I do like that the fact the Balance 526 has been designed by a serious sailor. One thing that really stood out to me was the simplicity of the systems. Simple, accessible and can repaired almost anywhere in the world is a big plus. The great advantage of such a light performance cat is that you can sail more and take advantage of single digit wind speed weather windows and not have to motor.
The kick of acceleration on a powerful cat is something quite amazing... I remember when my two tonne 30 foot cat, an ocean voyager by the way, took off in smooth seas in a 12 knot gust... The fear factor went away immediately. I am sure after a weekend with a skilled crew, with you two blooded into this cat, you would be in heaven. There is room for the genuine Elvis jacket nailed to the wall in the saloon too... Details like the catches are reflected throughout this boat. Labeled wiring, thermo cutouts, solar charges and so on. The representative from the company was right. If it breaks down in Tonga, any electrician can fix it. That is attention to detail I like a lot... you were both salivating during the boat walk through... it is an exciting catamaran...
Just want to say that I’m so appreciative of you reviewing so many variants of cruising cats. It informs so many of us that may have different needs and wants. So keep doing what you’re doing. It’s highly appreciated.
You know this company will make millions from the helm design pattern, I see other monohull companies already adding to their products. Who needs dual helms, when one wheel can move side to side ?
I love your electrical system and engine bay. From a tradesman view point, this is how you build a boat. The iPad system is BS when your in the middle of the pacific. Way to go.
having lived aboard different catamarans for two decades, while the large windows facing forward look nice, they amount to a huge sun gathering greenhouse and build up incredible heat. catamarans simply need some sort of shading overhang to reduce that effect and make them comfortable at anchor.
My wife and I loved this cat at the Annapolis boat show last year. After viewing this one it, we kind of lost interest in the other cats. It is truly an amazing design. Great video! Thanks!
it's one of the few cats I struggle to pick flaws in. The construction is top notch too. Epoxy resin is a huge plus too (no water infiltration and way stronger and more damage resistant than polyester or vinylester)
I don't understand the "you can't afford it so don't review it" line of thinking. We watch vicariously as dozens of channels review cars we can't afford - Top Gear, The Grand Tour, Car and Driver, Road and Track, much less the dozens of RU-vidrs who do the same. The vast majority of them can't afford the supercars or exotics they are reviewing either. (Excepting Jeremy Clarkson, LOL.) There is very little comparable to a Road and Track type professional review magazine except perhaps Toby Hodges and Matt Sheahan at Yachting World. (Who both a fantastic job, in my opinion.) Poor Yachting Magazine is almost all power now - shame. So - don't listen to those haters! You keep reviewing in your inimitable style. We love watching you!
Hi Guys, I currently have a 450 and will be upgrading it to around a 50 foot catamaran in the next 12-18 months. Just like you I am looking around. I have so far sailed a lagoon 52 and Saba 50 (waiting on a leopard 50 chance and a few others) and you know what. It really was not a big jump in difficulty in sailing them. Actually some stuff was easier as you had more room around winches, helm etc. Also looking at systems for maintenance is easier as you also have more room. Bigger then this would be much harder but have spoken to owners of cats around 50 and two up sailing is ok and not unmanageable. Like you I would love to take a Balance 52 for a sail.
After watching all the reviews I always ended up watching this review of balance 526 again and again. Liked the idea of not seeing the dagger board sticking up the side. Electrical/ Mechanical breakers versus software's. The issue is just the price at 1.6 mil??? It looks clean minimalist and since its semi customizable you can add your personal touch! It doesn't matter if I'm a novice sailor 😁😁😁
Jerjay Jim They’re making two or three other models using higher volume manufacturing techniques that are less labor intensive, but still look to be high quality, so check them out. I really like Balance, but this boat is the one that funds growing the company and scale with the more mainstream boats. No way Outremer is a better real, like these “reviews” indicate.
