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Catamaran Comparison · 2026

Bali 4.8 vs Lagoon 42

Two near-neighbours in the 42–49 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.

Lagoon
Lagoon 42

The Lagoon 42 is a 42-foot 4-cabin catamaran launched in 2016. Best for couples, small family, first time charter. A balanced cruiser that does many things well.

Quick Comparison

Spec Bali 4.8 Lagoon 42
Length overall 49 ft (14.93 m) 42 ft (12.8 m)
Beam 7.88 m 7.7 m
Cabins (guest + crew) 4 + 2 4 + 2
Max guests 8 8
Year introduced 2020 2016
Best for family, luxury, open space lovers couples, small family, first time charter
Standout amenity AC, generator AC, generator
Charter regions Caribbean, Mediterranean Caribbean, Mediterranean, Mexico & Central America, Red Sea & Middle East, Northern Europe & Baltic, US East Coast & Florida
Indicative price (bareboat low season) $7,000 $7,000
Indicative price (crewed peak season) $57,500 $57,500
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Pricing data drawn from current-season bookings across BVI and Mediterranean bases. Updated quarterly.

What Would Each Boat Actually Cost You?

Design & Comfort Differences

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

  1. Saloon and deck space. The Bali 4.8 has a garage-door aft platform that opens the saloon directly to the sea; the Lagoon 42 offers a more conventional enclosed saloon. The Bali 4.8 specifically targets open-space lovers — the indoor/outdoor flow is the headline feature.
  2. 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 Lagoon often offsets the galley aft. Worth seeing both layouts before deciding for a couples-only trip.
  3. Amenities & kit. Bali 4.8 comes with AC, generator, watermaker, solar, dinghy, garage door platform, BBQ. Lagoon 42 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 4.8'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 Lagoon 42 starts at $7,000/week. At the high end (crewed, peak season) we see the Bali 4.8 reach $57,500/week and the Lagoon 42 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 4.8. 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 4.8. 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 Lagoon 42? ▾
The Bali 4.8 is 49 ft (14.93 m) long with a 7.88 m beam, while the Lagoon 42 is 42 ft (12.8 m) with a 7.7 m beam. The Bali 4.8 is the longer boat, but the difference of 7 ft may be marginal once you step on board.
Which is better for a family — Bali 4.8 or Lagoon 42? ▾
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 Lagoon 42 leans couples / small family — fine for older families with sailing experience.
Which is better value — Bali 4.8 or Lagoon 42? ▾
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 Lagoon 42 gives you AC, generator, watermaker.
Can the Bali 4.8 and Lagoon 42 charter in the same destinations? ▾
Bali 4.8: Caribbean, Mediterranean. Lagoon 42: 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 4.8: 4 guest cabins + 2 crew cabin(s), sleeps up to 8 guests in standard charter config. Lagoon 42: 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 42–49-foot Catamaran Comparisons

Bali 4.8 vs Lagoon 46 49 ft vs 46 ft · same cabins Bali 4.8 vs Bali 4.4 49 ft vs 44 ft · same brand 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 Lagoon 50 50 ft vs 49 ft · same cabins Bali 4.8 vs Lagoon 40 49 ft vs 40 ft · 3 cabins
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