Design and Construction
At 53'1" overall and 50'7" on the hull, with a beam of 26'9" and a shallow 4'7" draft, the 5.2 is a broad, low-slung platform carrying 1,241 square feet of usable deck area. The builder describes an open-cockpit concept with a Beach Club aft, and the rooftop integrates a sunbathing spot, a table, and a helm seat that tilts to suit how the space is used. Bali Catamarans built the boat on its established method of vacuum-infused fiberglass with closed-cell PVC foam cores rather than balsa, and carried over the rigid composite foredeck in place of a trampoline for structural stiffness. The signature tilt-and-turn aft door merges saloon and cockpit into one level. CE certification runs A:14, B:16, C:24, D:40 persons, underscoring the boat’s charter-scale carrying intent.
Rig and Handling
The standard sail plan is 1,571 square feet, expanding to a maximum upwind area of 2,141 square feet. Multihulls World noted that the overlapping genoa option provides a slight increase in power over the standard self-tacking jib anchor. The boat was put through its paces at Saint-Mandrier, France, in 15 to 17 knots of wind with slight chop, a moderate test window that tells little about extreme-sea behavior but confirms the design’s baseline cruise condition. A hydraulic stern platform takes a tender of almost 14 feet and 770 pounds, a substantial stowage solution for a boat in this class.
Accommodations
The 5.2 was offered in multiple layouts. A five-cabin, five-bathroom charter configuration provides 10 to 12 berths and five separate wc compartments. A six-cabin version places three people in each aft cabin and splits the bathrooms into separate shower and toilet rooms. Social volume is a clear priority: a big L-shaped bench around a table seats 12, and the open-cockpit and Beach Club aft blur the line between interior and exterior living. The tilt-up aft door and forward saloon access reinforce 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 multiple cabin layouts extend its flexibility. The overlapping-genoa option is a modest but real performance lever.
Pros
- First Bali of this size, consolidating two prior 200-unit models into one design
- 1,241 sq ft of usable deck area with tilt-up aft door and rooftop helm lounge
- Flexible 5- or 6-cabin layouts with separated shower/toilet spaces in six-cabin form
- Hydraulic platform takes a 14-foot, 770-pound tender
Cons
- Overlapping genoa only a slight power gain over self-tacking jib