A wonderful boat, I would give the price a rating of a 8 or 9, Not that I could afford it. but when you look at a FP 50 costing 1.2 to 1.3 million the quality of the Balance is far beyond that of the FP. and the speed. Thank you for sharing and have a wonderful Holiday Season
As an ex RN sailor I always worry about things being secure for sea. I like the fact you look at cupboard catches and the like. It's practical. I always wonder why in most boat videos there are ornaments and things everywhere. It must all be be rolling around the floor broken within 5 minutes of going to sea.
I've recently come across your channel. I've been looking at all your reviews. And am enjoying them. I'm getting ready to retire and want to do so in a boat. I'm looking for a 45 to 50 boat I can single hand. The reason I want a larger boat is that it will be my only home and will also serve as my office. Keep up the great work. I'm learning a lot.
I honestly love how white it is… makes it so bright and modern feeling. But I’m a photographer, so I love a white space for clean color. Beautiful boat.
I have to say that you're paying for quality. Most people are sold on frills. That's a workable high quality boat built to last with high resale return on investment.
Quick shout out to Andrew Hodgdon: I did the standard request for info on the 482 and not only got a call from Andrew, but we swapped multiple emails, he sent me everything he had on the 482 and also the recently announced 442, which is a real possibility in my world. I can’t say enough how generous Andrew has been with his time for someone who is years away from a potential order. Other reps give a polite brush off when you tell them you are 2+ years away. Just real impressed; makes me want to buy a Balance just for that. And the plan for the 442 looks great. Give Andrew a shout.
Absolutely love the practicality of the mechanical and electrical systems. Clearly designed with forethought for whomsoever might have to maintain or repair those systems in the future.
I look at it as pretty much a wind speed boat. A lot of times there is very little wind and you are motoring, but at 7 knots you can sail maybe 7 or so depending on direction. She will handle 20 easily depending on seas, over that if you are uncomfortable reef in the main. I did read an article from a delivery captain that stated she would point 31 to 34.
Just to expand on your commentary about the reviews. I love them! I am sure there are a lot of people like me who don’t have the time or the means to travel to a bunch of boat shows to get the amount of information I get from you both without leaving my home. Incredible. Thank you.
Almost 40 years experience as an Electrical Engineer, MSEE BSEE, and I totally agreed with the manual breakers, and no WIFI control of the boats electrical system! Less is better, more reliable. WIFI for my coffee maker, yes, for life safety systems.. NO!.
I understand knocking down the score for it not being "Homey" enough for live a boards but honestly with all the white it is a clean slate. You can make it as homey as you like so I don't think that should be held against the boat. I think you can make it what you want much better than the other cats which force a style on you. And for value for the dollar the design, quality, attention to detail and performance you can't expect it to cost less. For me this is the best, all be it totally out of reach for normal people, boat you have reviewed yet. I think in the end it will be in the top 3. It has to be. Great review as always. I love these and can't wait for the next one. Take care!
Your reviews are so straightforward and fair. The Balance is the tweener boat - pun intended a "balance" between the Lagoons/FP and Gunboat and H&H full carbon Bentley yachts. Balance is fast, carbon for strength where needed and solid for voyaging. They are $1 million+ less than an H&H. It is relative.
Love this review and the boat. I'm a laser sailor, fantasizing about a live aboard catamaran life. I LOVE this boat but totally understand the intimidation factor. A sudden squall would certainly get one's adrenalin going. If I had the dough, I'd buy it especially as we'd be the 5% with family aboard.
One thing I really like about the balance 526 is the white walls. Yes it looks very bare and might not feel as warm and welcoming as something is little bit "softer." But these finished walls will be very easy to clean and keep from getting moldy in tropical areas. In contrast, many other boats have coverings over the walls and/or ceilings to save money on all the finishing labor and to make it look nice off the show room floor. But after years of sailing, that cosmetic work will degrade a lot faster in a humid environment than simple, yet durable, finish walls.
Haven’t seen a review of the Gunboat 55 or 57 yet. Bridge deck is huge and open for boats of their small size, especially when the galley is in the port stern hull and storage/workspace is in the starboard stern hull. You only get two cabins with that configuration, and those are quite small and spartan given the performance hulls and focus on performance, but you get great balance with lower c.g., and fabulous storage for a long crossing. The central, forward, enclosed helm just behind the mast has all of the control you need over your sails in a well protected space with fabulous visibility.
