Catamaran Comparison · 2026

Bali 4.2 vs Fountaine Pajot Isla 40

Two near-neighbours in the 40–42 foot class — here's how they actually differ on the water.

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At a Glance

Bali

Bali 4.2

The Bali 4.2 is a 42-foot 4-cabin catamaran launched in 2020. Best for open space lovers, first time charter, family. A proven family-friendly layout.

Fountaine Pajot

Isla 40

The Isla 40 is a 40-foot 4-cabin catamaran launched in 2022. Best for couples, small family, first time charter. A balanced cruiser that does many things well.

Quick Comparison

Spec	Bali 4.2	Isla 40
Length overall	42 ft (12.81 m)	40 ft (11.93 m)
Beam	7.12 m	6.65 m
Cabins (guest + crew)	4 + 2	4 + 2
Max guests	8	8
Year introduced	2020	2022
Best for	open space lovers, first time charter, family	couples, small family, first time charter
Standout amenity	AC, generator	AC, watermaker
Charter regions	Caribbean, Mediterranean, South Pacific	Caribbean, Mediterranean, Mexico & Central America, US East Coast & Florida
Indicative price (bareboat low season)	$7,000	$7,000
Indicative price (crewed peak season)	$57,500	$57,500
View full detail	View →	View →

Pricing data drawn from current-season bookings across BVI and Mediterranean bases. Updated quarterly.

Design & Comfort Differences

The two boats feel meaningfully different on board, even within the same nominal size class. Three specific differences worth knowing:

Saloon and deck space. The Bali 4.2 has a garage-door aft platform that opens the saloon directly to the sea; the Isla 40 offers a more conventional enclosed saloon. The Bali 4.2 specifically targets open-space lovers — the indoor/outdoor flow is the headline feature.
Cabin configuration. Both boats offer 4 symmetrical guest cabins. What differs is cabin shape — the Bali typically uses a forward-galley / island-berth layout, while Fountaine Pajot often offsets the galley aft. Worth seeing both layouts before deciding for a couples-only trip.
Amenities & kit. Bali 4.2 comes with AC, generator, watermaker, solar, dinghy, garage door platform. Isla 40 adds a similar kit, with the same core list.

Performance Differences

Neither boat is a racer; both are cruising catamarans. But the neither — these are cruising-first boats.

In light air (under 10 knots true wind), the heavier-displacement boat will feel slightly sluggish; in 15–20 knots trade-wind conditions both perform similarly. In big Med Meltemi/Mistral conditions (25+ knots) the Bali 4.2's wider 7.12 m beam will initially feel more stable but pushes more water resistance.

For bareboat charters both behave predictably under sail and under power. We rarely see either one out-sail the other in normal charter conditions.

Price & Value

In current-season data, the Bali 4.2 starts at $7,000/week bareboat (low season, BVI or Greece) and the Isla 40 starts at $7,000/week. At the high end (crewed, peak season) we see the Bali 4.2 reach $57,500/week and the Isla 40 reach $57,500/week.

For most charterers the price difference is small (~$500–$1,500/week) compared to the total trip cost — meaning amenities, layout and your destination matter more than sticker price when choosing between two boats this similar.

Which Should You Choose?

If you're a family with kids

Choose the Bali 4.2. It's the calmer, family-oriented platform; the layout is forgiving for first-time charterers with kids aboard.

If you want performance / a sailing-feel boat

Neither boat is a true performance catamaran; both are cruiser-first. If sailing feel matters most, look at the Excess 14 or Nautitech 46 Open as alternatives.

If you want luxury / open-space

Choose the Bali 4.2. It's specifically tuned for indoor-outdoor living and the finish is the more premium of the two.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Bali 4.2 bigger than the Isla 40? ▾

The Bali 4.2 is 42 ft (12.81 m) long with a 7.12 m beam, while the Isla 40 is 40 ft (11.93 m) with a 6.65 m beam. The Bali 4.2 is the longer boat, but the difference of 2 ft may be marginal once you step on board.

Which is better for a family — Bali 4.2 or Isla 40? ▾

The Bali 4.2 is the stronger family pick — it was designed with open space lovers / first time charter in mind, with 4 guest cabins and a layout that's forgiving for kids new to sailing. The Isla 40 leans couples / small family — fine for older families with sailing experience.

Which is better value — Bali 4.2 or Isla 40? ▾

In our tracking, the two boats are priced within ~$0/week of each other at the low end, so value depends on which features you weight: the Bali 4.2 gives you AC, generator, watermaker; the Isla 40 gives you AC, watermaker, dinghy.

Can the Bali 4.2 and Isla 40 charter in the same destinations? ▾

Bali 4.2: Caribbean, Mediterranean, South Pacific. Isla 40: Caribbean, Mediterranean, Mexico & Central America, US East Coast & Florida. Where they overlap (often the Caribbean + Mediterranean), they're both well-supported by local charter fleets and you can usually get a checkout sail either way.

How many guests can each boat sleep? ▾

Bali 4.2: 4 guest cabins + 2 crew cabin(s), sleeps up to 8 guests in standard charter config. Isla 40: 4 guest cabins + 2 crew cabin(s), sleeps up to 8 guests. Both sleep the same number — your choice depends on layout and amenities.

Keep Comparing

More 40–42-foot Catamaran Comparisons

Bali 4.2 vs Bali 4.4 44 ft vs 42 ft · same brand Bali 4.2 vs Fountaine Pajot Lucia 40 42 ft vs 38 ft · 3 cabins Bali 4.2 vs Fountaine Pajot Tanna 47 47 ft vs 42 ft · same cabins Bali 4.2 vs Bali 4.6 48 ft vs 42 ft · same brand Bali 4.2 vs Bali 4.8 49 ft vs 42 ft · same brand Bali 4.2 vs Excess 12 42 ft vs 41 ft · same cabins

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