Bali 5 4 Catamaran Review and Comparison

[@navalgazingatcampdavid]

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[@colleenpope]

Hey David thanks for the effort! I didn't find Fountaine Pajot in your comparabile list and I just don't know why.....

[@navalgazingatcampdavid]

Hey Colleen. FP either has a 51 or a 59, so there just wasn’t much comparable.

[@colleenpope]

Ok, thanks for answering ! U thought the 52 was somehow comparable .... I like it very much and I would like to see how it fits in that list !

[@colleenpope]

*51

[@navalgazingatcampdavid]

@@colleenpope I was just on the 51 for the first time last week so I should have an episode coming up for you shortly. Thanks for watching!

[@colleenpope]

@@navalgazingatcampdavid Thank you so much!

[@bjackson1975]

Well done and thoughtful approach. Love it!

[@navalgazingatcampdavid]

Glad you liked it!

[@jamesaron1967]

Wow, really good episode for a model I was looking forward to seeing. The naval gazing segments were off the chart. I've a lot to comment but will try to be brief as much as possible not to bore any viewer with my long-windedness tendencies.. First, I have to say the interior finish and material choices of the Bali 5.4, although not at the highest level of say a Privilege, are not bad at all. I could easily accept it even as a long term liveaboard yacht given the space. Something about the choice of color and trim that is aesthetically pleasing to me. They did a good job with the interior. Bali does the aft saloon and cockpit area better than anyone else. As I've commented in other Bali videos, they take the Neel 'cockloon' concept one step further with the complete integration of the cockpit and saloon areas by virtue of the garage door/sliding windows, thus allowing the owner to choose one or the other arrangement depending on mood or circumstance. The result is maximizing use of the entire space of both sections as much as possible. it transforms this 55ft yacht into something closer to a 60-footer without the outrageous price tag. Brilliantly well executed, Bali. The only thing that would cause me to hesitate is the performance but I think we discussed this before. Regarding the naval gazing segments, as soon as one major yard offers a SureShade equivalent as a standard feature, other companies will surely follow, excuse the pun. That's what usually happens when a great concept comes along. I agree, and don't understand why such a feature isn't more common. The bow thruster on a catamaran is a little more controversial. Monohulls and trimarans have them because they really need the additional help for tight manoeuvres. A catamaran can benefit no doubt, but the cost for adding a system that isn't truly needed in most cases seems a bit high to me. Also, I'm wondering about drag. Will the additional openings in the bow or elsewhere create significant resistance? In the specifications chart comparison you included a Privilege 580. However, the 580 is really a class of yacht that is at least one level above the other three in both size and price. I'm wondering why you did not choose the Privilege 510 instead, which has an overall length of 56ft and a lower price much closer to the others? It's still a fantastic yacht and has features I prefer over the 580 such as the hull-spanning master cabin option that no other catamaran in existence has (that I'm aware of). The used yacht comparison was very interesting. I would definitely take a Leopard 58 over the Bali 5.4. It's one of my favorite catamaran designs of all time under 60ft. The bridge deck space on the 58 is just ridiculous, and I mean in three dimensions not only two. It has a high ceiling with an upper row of windows not seen elsewhere. Nothing quite like it. The possible layouts on the 58 includes not only one main deck cabin but even _two cabins_ are possible, both opening to a shaded front cockpit. I would opt for a single master cabin with the front facing nav station 'room' turned into a mini library/office area. The possible arrangements on the 58 are staggering. I'm surprised you think Sylvia would choose the Bali 5.4. Of all the multi-hulls in this video, the Leopard 58 probably comes closest to a condo on the water given the proper layout with minimal berths. I'm not a monohull guy but do see certain advantages in terms of interior layout possibilities but only with the larger monohulls. You really have to consider >60ft monohulls to get a similar feeling of expansiveness that a cat's saloon offers even in a much smaller length. Other advantages are of course price and berthing cost/availability. I could never live with the heel though, then there's the speed factor if you compare to performance oriented multi-hulls. Lastly is the deep keel disadvantage. Many people love cats for their shallow draught. That's a major advantage even over a trimaran. So, comparing a monohull to a multi-hull with a bridge-deck is a bit apples to oranges, but I fully understand why you included some for the sake of value for the money, and what is potentially available out there in the second hand market. I think I overdid it this time and I thought I was going to be brief, sheesh!

[@navalgazingatcampdavid]

Hey James, I just LOVE your comments!! Thanks so much for taking the time. I think I need to get you, Clive and Kirk on a monthly panel discussion!! It would be a blast! Thanks again!

[@Tay-ky3fi]

omg i love you.. hahah a man after my own heart

[@navalgazingatcampdavid]

Thrilled you enjoyed it. Hope to meet you out on the blue one day. D.

[@clivestainlesssteelwomble7665]

The Bali's great advantage is that rigid foredeck space but its also the source of irritation to some who've sailed them into wind and in rough sea.. the pounding doesnt threaten their integrity but the noise does irritate some more than others. The Stub keels if im right do offer another advantage in that they are capable of load bearing the full wt ..... So they not only protect the drive and rudders but If you get close inshore as cats are wont to do and you get caught on a falling tidal range you can sit it out and check the hull for growth. 😁👍🏼 Not the water over the top but the waves hitting the underside... but that depends on the sailors and the sailing.. They've definately taken a square aim at the Lagoons market. Im still not a fan of the roof cockpits Dave..but thats a feature of the target market. And i definately want to see more solar power if you want to spend time chilling 😎 at anchor .

[@navalgazingatcampdavid]

Clive, I ALWAYS love your comments!! Thanks. I’m actually surprised at how positive you are about this boat. Pleasantly surprised! Love your points as always! Thanks again.

[@clivestainlesssteelwomble7665]

@@navalgazingatcampdavid Ive recently seen a head on of a Bali and it has a deep v keel down the center that will spread impacts but definately drag.

[@navalgazingatcampdavid]

@@clivestainlesssteelwomble7665 Thanks for the update Clive!

[@valeriefuchshuber2375]

The boom is so high. That’s definitely a nogo for me; I don’t want to be on the top of that boat in a blow. (Can you turn down the volume on the canned music? It’s very distracting and not really music.)

[@navalgazingatcampdavid]

Hey Valerie. Thanks so much for watching and especially for taking the time to comment. Yes, that boom height gives me pause as well. I’ll work on the music for sure. It disappears as you get into the meat of the video. Thanks again for watching!!!

[@marcbachman5574]

Hey Dave, Sylvia is going to fall in love with the full-size refrigerator; but you're going to hate the poor performance.

[@navalgazingatcampdavid]

Hi Marc. I hear you brother! It’s a tenuous balance. But being slower out on the water is better than standing still in my living room…which is exactly where I’ll be if momma ain’t happy. Lol!

[@bjackson1975]

Everyone says Bali's wont sail. Not true. Ran a 4.2 between 7-9kts last year no prob in 17-25kts true. Not as bad as I thought going into it. Handled it like a champ.