Your reviews, critics, and analysis of 50+ foot cats is valuable as they hold builders accountable for their products and highlights innovations / product offerings. In five years, I expect to see cats with rounder corners throughout their interiors, better fitting joints, and maybe versa helm stations (standard). When everyone thinks about options and discusses them, it is amazing what is produced. Also, Europeans need to realize "cup holders" are not options or afterthoughts, but a top 10 component of a yacht or car!!! Yes, I'm American - born and bread!
Not everbody can get to the boat shows to view all these boats and get the "access" that you guys get, so it is a general review and not about what "you guys" can afford. For me I am absolutely fascinated at seeing these Million $ machines along with the run of the mill production type cats. These reviews put everything into perspective and have had the effect of redifining what I would buy regardless of price (only after the lottery win comes in) so that I can have saftey and comfort. Well done and looking forward to the others. BTW have voted.
I absolutely loved the adjustable Helm that's just completely handy to have , if they were smart they would have that patented because you're right I think that is going to be the wave of the future
The question of lack of availability of new quality small boats is one that comes up in all categories, as it is very hard to build a small quality boat that people will pay for. At FLIBS, a broker friend was complaining about the lack of supply of quality entry level mega yachts (120/150 ft) as almost none have been built since 2008. Feadship etc, have been building larger as that is where the demand is. The same thing is true of small custom boats on the Maine coast, which a number of yards used to build one or two a year. Also, Sport fish builders like Rybovich are finding demand and profits in the 50 plus foot range. I agree with your judgement that it is hard to manage a 50 plus foot boat with 2 people, but most buyers in that category are probably going to have crew. (In addition to handling, cleaning becomes an issue as the boat grows!) This discussion is why I ended up ordering a Seawind 1190 Sport, as it was the only small boat to have daggerboards, carbon mast, and a poor mans version of the versa helm, in which one either looks through the salon, or along the sides as there are two helms.
First, thank you again for another great review. As far as looking at cats that are high priced, keep doing it. The educate that your providing is priceless. People, in general, learn by looking at the best options and then looking at comparable make used cats and smaller ones. At least that's what I do. For those people that are have nothing good to say, that's their issue, not yours. Keep up the great work. Thank you again.
my dream boat. one comment about your rating and comments about the Styling being too stark. Something to remember is that a boat does not stay that way once the owner receives it. You're gonna hang up towels, pictures jackets and other items. The white will be covered up. Sure, it's a performance cruiser and you will want to refrain from loading it up too much. But still. in that sense, I much prefer this blank canvas. It gives you room to personalize it. Any design that has already tried to look homey will quickly be overloaded once you add personal items and touches.
2nd comment... One of the things about the "size" of a boat you're comparing just the length. Most of these smaler brands are building performance cats with narrow hulls but longer hulls. The interior volume of two boats and the volume of material used can be close to another yet the length to hull beam ratio differ significantly. While the longer hulls from a performance cat will cost more in marina fees the material costs for construction shouldn't be far apart. The interior volume of a 50ish foot performance cruiser is around the same as a 42-45 foot production cat. I think the price difference comes from the costs of some of the exotic materials and the economics of low volume production.
For a boat you could live in full time the epoxy finish and uncluttered feel to this boat you could internally keep it top notch with minimal housework ( shipwork)
You guys ARE experienced - You could easily handle this boat between the two of you, I promise. You don't have to race everywhere at top speed, just cruise along comfortably at 10-12 knots. All of the 526 owners are couples, a lot with a lot less mileage under their belts than you. On another point, if you didn't like the interior (I know you did) there are a vast array of options for people who prefer something more traditional. It's a semi-custom boat so you get to choose. I think it's the best cruising cat out there by a country mile!
Your are absolutely right about the value. You would be hard pressed to find a boat with this build quality, displacement, and use of advanced composites in this manner for this price.
