.2 is a purpose-built volume catamaran that trades extreme light-air agility for residential space and indoor-outdoor integration. Its shallow draft, wide beam, and rigid foredeck suit warm-water cruising and charter use, while the hydraulic platform and choice of cabin layouts add flexibility. The optional overlapping genoa offers a modest but real performance lever.
Pros
- First Bali of this size, consolidating two previous 200-unit models into one design
- 1,241 square feet of usable deck area, with a tilt-up aft door and rooftop helm lounge
- Flexible five- or six-cabin layouts, with separate shower and toilet spaces in the six-cabin version
- Hydraulic platform carries a tender of almost 14 feet and 770 pounds
Cons
- Overlapping genoa provides only a slight power increase over the self-tacking jib
