With her heavily carbon reinforced structures and total epoxy construction, she sails like a racer yet remains amazingly easy to operate and maintain.
Overview
Overall Length
16m
52.5ft
Beam Overall
8.26m
27.17ft
Sail Area
157.1m2
1690ft2
Designers
Philip Berman
Draft (Boards Up)
1.12m
3.68ft
Base Boat Displacement
12,500kgs
27,558lbs
Anton du Toit
Performance
Someone once likened our 526 to a “BMW M Series,” so who are we to argue? With her foam core hulls and decks, carbon daggerboards, heavily carbon reinforced structures and total epoxy construction, she’s built and sails just like a high-performance racing cat yet remains amazingly easy to operate and maintain.
* Polars are known as Velocity Performance Predictions (VPP’s). Balance polars are calculated using advanced computer modeling from the Wolfson Unit at the University of South Hampton. The polars shown here are produced using the average launch weight displacement of a cruise equipped Balance 526. We do not run polars at lightships displacements because they are a poor predictor of catamaran performance in real world conditions. Our polars do assume a flat sea state, properly trimmed sails and a clean bottom. Polars of any kind, however, do not guarantee specific performance. Vessel performance in real world conditions vary due to sea state, hull condition, payloads, and the skill of the helmsman. To learn more about VPP’s and catamaran performance, click below to view our eight part Catamaran Conversations video series.
The Hull
We use E-glass (a Silica -based fiber) with significant carbon-fiber reinforcement in the high-load areas of our hulls and decks. Every Balance 526 is hand-laminated and vacuum-bagged with closed cell foam cores in full epoxy construction.
The 526 XP is crafted with 100% epoxy resin and full carbon construction.
Fast as she is, the 526 interior carries more handmade cabinetry than any catamaran in her class, a gourmet galley, sumptuous owner’s shower, and an open-plan cockpit/salon that connects you to family, friends and nature seamlessly.
Guided Walk-Through
See 526 Interior
Design Your Balance
Zebrano
Walnut
Layouts
Owner master berth starboard forward, owner master shower aft. Queen berth forward on port side with double bed aft. One or two heads on port side, depending on customer choice.
Queen berth forward on port side with double bed aft. One or two heads on port side, depending on customer choice.
Full Specs
Overall Length
16.00 m / 52.50 ft
Waterline Length
15.64 m / 51.31 ft
Beam Overall
8.26 m / 27.17 ft
Main Sail
106 m2 / 1,141 ft2
Working Self-Tracking Jib
43 m2 / 461 ft2
Sail Area (100% Foretriangle)
157.1 m2 / 1,690 ft2
Asymmetric Spinnaker
240 m2 / 2,582 ft2
Draft (Boards Down)
2.16 m / 7.07 ft
Draft (Boards Up)
1.12m / 3.68 ft
Draft Keeled Version
1.37 m / 4.5 ft
Air Draft / Mast Clearance
23.93 m / 78.53 ft
Bridgedeck Clearance
0.83 m / 2.72 ft
DISP (Base Boat – Daggerboard)
12,500 kgs / 27,558 lbs
DISP (Base Boat – Keeled)
12,500 kgs / 27,558 lbs
Davit Load
400 kgs / 882 lbs per arm
Max Length Tender: 4.0 m / 13 ft
Max Weight Tender w/OB: 255 kgs / 526 lbs
Screacher/Reacher
88 m2 / 947 ft2
Engine
YANMAR 4JH57 X SD 60
2× 57 HP / 2×43 kW
Fuel Capacity
2 x 500 ltrs / 2 x 130 gals
Fresh Water Capacity
2 x 390 ltrs / 2 x 103 gals
Black Water Capacity
2 x 60 ltrs / 2 x 16 gals
Maximum Displacement
15,625 kgs / 34,450 lbs
esigning your dream catamaran and how to use our visualization tool
Mastering the Continuous Line Furler for Your Head Sails – with @OuterPassage
Essential Winch Etiquette for Safe and Efficient Sailing – with @OuterPassage
Reviews
“On the water, Balance Catamarans achieve the elusive combination of excellent performance in a broad range of wind and sea conditions, on most points of sail, with good payload-carrying ability.”
Seahorse Magazine
“Truly impressive…With the scaled-down 442, Balance fills out the family offering with dimensions and a price point that make their designs more accessible to a broader swath of the cruising market. The result is a performance catamaran that’s perfectly positioned to appeal to an experienced sailing couple looking for quality, livability, speed, and savvy systems, all in a true 44-foot package that is a kick to sail.”
Sail, February 6, 2023
“The choice of materials is qualitative (the foam core and wood veneer for furniture), as well as the overall finish, in a word: impeccable.”
Voile Magazine
“I think the Balance 526 represents an important moment in the history of multihull design and evolution…there was something missing in the marketplace that Phil recognized: a high-performance voyaging cat that an experienced couple could take anywhere…finally, we have that a couple can really sail well.”
Tim Murphy, Judge, Cruising World Boat of the Year 2017
“Pretty as she is, every aspect of her design seems to have been refracted through a simplicity prism. Access for repairs is exceptional. The movement from helm to side decks and from side decks to foredecks is a breeze. The wiring and systems installations all reflect a commitment to functional excellence.”
Multihulls World
“Several Balance 526 owners have reported 24-hour periods covering 260 miles or more. This is one very, very fast catamaran, laden or empty.”
Multihulls World