Thank you for another very good review. Just a point. You do not discuss the resins used on the boats. Or if the hull is solid GRP or foam. The important point here is the resins. This company owner said his catamaran is all Epoxy. That is important! I think you missed this. Epoxy is state of the art and expensive. Which explains the price. You will never get osmosis in Epoxy. Down from Epoxy comes Vinylester. Much cheaper and not as good. Down from Vinylester comes Polyester which is much cheaper again and far less appropriate for immersion in water from an osmosis perspective. If you have a catamaran that gets osmosis your boat is suddenly worth nothing as no-one will want it. That is why a surveyor will spend so much of his time running all over the hull tapping it with a little hammer. That is how you find osmosis. From what I have read, not too many of these cats are built using Epoxy. Think Gunboat, Chris White and other high end boats. They are truly a class above. It seems like most builders will use what is cheap to get the sales and they don't really care what happens in years to come. Even Seawind do not use Epoxy to my knowledge. This boat is built using Epoxy and that tells you everything about where they are coming from IMHO. And its SOOOO much cheaper than a Gunboat. You don't know how to price this? The money is all in the Epoxy.
This is an underrated comment! Definitely should be one of the first questions asked when stepping onto a boat to do a review I have learned. Comparing an Epoxy hull construction of this boat to a Polyester Hull of an Outremer 51 it’s easy to see why this boat represents a significantly greater value and higher quality product.
I would say with the amount of reviews you’ve done now for the catamaran market at least one manufacturer should just give you a boat, good review by the way
Sadly that is not how the industry works. As a matter of fact they are probably even laughing in their little fists a little bit as our reviewers are doing them, basically, a free service. Why would a manufacturer give them a boat when the review and effect is already done? The "sailing channels" out there that did get a nice deal with a manufacturer actually got it because their channel is popular and through their reach it had value for the company to offer a boat deal through which a nice reach of potential customers was created. Take La Vagabond for example, ZERO reviews, just a cute couple sailing the waters and were lucky enough to have a big enough following for a manufacturer to notice. So unless our Ruby Rose couple here create a different angle, i dont see a boat deal happening anytime soon. Dont get me wrong, i believe that good work deserves good reward so I wish plenty of views and merchandise sales so they can afford their lifestyle.
OohzyJohnDow With great respect... as a marketing guy... you are wrong. The value of seeing a couple (who you love and respect) choose a specific boat... and then watching them using it... is worth the value of 10x boats. I suspect N&T are moving toward an announcement. But good on them for taking us on their journey... and for all of the effort they put into developing so much content (mostly for people who enjoy it for free) they deserve every benefit they get in future. But all the best to you.
I feel interior also should be scored 10 instead of 8 because 52 feet boat with such interior and weighing 12 ton is awesome. Giving best interior keeping weight is in mind is skill. And one more thing to observe even though it’s daggerboard catamaran space utilisation is awesome
It is vicarious living but when we buy our next monohull (can't afford a good cat) we are going to be looking at all this stuff - even though second hand - alot of the good and bad things apply to new and used, single and multi.🍸
Not sure if I said this before; I love your "regular" channel, but I'm super addicted to your boat reviews! Keep them coming! I watch a lot of boat reviews on RU-vid in hopes to one day sail around the world with my family. My main problem (aside from money) is that I have 5 kids! Two teenagers and three kids under 3. My dream catamaran needs to have enough space for all the kiddos, is comfortable and has lots of storage, plus I would really like to have a great performance cruiser. The Balance 526 looks like a pretty cool cat and it definitely has a lot of cool features. I also think that the price is fair. Most cats this size are about a million and half, fully kitted out, but they are usually not performance cruisers. Currently my dream boat is the Sunreef 60e. With a three million price tag on it, there is no way I can afford it, but I mostly love it because it has electric motors and runs off of solar. Do you think the future of catamarans will be a combination of sailing and solar powered motors?
