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boats
2016
WINNER
SMOOTH
RIDING
CHINED
HULLS
SPACIOUS
COCKPIT
LAYOUT
Bali 4.3
SPECIFICATIONS
ACCOMMODATIONS
Bali 4.3
The Bali 4.3 is all about maximizing space both topsides and belowdecks.
However, to retain performance, the designer made the hulls flare to distinct chines just above the waterline, so that the underwater sections would
remain narrow and efficient. This also ensures plenty of reserve buoyancy,
an important feature in a boat with a solid foredeck like this one.
I liked the powerplant installation. The twin Kubota diesels are mated
to saildrives at their forward ends, providing excellent engine maintenance access. I could actually step down into the compartment and
reach every surface of the enginemechanics rejoice! Our test boat had
a genset on a shelf in the starboard hull and was scheduled to receive a
large watermaker in the same space to port.
Catana has a history of quality construction. And while the Bali line does
APRIL 2016
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The three-cabin version we sailed includes plenty of privacy and accommodations for the owners in the port hull that reminded me of a compact
urban apartment. The two guest cabins in the starboard hull are very
pleasant as well, with dimensions more typical of a boat this size. Theres
also a four-cabin charter version.
The apartment theme, which Catana calls Loft Mode, continues on
the main deck, where theres an unusual division of the galley space,
with the cooktop and sink forward, and the household-size fridge and
microwave to starboard and aft. However, counter space abounds in
both areas and the layout works. For entertaining, in particular, the
layout makes sense, as the serious cooking is separated from where you
prepare drinks.
The forward end of the saloon is all windows, and the big central pane
lowers and rises on pneumatic lifts in the bulkhead. This, in turn, makes it
easy to pass out refreshments to the loungers in the foredeck cockpit.
not employ the carbon fiber reinforcement, lightweight laminate bulkheads, daggerboards and other performance enhancers that the companys
semi-custom boats are known for (in the interest of keeping costs down)
it is still very well built. The hulls have balsa cores above the waterline and
incorporate gray-water holding tanks in their stub keels, an interesting solution for discharge-restrictive waterways. The hulls and superstructure are
constructed using vacuum infusion to ensure a lightweight but stiff layup.
Catanas new facility in La Rochelle, France, is the source of the builders
smaller vessels, including the Bali 4.3. The roads there limit what can be
transported from the factory to a launch site, so any and all boats larger
than this one continue to come from the facility at Canet-en-Roussillon. I
mention this difference because our test boat, an early production model,
experienced some birthing issues. More about that later.
UNDER SAIL
We set the main and unrolled the asymmetric reaching headsail in a true
wind of 6 to 7 knots and were rewarded with a boat speed just over 5
knots, quite a respectable performance.
Unfortunately, the steering felt springy and imprecise, and became all
the more difficult sailing to windward, not from a design problem but
as the result of some kind of an installation issue. Under load there were
even times when the steering system bound up to a point where I was
unable to hold an accurate course.
Also, the Solent jib needed a pennant at its tack to make it set properly,
so that we could not point as well as we should into the wind, and the
jib sheet winches were installed incorrectly and therefore difficult to use.
Again, these were all installation problems that should be straightforward
to fix. However, they did preclude a truly accurate assessment of the
boats sailing ability that day. With these glitches smoothed out, I expect
the Bali 4.3 to be a nice sailing boat.
UNDER POWER
ON DECK
The mast is stepped at the 40 percent station, giving space for a large,
self-tacking Solent jib. Putting a flybridge on a boat this size necessitates a high boom and small mainsail, so the jib is a significant source
of power when under sail.
CONCLUSION
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