By: Ash Stiebel
We gave our Gear Lovers one job:
Find the best and most popular catamarans and review them.
Our review team always considers durability, price, quality, and value in their reviews.
Where to buy:
The Balance 482 is the Sailing World Magazine’s Boat of the Year 2022: Multihull, and no surprise. To quote the designer Phil Berman ‘Balance doesn’t make Perfect – only Perfect balance makes perfect’. Every aspect of the yacht has been thought through to find the perfect balance between speed and comfort. The designers are racers as well as experienced practical sailors – they have designed this yacht to be simple for a couple to operate and maintain in blue water with gracious living and the capacity to carry significant cruising payload thrown in to top the mix. Her luxurious elegant design is a perfect live-aboard catamaran. And she sails like a dream!
The ground-breaking Versahelm design gives you permanent up (fair weather) and down (inclement weather) helm stations and the claim is that this vessel gives you the most expansive sight lines in the cat industry at present. You can certainly see everything forward and above without looking through a dodger or vinyl. From the helm you have full command of the engine and sail trim controls – literally every line leads to this space with tails disappearing into line boxes.
There has been dedicated thought process into the functionality of every part of the yacht – even to the foredeck where the raised longeron eliminates the normal tripping hazard. There is even a rain collection system on the cabin top.
It’s as comfortable to sail as it is at anchor. She is your home-from-home, making a striking sunny appearance.
Our Overall Review
We have thoroughly tested - and read reviews from other experts and users. In summary, this is what we think:
Things we like:
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Versahelm design with the cantilevered wheel dropping into the protected aft cockpit -
High quality construction, performance and value
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The sophisticated systems are all easily accessible for maintenance
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The beautifully crafted and high quality finishes on and below deck
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The open flowing layout of the internal design
Where to buy:
Related Reviews
Our Overall Review
We have thoroughly tested - and read reviews from other experts and users. In summary, this is what we think:
Things we like:
-
Versahelm design with the cantilevered wheel dropping into the protected aft cockpit
-
High quality construction, performance and value
-
The sophisticated systems are all easily accessible for maintenance
-
The beautifully crafted and high quality finishes on and below deck
-
The open flowing layout of the internal design
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