I think I've learned almost as much about cats from these reviews as I've learned about monos by owning one for the past four months. ;) I've started looking at details on my boat now that I just sort of took for granted beforehand. Of course, this has tripled the amount of projects on The List. Thanks so much Nick and Tyresa!! :D To all: Ryan and Sophie Sailing is setting off on their first Atlantic crossing sometime right about now from Cape Verde. Wish 'em luck and anybody in the eastern Caribbean keep an eye out for S/V Polar Seal turning up in a few weeks. *shameless plug, off*
Nice and fast. Probobly in my top 3. Gunboat and outremere 1 and 2. If i am going to buy a cat and pay over a million i want to go 20 knots. These 3 will do that. Gunboats are crazy expensive. I met a gun boat 60 cost 4 million that was dismasted by a draging vessell. The new mast cost 1 million. So 1.6 million here seems a good compromise. Great series guys.
It would be hard for me not to give these guys a 10 overall...i love the fact that they keep the electrical systems more serviceable as I would not want fancy digital systems in the middle of nowhere. I also love the amazing build quality, the fact that you can see the lines and damage to them and the amazing helm... Clearly built by sailors that know the important aspects.
I think there is great value in reviewing these larger boats that are beyond your budget for a few reasons. First, they are in the budget of some people (not me... yet...). Second, when they come from a builder that also makes a smaller boat (Balance 48, Catana 47, etc.) that they don't bring to shows, you can get a sense of a builder's focus, quality, and attention to the little things. And third, eventually they will be on the used market at depreciated values. Hopefully an owner who lays out $1.6M also had a good operating budget to care for the boat during ownership. Thanks again for this.
Supremely good review ha. Fantastic looking boat.. 27' beam wow. Balance also has a 48' cat pending (2021?) at an advertised $980k starting. Renderings look gorgy. Undecided on the all white interiors. Zebra wood ftw though.
Please ignore the criticism of reviewing cats you can't afford. I couldn't afford the smallest of dinghies at the moment but it's good to dream. Love the content of the reviews and the channel in general, and would probably watch even if you were reviewing doorstops from the 1970s if only to hear Nick wittering on whilst Terysa looks on with amused patience'!
I admire your honesty on the price, size and intimidation you would feel trying to sail this boat in all conditions. It looked like it would be easy to keep clean, with its openness and lack of clutter in the way it was finished. I really don't know diddly about sailboats but so far from your reviews if you can afford it the seawind is still my pick.
It's a beautiful and stunningly clever design. Everything looks supremely (drink!) practical and it looks way more spacious than any other performance cruiser anywhere near it's size. I'm also a big fan of the design, people can hark on about pure carbon boats until the cows come home; but the use of an aluminium sprit and epoxy hull save a shedload of money and make the boat a hell of a lot more durable for only a minimal cost to performance. This is definitely a very high end boat but it also strikes me as one constructed with the real world in mind. I think the thought that went into the boat can be summed up by one thing: They built the electrical system as a physical one not an electronic one because they knew it would be nearly impossible to repair an electronic one in the sticks.
Great and fair review. One point I would like to pick up on is how intimidating you find the boat regarding its power. I can understand your concerns coming from a traditional displacement hull, however the advantage of a performance boat is that is that the wind power is dispersed through the acceleration so the boat systems don’t load up so much, unlike a displacement hull. You get used to is pretty quickly and learn to love it. You. Can always power down by reefing.
Completely disagree it's foolhardy for anyone to buy or run a boat they are not comfortable with handling themselves (there are many many examples of people who got boats that they didn't have the experience necessary to run them that ended VERY VERY badly) UNLESS you plan to be running with a professional crew.
As noted in a different response, I am a dreamer at this point as a yacht would be my Lottery purchase item and I would then own my own floating island home. I have researched the different schools to includes making a trip across the Atlantic and back. With the proper training, and a bit of desire, you would say one could get the feel of flying one of these type beauties (Gunboat, HH, etc.) within a reasonable amount of time? Also, I had to go back in my history but this couple explains everything they "upgraded" on their boat above and beyond and why. I keep it saved because it gave me a whole new appreciation of what to look for as far as safety and things to add. Example, a third location (don't recall the term he used) of where to set the main sail. A different way to install a code 0. The list goes on and on. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-_6DdyCDpfs4.html Sorry if I'm not supposed to leave a link.
