Bali 4.6
The open-plan catamaran — forward cockpit, tilt-up glass door, one continuous living space from bow to stern.
The Bali brand rethought the catamaran cockpit: no forward trampoline, a full walk-around foredeck cockpit, and a garage-style glass door that lifts the salon open to the aft deck.
Released in 2020, the Bali 4.6 pushes further on the design language Bali introduced with the 4.5 and 4.3: a hard foredeck with sun pads and a lounging cockpit instead of a trampoline, and a full-width tilt-up door between the salon and cockpit that, when raised, creates one continuous 40 m² living space open to the sea breeze.
That layout is polarising. Sailors who love a trampoline for the motion and airflow miss it. Groups who came for the lifestyle, sundowners, and family meals almost never miss it — and they use the forward cockpit constantly, both under way as the fastest place to feel the wind and at anchor as a shaded reading spot away from the aft deck action.
Under sail the Bali 4.6 is a competent cruising catamaran — not as light as a Lagoon 46 but with a taller rig that keeps her moving in lighter airs. Where she really shines is at anchor and in the marina lifestyle.
Groups who spend most of their charter at anchor and in coves, entertain daily, and value one big open living space over separate sailing and lounging zones.
- —The forward cockpit is genuinely useful — sunset drinks, morning coffee, a shaded lounger, a wind-in-your-face spot underway.
- —Tilt-up salon door creates the largest single living space of any 46-ft charter cat.
- —Hard foredeck is safer for children and older guests than a netted trampoline.
- —Extensive glazing gives 360° views from the salon — you can watch the anchorage without stepping outside in the rain.
- —Twin freezers and generator standard on most charter boats — practical for week-long charters far from shops.
- —Purists dislike the loss of the trampoline — no soft airy foredeck lounging at anchor in still weather.
- —The tall salon acts as more windage than a Lagoon; docking in strong crosswinds needs more engine than you expect.
- —The cockpit-to-salon door mechanism is fantastic when it works but is one more system to maintain — check age of the boat.
This is the boat we recommend when the plan is anchor-first — long lunches, kids swimming off the platform, sundowners in the forward cockpit. It is the most social catamaran in its size class, and groups who came for the lifestyle rather than the sailing almost never regret it.
It is not the boat we recommend to a group who came to sail. For sailors of similar budget we send the Astréa 42, which is lighter and better-balanced under canvas. For two families needing more separation between the sailing crowd and the lounging crowd, the Lagoon 46 with its flybridge and cockpit-plus-salon separation is the right call. And for larger groups — six or seven couples — we go up to the Leopard 52.
How it compares
Lagoon keeps the trampoline and adds a flybridge — three separate lounging zones instead of one big one. Choose Lagoon if you want the flybridge helm.
The Leopard 52 is the natural size-up — six cabins, more cockpit, and the dominant catamaran in Caribbean and Bahamas fleets. Choose Leopard for larger groups or Caribbean bases; the Bali is the more open-plan Mediterranean pick.
Bali 4.6 — questions clients actually ask
- What's the actual difference between a Bali and a Lagoon?
- The Bali replaces the netted trampoline with a hard forward cockpit and adds a tilt-up salon door for open indoor-outdoor living. The Lagoon keeps the trampoline and adds a flybridge helm. Neither is objectively better — pick based on which lifestyle sounds like your week.
- Is the forward cockpit actually useful?
- Yes, more than most guests expect. It's the coolest spot at anchor in still weather, the best place to feel the breeze under way, and a natural spot for the person who wants some quiet away from the aft deck party.
- How does she sail?
- Comfortably rather than quickly. Expect 6–7 knots in most sailing conditions. The tall salon adds windage upwind. She's a lifestyle boat, not a racing platform.
- Cost for a week?
- Cost varies by season, base and yacht specification, plus APA for fuel, marinas, food and water. Fully crewed all-inclusive is a separate rate band. We quote three real boats at real prices for your dates.
- Where can I charter one?
- Widely available in Croatia, Greece, the Balearics, French Riviera, Caribbean and Seychelles. Ask us for real live availability at your preferred base.
- Is it kid-friendly?
- Very. The hard foredeck is safer than a trampoline for young children, side decks are wide, and the enclosed salon means kids stay in view of parents in any weather.
Charter a Bali 4.6 for your dates.
Live availability, honest advice on whether this is the right boat for your group, and a proposal within twelve hours.