Our Models

526

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With her heavily carbon reinforced structures and total epoxy construction, she sails like a racer yet remains amazingly easy to operate and maintain.

Overview

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Overall Length
16m 52.5ft
Beam Overall
8.26m 27.17ft
Sail Area
157.1m2 1690ft2
Draft (Boards Up)
1.12m 3.68ft
Base Boat Displacement
12,500kgs 27,558lbs
Designers
Phillip Berman signature
Phillip Berman
Anton du Toit signature
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) 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

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The Hull

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
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See 526 Interior

Design Your Balance

Configurator

Designing your dream catamaran and how to use our visualization tool

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What Owners Think

“It has been a privilege to work so closely with Anton, Jonathan, Roger and Phil to build my dream boat.”

Mark T.

“It’s the whole package. Performance, safety, comfort, ease of use/maintenance, quality. Not to parrot their marketing material – but they really did find the perfect balance.”

Frank B.

“Having owned and maintained more than a dozen yachts, including a Hinkley, Oyster, J-boats, Swan and Nautitech, Balance is by far and away the best boat I have ever owned and sailed!”

Todd H.

“Balance Catamarans were the perfect compromise for us as they are fast, comfortable, practical, beautiful and very well built, by people who also love to sail.”

Mark T.

“Aesthetics were also a big factor for us in deciding to order our new Balance 526. We find her crisp contemporary lines and modern interior finishes to be satisfying to our eyes. Also, as experienced sailors, we were drawn to the fact that the 526 is a truly handmade labor of love crafted by passionate builders who were happy to let us make a wide range of choices on finishes and equipment that larger production builders will not accommodate.”

Jim F.

“Superb craftsmanship, delightful to work with, and absolutely beautiful boats.”

Irene V.

“She’s pretty, she’s built like a rock, she’s light, super intelligently designed and is going to be a blast to sail. I think the name Balance says it all.”

Jeffrey P.

“Balance Catamarans, being a smaller, high-end, boutique shipyard, were prepared to work carefully with me to build the catamaran of my dreams.”

Piotr R.

“As experienced sailors, we were drawn to the fact that a Balance is a truly hand-made labor of love crafted by passionate builders who were happy to let us make a wide range of choices on finishes and equipment.”

Jim F.

“After years of planning we found Balance Catamarans to be the best combination of performance, quality of build and value on the market.”

Phil M.

“Every once in a while, you connect with a group of people you know will always be in your life in a very good way. I think building in South Africa, you get a lot more for your money. The craftsmanship is top-notch.”

Frank B.

“The team at Balance has an attention to detail, workmanship and overall quality that makes us very proud to be part of the Balance family.”

Barry S.
Balance Community
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 Clearence

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

Yanmar 4JH57 X SD 60

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

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.

Reviews

“The choice of materials is qualitative (the foam core and wood veneer for furniture), as well as the overall finish, in a word: impeccable.”

“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
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