@@rayred74 Sorry didn't know you were so sensitive but next time maybe I would refrain from commenting because this is a open forum where people are free to comment and reply to others freely.
I really look forward to these reviews where you make me realize how poor I really am :) . This was a very nice vessel wasn't it. I loved that modular helm position. Oh, and I think you should talk all you want to, after all "We men wear the trousers in our castles.... whenever our significant others let us anyway". CHEERS!
She's lovely and has many noteworthy features but I think the Seawind 1600 & Outremer 51 are on the top of my list still. interesting to see if these three fill out the top 3 of the review at its completion. Another great review, thank you both.
I would say compared to the Seawind, Gunboat, Outremer, Tag or H&H this boat is a little slower but it is faster than any keel hulled boat. I would give this boat overall a 7 out of 10 because it is faster And more of a home than a racer. Thank you for your time and effort.
Great video! No need to bang on about cost as far as I'm concerned - if you can't afford it don't buy it, but you can still review it. Good design and detailing is desirable on any size of boat and it's useful to compare these at all price points. So add a roller boom and self tacker and you have easy 2 handed sailing, no problem. You'd be use to after a week let alone 6 months and just think of the ear to ear grin you'd have! Personally, I think the interior is too stark and that helm could easily be a fully weathered single position... just my preference and the saving on instrument duplication (?). I really look forward to these reviews, well done.
Nice boat the reason I'm commenting is because I'm a cabinet maker and that zebra wood looks like a man made product I have used and have had problems with it. The colour washed out of it when it was in the sun even with a uv blocking finish. Find a cabinet that gets lots of sun and check the back side of the cabinet door as it is in the shade 99.9% of the time and will hold the colour. Doesn't happen overnight but it would really suck if in a couple years the colour is washed out
Compared to the Seawind 1600 this boat costs about $440, 000 more. I appreciate it has carbon mast and boom, and is lighter by around a tonne and a half, but in my book the 1600 is a much better deal
As for the versa helm, when speaking about innovation, we can find trends and the timeless. I have seen most if not all of your catamaran reviews, and have heard your comments about helm placement, which were well considered concerns. It seems the versa helm solves all of those issues. If other boat builders begin using this technology, they would also need to have windows surround the saloon as well. Perhaps some of the production cats will avoid versa helms to keep costs down. On the other hand, if this technology is patented, this workable helm solution may miss its day as becoming standard cat equipment. The versa helm is so problem solving that I think it could one day become the norm.
Having watched all (I think) of your videos judging these cats & having seen you HAMMER all those "comfort (space) over performance" cats I think you undervalued how important YOU value performance. You can have two; speed, space or affordability. You shouldn't punish (with a 4-6) all three. Love this series but accept your preferences.
I know I'm late to the game but I have to say...Nicks comment about commenters who nit pick and criticise need to spend more of their time off the internet and learning how to be more socially attractive is priceless. I couldnt agree more.
Just gorgeous - looking at the exterior picture, the helm, the aircraft glass and the well appointed quality of the equipment. Perfect for a cruising couple! Definitely for the wealthy, irrespective of illgotten gains or earned by normal business practices. Lovely to see your review. And now solos know where to go and be with their mate. My 11 out of 10 is the drinking water filter system. "Well done Balance" I love the racing sailor perspective because it shows its made by a master. Dedicated to privacy. Strongly favorable. Designed for simple mechanical fixes with sophisticated engineering.
@@sailingrubyrose cannot interpret that definitively. And I know I exceeded the limit but for performance athletes and boats, and horses, hydration Rules the day. It takes years to find the best water that agrees with keeping a body hydrated. It's just not that simple. Love the attention to that detail for handling all the other magnificent activities aboard this performance cruiser. Have fun on a test run, at the very least! A very good Tao for sure.
