2Hulls

Catamaran Comparison · 2026

Bali 4.8 vs Leopard 48

Two near-neighbours in the 48–49 foot class — here's how they actually differ on the water.

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.

Leopard
Leopard 48

The Leopard 48 is a 48-foot 4-cabin catamaran launched in 2018. Best for performance, family, large group. A proven family-friendly layout.

Quick Comparison

Spec Bali 4.8 Leopard 48
Length overall 49 ft (14.93 m) 48 ft (14.65 m)
Beam 7.88 m 7.65 m
Cabins (guest + crew) 4 + 2 4 + 2
Max guests 8 8
Year introduced 2020 2018
Best for family, luxury, open space lovers performance, family, large group
Standout amenity AC, generator AC, generator
Charter regions Caribbean, Mediterranean Caribbean, Indian Ocean, South America & Galápagos
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.

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 Leopard 48 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 Leopard 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. Leopard 48 adds a similar kit, with the same core list.

Performance Differences

Neither boat is a racer; both are cruising catamarans. But the Leopard 48.

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 Leopard 48 starts at $7,000/week. At the high end (crewed, peak season) we see the Bali 4.8 reach $57,500/week and the Leopard 48 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 Leopard 48. 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

Choose the Leopard 48. 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 Leopard 48? ▾
The Bali 4.8 is 49 ft (14.93 m) long with a 7.88 m beam, while the Leopard 48 is 48 ft (14.65 m) with a 7.65 m beam. The Bali 4.8 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 4.8 or Leopard 48? ▾
Both boats are well-suited to families. Bali 4.8 is best for family / luxury; Leopard 48 leans toward performance / family. The Bali 4.8 has more equal-sized cabins which is helpful for two- or three-generation trips. Talk to a 2Hulls expert about specific cabin configs.
Which is better value — Bali 4.8 or Leopard 48? ▾
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 Leopard 48 gives you AC, generator, watermaker.
Can the Bali 4.8 and Leopard 48 charter in the same destinations? ▾
Bali 4.8: Caribbean, Mediterranean. Leopard 48: Caribbean, Indian Ocean, South America & Galápagos. 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. Leopard 48: 4 guest cabins + 2 crew cabin(s), sleeps up to 8 guests. Both sleep the same number — your choice depends on layout and amenities.
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