Catamaran Comparison · 2026

Bali 4.6 vs Fountaine Pajot Lucia 40

Two near-neighbours in the 38–48 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.

Fountaine Pajot

Lucia 40

The Lucia 40 is a 38-foot 3-cabin catamaran launched in 2017. Best for couples, small family, first time charter. A balanced cruiser that does many things well.

Quick Comparison

Spec	Bali 4.6	Lucia 40
Length overall	48 ft (14.62 m)	38 ft (11.73 m)
Beam	7.66 m	6.5 m
Cabins (guest + crew)	4 + 2	3 + 1
Max guests	8	6
Year introduced	2019	2017
Best for	family, luxury, open space lovers	couples, small family, first time charter
Standout amenity	AC, generator	AC, watermaker
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, Mexico & Central America, Red Sea & Middle East, Northern Europe & Baltic, US East Coast & Florida
Indicative price (bareboat low season)	$11,500	$8,000
Indicative price (crewed peak season)	$43,000	$22,500
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 Lucia 40 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 (Bali 4.6) vs 3 (Lucia 40) guest cabins. If you need 4 equal cabins for a multi-couple charter, the Bali 4.6 is the better fit. Otherwise they're both fine for a single-family layout.
Amenities & kit. Bali 4.6 comes with AC, generator, watermaker, solar, dinghy, garage door platform. Lucia 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 4.6's wider 7.66 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 Lucia 40 starts at $8,000/week. At the high end (crewed, peak season) we see the Bali 4.6 reach $43,000/week and the Lucia 40 reach $22,500/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 4.6. 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 4.6. 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 Lucia 40? ▾

The Bali 4.6 is 48 ft (14.62 m) long with a 7.66 m beam, while the Lucia 40 is 38 ft (11.73 m) with a 6.5 m beam. The Bali 4.6 is the longer boat, but the difference of 10 ft may be marginal once you step on board.

Which is better for a family — Bali 4.6 or Lucia 40? ▾

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 Lucia 40 leans couples / small family — fine for older families with sailing experience.

Which is better value — Bali 4.6 or Lucia 40? ▾

The Lucia 40 is the lower-priced option (starts around $8,000/week bareboat), with the Bali 4.6 starting around $11,500/week. The price difference of ~$3,500/week is usually worth it if you specifically want family; otherwise the Lucia 40 gives you most of the experience.

Can the Bali 4.6 and Lucia 40 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. Lucia 40: Caribbean, Mediterranean, Mexico & Central America, Red Sea & Middle East, Northern Europe & Baltic, 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 4.6: 4 guest cabins + 2 crew cabin(s), sleeps up to 8 guests in standard charter config. Lucia 40: 3 guest cabins + 1 crew cabin(s), sleeps up to 6 guests. The Bali 4.6 sleeps more; pick that one for larger groups.

Keep Comparing

More 38–48-foot Catamaran Comparisons

Bali 4.6 vs Bali 4.4 48 ft vs 44 ft · same brand Bali 4.6 vs Bali 4.2 48 ft vs 42 ft · same brand Bali 4.6 vs Fountaine Pajot Isla 40 48 ft vs 40 ft · same cabins Bali 4.6 vs Fountaine Pajot Tanna 47 48 ft vs 47 ft · same cabins Bali 4.6 vs Bali 4.8 49 ft vs 48 ft · same brand Bali 4.6 vs Fountaine Pajot Astrea 51 51 ft vs 48 ft · same cabins

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