Congrats. Maybe your best review sofar. Even experienced sailors - despite your downplaying you will count to those with your several 10ks of mileage and passages - will reef down in particular SV like Outremers and 526 when they want to sail more comfortably than wild. One question concerning the versa helm. Did you get a feel on how ergonomically and comfortably one can handle the winches and lines in the cockpit, looks a bit congested?
about the comments ppl do, the answer would be even easier than what you´ve done: "i do what i want", "its my channel, my content", "ffff off". i wouldnt be very popular for those ppl but maybe i would be for the other kind. who knows! hahahah back to the future, ie, the boat. im sure you would adapt to it in due time, after all you are not beginning (yes, you own a mono), so dont sell yourself short there. that price, hurts, really hurts, but hey get a deal from these guys saying that you will go Seawind if they say no! i say this because i share the same philosophy when it comes to sailing: get there safe and fast. this boats ticks those 2 boxes, whilst having the fastest 2 person shower ever!. as always, great review, thanks for your dedication.
Who is to say where people are financially . I’m getting just as good advice if you can afford the boat or not. Thank you for opening my world into Catamarans.😁👍🌴
How does the Balance compare to the Seawind 1600 in both price and quality? Also in my opinion the advantages of a performance catamaran aren’t the top end speeds but the ability to be able to sail in light winds while others are motoring. Also when the winds do pick up a deeply reefed performance cat will still probably out sail a more standard charter cat and will have way less loads on the boat as well as the crew.
Having owned 2 Seawind’s and with that price difference there’s no doubt I would buy the Seawind. Nothing against Balance, beautiful boats but to me not worth any where near the price difference.
I enjoy your work even though I no longer sail. The biggest kick I get is that when you open the video(s) Nick wistfully wants a boat that will go fast but knows that it is better to buy a slower boat with more space, etc. It is like a couple needing a SUV and the dad wants the Porsche Cayenne while knowing full well that the Chevy Tahoe is really the one to buy.
Your comments on the UV exposure of running rigging; The chart for Dyneema and the associated 7 years of lifespan is true for the core of those lines, but the covers are polyester (they look like Samson Warpspeed 2 or MLX). Polyester covers take the majority of the UV exposure, chafe, dirt, etc and generally speaking can last longer than 7 years if well cared for. I believe your assessment of the working lines on your boat lasting 5 years is very accurate however it could be a bit conservative. Your boat is a full time cruiser and definitely sees a lot more use, exposure, and miles than the average cruiser or pleasure sailer, so I actually applaud you for retiring your lines after 5 years (better safe than sorry). I only point out the data about dyneema cores because, realistically, after 7 years the covers may be shot but the core has been protected and relatively unharmed by UV. The strength of the Dyneema core is likely not compromised and its totally possible, if you are willing to put in the work, to re-cover the cores with a new cover. That is certainly a lot of labor and I believe most people would simply opt to just replace the lines wholesale, but food for thought.
A good point mate regarding the outer cover. As someone who spent about 2 hours covering a chaffed line mid Atlantic with a set of fids and some Woven Kevlar line covers, I can attest that I would rather boil my bits in syrup than replace all the covers.
Interesting review, I’ve been looking forward to this. Regarding the people who criticise you for reviewing boats you can’t afford. I guarantee you are a lot closer to affording any of these boats than they are. Keep the videos coming, they are great. 👍🏼.
Maybe someone could help me here when it comes to wanting smaller. I am just a dreamer at this point but, larger makes more sense from so many perspectives. With cameras, bow thrusters, "almost" automated sails, and technology in general, larger makes more sense if this is a home versus your temporary apartment. I mean seriously, is a VW bug easier to park than a dually? Yes it is but, plenty of people swear by their dually. Hell, there are those that can manage a dually with two trailers attached so it isn't a matter of size, just practice and using it. Another issue would be are you anchoring in the bay most of the time versus using a dock. I always here the dingy is your car to get to the shore so just stay away from the dock locations. So, I would appreciate if people could explain why, if funds are available, you wouldn't keep it closer to under the over 24 meter limit that requires keeping a full time crew in certain locations. Insights here would be appreciated as I've seen some nice used older units that are large and could be retrofitted.
