Catamaran Comparison · 2026

Bali 4.6 vs Excess 14

Two near-neighbours in the 47–48 foot class — here's how they actually differ on the water.

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At a Glance

Bali

Bali 4.6

The Bali 4.6 is a 48-foot 4-cabin catamaran launched in 2019. Best for family, luxury, open space lovers. A proven family-friendly layout.

Excess

Excess 14

The Excess 14 is a 47-foot 4-cabin catamaran launched in 2022. Best for performance, modern lovers, couples. A performance-leaning hull form for sailors who care how it feels on the helm.

Quick Comparison

Spec	Bali 4.6	Excess 14
Length overall	48 ft (14.62 m)	47 ft (14.32 m)
Beam	7.66 m	7.85 m
Cabins (guest + crew)	4 + 2	4 + 2
Max guests	8	8
Year introduced	2019	2022
Best for	family, luxury, open space lovers	performance, modern lovers, couples
Standout amenity	AC, generator	AC, generator
Charter regions	Caribbean, Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, South East Asia, Mexico & Central America, Atlantic & Offshore, Red Sea & Middle East, Northern Europe & Baltic, US East Coast & Florida	Caribbean, Mediterranean, Atlantic & Offshore
Indicative price (bareboat low season)	$11,500	$16,500
Indicative price (crewed peak season)	$43,000	$41,500
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 4.6 has a garage-door aft platform that opens the saloon directly to the sea; the Excess 14 offers a more conventional enclosed saloon. The Bali 4.6 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 Excess often offsets the galley aft. Worth seeing both layouts before deciding for a couples-only trip.
Amenities & kit. Bali 4.6 comes with AC, generator, watermaker, solar, dinghy, garage door platform. Excess 14 adds a similar kit, with the same core list.

Performance Differences

Neither boat is a racer; both are cruising catamarans. But the Excess 14.

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 Excess 14's wider 7.85 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 4.6 starts at $11,500/week bareboat (low season, BVI or Greece) and the Excess 14 starts at $16,500/week. At the high end (crewed, peak season) we see the Bali 4.6 reach $43,000/week and the Excess 14 reach $41,500/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

Both boats work for families — compare cabin configs in our detail pages and we'll help you pick the better-fitting layout.

If you want performance / a sailing-feel boat

Choose the Excess 14. It was designed with sailing performance in mind — the helm feels more responsive and you'll enjoy being on the wind.

If you want luxury / open-space

Choose the Bali 4.6. It's specifically tuned for indoor-outdoor living and the finish is the more premium of the two.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Bali 4.6 bigger than the Excess 14? ▾

The Bali 4.6 is 48 ft (14.62 m) long with a 7.66 m beam, while the Excess 14 is 47 ft (14.32 m) with a 7.85 m beam. The Bali 4.6 is the longer boat, but the difference of 1 ft may be marginal once you step on board.

Which is better for a family — Bali 4.6 or Excess 14? ▾

The Bali 4.6 is the stronger family pick — it was designed with family / luxury in mind, with 4 guest cabins and a layout that's forgiving for kids new to sailing. The Excess 14 leans performance / modern lovers — fine for older families with sailing experience.

Which is better value — Bali 4.6 or Excess 14? ▾

The Bali 4.6 is the lower-priced option (starts around $11,500/week bareboat), with the Excess 14 starting around $16,500/week. The price difference of ~$5,000/week is usually worth it if you specifically want performance; otherwise the Bali 4.6 gives you most of the experience.

Can the Bali 4.6 and Excess 14 charter in the same destinations? ▾

Bali 4.6: Caribbean, Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, South East Asia, Mexico & Central America, Atlantic & Offshore, Red Sea & Middle East, Northern Europe & Baltic, US East Coast & Florida. Excess 14: Caribbean, Mediterranean, Atlantic & Offshore. 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 4.6: 4 guest cabins + 2 crew cabin(s), sleeps up to 8 guests in standard charter config. Excess 14: 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 47–48-foot Catamaran Comparisons

Bali 4.6 vs Bali 4.8 49 ft vs 48 ft · same brand Bali 4.6 vs Excess 15 50 ft vs 48 ft · same cabins Bali 4.6 vs Bali 4.4 48 ft vs 44 ft · same brand Bali 4.6 vs Excess 13 48 ft vs 43 ft · same cabins Bali 4.6 vs Bali 4.2 48 ft vs 42 ft · same brand Bali 4.6 vs Bali 5.4 54 ft vs 48 ft · same brand

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