Design and Construction
The Catsmart stretches just under forty feet overall — hull length is 37'02", overall length 39'07" — yet carries a beam of 21'02", which gives it proportions more typical of a 42-footer. That wide stance translates directly into deck real estate: the entire deck area is used, a rectangular space measuring nearly 750 square feet, an extraordinary figure for a boat this size. The displacement at maximum load reaches 27,650 lbs, while empty weight sits around 19,667 lbs, leaving meaningful payload capacity for extended cruising. Construction is handled at the CATANA catamaran shipyard, which brings a lineage of performance multihull manufacturing to what might otherwise read as an entry-level package.
Sail Plan and Handling
The sail plan is assertive for the waterline. Standard sail area is 818 square feet, and maximum upwind sail area reaches 1,076 square feet, figures that push well beyond what comparable boats in the class typically offer. That generous canvas, combined with the hull's length-to-beam ratios, delivers a boat that proved lively under sail, even in light airs — an excellent surprise to the testers at Multihulls World, who conducted their sea trial in conditions of six to ten knots of breeze over a slight sea at Canet-en-Roussillon. The Catsmart carries more canvas than the Catspace, the prior entry in the Bali range, and the naval architecture by Xavier Faÿ appears tuned for genuine sailing performance rather than motorized passage-making.
Accommodations and Living Space
Bali's reputation was built on the argument that a catamaran can function as a floating home without compromise, and the Catsmart applies that logic at a smaller scale. The brand made its name with the Bali 4.5, which offered a new way of living on the water by taking full advantage of what the catamaran formula could offer, and the Catsmart is described as perhaps even the most Bali of the Balis — meaning the interior-first ethos is arguably more concentrated here than anywhere else in the lineup. The CE certification ratings tell part of the story: Category A for eight persons, Category B for ten, Category C for sixteen, figures that reflect genuine volume across multiple cabin configurations. The shallow draft of 3'07" keeps anchor-out destinations accessible, and twin 55-liter black-water tanks suggest serious consideration of extended offshore use.
Stability and Offshore Credentials
The capsize screening ratio of 3.2 and a displacement-to-length ratio of 166.57 place the Catsmart squarely in cruising-cat territory rather than performance-racer territory. The sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 18.7 is brisk, confirming that the design prioritizes sailing ability within a comfort-oriented hull. The comfort ratio of 13.05 is modest — a natural consequence of the hull's light displacement — and buyers considering extended offshore passages should factor that in. The CE Category A ocean rating for eight persons nonetheless signals that the naval architecture was entrusted to Xavier Faÿ with serious offshore intentions in mind.
The Brand Context
The Bali range, which traces its origins to the September 2014 launch of the Bali 4.5, grew into one of the most complete offerings in the sailing catamaran segment, spanning from 38 to 54 feet. The Catsmart was conceived, in one sense, before the 4.5 ever was — the first model investigated for design was a catamaran under 40 feet before the 4.5 ultimately won the day. Its eventual arrival signals that Bali sees the sub-40-foot market as viable and worth defending. The boat was officially presented at the International Multihull Show in La Grande-Motte.
The Verdict
The Bali Catsmart makes a coherent case for itself: a production catamaran under 40 feet that doesn't sacrifice sailing performance or interior volume to reach its price point, built at a yard with genuine multihull credentials. The wide beam extracts maximum livability from a constrained length, and the sail plan's generosity means the boat moves convincingly in conditions that would leave comparable designs becalmed. The shallow draft extends cruising range without penalty.
Pros
- Built at the Catana shipyard with proven multihull manufacturing pedigree
- Generous sail area for the waterline length; proven performance in light airs
- Exceptional deck area for a sub-40-foot catamaran
- Shallow 3'07" draft opens shoal anchorages
- CE Category A ocean rating for eight persons
Cons
- Comfort ratio of 13.05 reflects light displacement; offshore motion will be lively
- Capsize screening ratio of 3.2 warrants caution in sustained heavy weather
- Sub-40-foot interior volume remains limited despite efficient use of beam
- As a relatively new model, long-term ownership data is limited
