The high-performance voyager was designed for sailors with speed in their hearts but luxury on their minds.
Overview
Overall Length
17.78m
58.32ft
Beam Overall
8.6m
28.21ft
Sail Area
209.1m2
2,249ft2
Designers
Phillip Berman
Draft (Boards Up)
1.65m
5.40ft
Base Boat Displacement (Standard Carbon Cross Version)
16,668kgs
36,753lbs
Anton du Toit
Performance
The Balance 580 is built to sail, not motor, with her combination of full carbon and carbon-reinforced foam-core construction employed throughout her hulls, decks, and substructure, finished in 100% epoxy for a lighter, stiffer boat that holds her edge for decades. Her powerful 1,927 square foot sailplan lets her ghost along at windspeed or better in light air, while three furling headsails—the overlapping genoa, self-tending solent, and reacher—put effortless, shorthanded power control right at your fingertips as the breeze builds. A carbon forebeam, longeron, daggerboards, and rudders deliver razor-sharp upwind angles, minimal leeway, and thrilling downwind surges into the 20-knot range, so she points like a monohull, surfs like a multihull, and steers like a dream, proving that with the Balance 580, you never have to choose between speed and comfort.
* Polars are known as Velocity Performance Predictions (VPP’s) and are calculated using advanced computer modeling at base boat weight assuming vessel in flat sea state, trimmed sails and clean bottom. Polars do not guarantee specific performance. Vessel performance in real world conditions vary due to sea state, hull condition, payload, and the skill of the helmsman. To learn more about performance, click below to view our videos on Polars
The Hull
Carbon Core Plus saves weight over Carbon Core models by expanding carbon deployment through her major secondary and topside components, taking all bulkheads, the foredeck, helm seat, coachroof, salon window frames, and helm sliding roof hatch to full carbon. The result is reduced weight, improved global stiffness, and enhanced performance, all with a balanced approach to cost.
Guided Walk-Through
Design Your Balance or Pick from one of the Curated Designs below
Layouts
Full Specs
Overall Length
17.78 m / 58.32 ft
Waterline Length
17.78 m / 58.33 ft
Beam Overall
8.6m / 28.21ft
Main Sail
140.9m2 / 1,516ft2
Working Jib
79.5 m2 / 856 ft2
Sail Area (100% Foretriangle)
209.1 m2 / 2,249 ft2
Asymmetric Spinnaker
310.83 m2 / 3,346 ft2
Draft (Boards Down)
3.35 m / 10.99 ft
Draft (Boards Up)
1.65 m / 5.40 ft
Draft (Keeled Version)
N/A
Air Draft / Mast Clearance
27.43 m / 89.99 ft
Bridgedeck Clearance (Base Boat)
1.10m / 3.61 ft
DISP (Base Boat – Daggerboard)
16,668 kgs / 36,753 lbs (Standard Carbon Cross Version)
DISP (Base Boat – Keeled)
N/A
Davit Load
400 kgs / 882 lbs per arm
Max Length Tender 4.27m / 14 ft
Max Weight Tender w/OB 268 kgs / 590 lbs
Screacher/Reacher
125.7 m2 / 1,353 ft2
Engine
Yanmar 4JH80 x SD60
Fuel Capacity
2 x 500 ltrs / 2 x 132 gals
Fresh Water Capacity
2 x 300 ltrs / 2 x 79 gals
Black Water Capacity
2 X 61 ltrs / 2 x 16 gals
Maximum Load Displacement
21,668 kgs / 47,790 lbs
Please note that, based on component availability and other factors, specifications are subject to change without notice.
The weight of each yacht we build varies based on her interior fit-out, materials chosen, hardware and added equipment. All our catamarans are designed for best-in-class weight and sailing performance, without compromising strength or quality.
Underwing clearance will vary based on the final fit out of the yacht together with what is stored on her, the amount of fuel and water she carries, and the number of passengers onboard.
Final Sea Trials Before Ocean Crossing on Balance 580 “Swann”
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
