Catamaran Comparison · 2026

Bali 4.8 vs Excess 12

Two near-neighbours in the 41–49 foot class — here's how they actually differ on the water.

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At a Glance

Bali

Bali 4.8

The Bali 4.8 is a 49-foot 4-cabin catamaran launched in 2020. Best for family, luxury, open space lovers. A proven family-friendly layout.

Excess

Excess 12

The Excess 12 is a 41-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 4.8	Excess 12
Length overall	49 ft (14.93 m)	41 ft (12.45 m)
Beam	7.88 m	6.74 m
Cabins (guest + crew)	4 + 2	4 + 1
Max guests	8	8
Year introduced	2020	2022
Best for	family, luxury, open space lovers	performance, modern lovers, couples
Standout amenity	AC, generator	AC, generator
Charter regions	Caribbean, Mediterranean	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 4.8 has a garage-door aft platform that opens the saloon directly to the sea; the Excess 12 offers a more conventional enclosed saloon. The Bali 4.8 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 4.8 comes with AC, generator, watermaker, solar, dinghy, garage door platform, BBQ. Excess 12 adds a similar kit, with the same core list.

Performance Differences

Neither boat is a racer; both are cruising catamarans. But the Excess 12.

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 4.8's wider 7.88 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 4.8 starts at $7,000/week bareboat (low season, BVI or Greece) and the Excess 12 starts at $7,000/week. At the high end (crewed, peak season) we see the Bali 4.8 reach $57,500/week and the Excess 12 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

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 12. 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 4.8. It's specifically tuned for indoor-outdoor living and the finish is the more premium of the two.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Bali 4.8 bigger than the Excess 12? ▾

The Bali 4.8 is 49 ft (14.93 m) long with a 7.88 m beam, while the Excess 12 is 41 ft (12.45 m) with a 6.74 m beam. The Bali 4.8 is the longer boat, but the difference of 8 ft may be marginal once you step on board.

Which is better for a family — Bali 4.8 or Excess 12? ▾

The Bali 4.8 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 12 leans performance / modern lovers — fine for older families with sailing experience.

Which is better value — Bali 4.8 or Excess 12? ▾

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 4.8 gives you AC, generator, watermaker; the Excess 12 gives you AC, generator, watermaker.

Can the Bali 4.8 and Excess 12 charter in the same destinations? ▾

Bali 4.8: Caribbean, Mediterranean. Excess 12: 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 4.8: 4 guest cabins + 2 crew cabin(s), sleeps up to 8 guests in standard charter config. Excess 12: 4 guest cabins + 1 crew cabin(s), sleeps up to 8 guests. Both sleep the same number — your choice depends on layout and amenities.

Keep Comparing

More 41–49-foot Catamaran Comparisons

Bali 4.8 vs Bali 4.4 49 ft vs 44 ft · same brand Bali 4.8 vs Excess 14 49 ft vs 47 ft · same cabins Bali 4.8 vs Excess 13 49 ft vs 43 ft · same cabins Bali 4.8 vs Bali 4.6 49 ft vs 48 ft · same brand Bali 4.8 vs Bali 4.2 49 ft vs 42 ft · same brand Bali 4.8 vs Excess 15 50 ft vs 49 ft · same cabins

→ Bali 4.8 detail page → Excess 12 detail page → All comparisons

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