@@finfanfifteen9659 It's not just about initial purchase price. Here are a few things to consider. As a boat gets bigger the cost to replace blocks and tackles, sails, mechanicals...everything... goes up and in some cases, it goes up exponentially. Larger engines mean more fuel burn and costlier maintenance when you do use the engine. But, probably the most important thing is docking. Large boats also cost more at marinas and this being a cat, finding a marina that can fit the boat will start to be a problem at this size and up. So, even if you aren't worried about cost, you still need to consider your limited choices of marinas. This also applies to hauling out. If something breaks in the South Pacific and you need to haul it out, you better hope the island you're at can handle a boat this size. Additionally, as boats get bigger and bigger, they become more and more difficult to single and double hand. This is a personal competency thing, but at what point do you start really needing a crew member to help you sail it? Are you comfortable having some stranger on the boat for months at a time interfering with you and your loved one's private time? Bigger boats surely do have much to offer, but they also require compromises in other areas.
@@operator0 So where is the sweet spot? I've seen reviews for around the 60' mark still talking single handed. This does seem like a nice size. Concerning people or even a stranger on board, this would be my floating island and I like my alone time. I would only want the Owner's suite and possibly two addition double berths. The 4th would be a gym and utility area.
@@finfanfifteen9659 The sweet spot is really up to you. Personally, I would not want a boat I wouldn't feel comfortable single handing while running from a tropical storm, or sailing in a gale. Keep in mind that monohulls are easier to single hand and feel comfortable in inclimate weather than cats. You can get some rather large monohulls where you never even have to leave the cockpit for any sail changes what-so-ever. That combined with the fact that monohulls are more forgiving in rough weather has led me to consider a large monohull for my next boat purchase. We'll see how I feel about the general comfort disparity between the cat and monohull in a year or two and if the trade-off is worth it. Disclaimer: I do own and sail a small monohull on a lake, but do not have much of any ocean sailing experience.
Thing is with your reviews, they also give me ideas about what to look for in general on boats of all sorts, Cheaper, monohulls and used. Also, most of the people reviewing boats in the media could not afford some of the vessels at the higher price points they look at. I would have liked to see some handholds for getting up to that master bed and rounded corners in the saloon. Taking a tumble and striking yourself on a corner could do serious damage or even kill. Keep doing all those things you do, love your channel content.
Sailing Yacht Ruby Rose I watched some raw video from La Vagabonde and their trip over the last couple of weeks. One scene shows just how rough the helm station on their Outremer really is in rough weather.
A real looking to the future feel to this boat, in contrast to many of the others you have reviewed. I like that a lot. Definitely worth a review regardless of the price point.
Just to let you know I like watching your reviews and yes there is no way I could even see owning a larger than 45 foot CAT, I have found that the older 41 foot Lagoon is a perfect couples CAT and have sailed on a 38 foot Lagoon CAT and feel comfortable, but with anything of this production boat size you are going to find yourself doing modifications to the interior to make it comfortable for your full time living.
YAY!!!!! FINALLY THE BALANCE!!!!!!! I KNEW YOU'D LOVE IT!!!!!! ok, ok, ok...I'll try to contain myself....IT'S MY FAVORITE CAT IN THE WORLD!!!!!!!! damn, lost it again... lol. Seriously, the value IS better than a 5, yet I understand not having $1.6mil.... it is however, very customizable....built to suit YOUR needs & perhaps budget!!!??? but compare to HH or Gunboat..[both approx. $2.5mil]..really??? YOU NEED performance, btw...it can be a life saver out running a storm!!! The two of you could easily handle the Balance imo.... Phil wouldn't let anyone buy too much boat ...he is the best builder by far ...designed by sailors & surfers!!!! He would give you all the necessary training you would need or want before you went off on your own!!! STOP saying you can't afford it.... just keep dreaming you two!!!! Don't settle for less boat, you two deserve the BEST!!!!! Where there's a will there's a way!!!! Sponsors/income changes/when you're ready to buy things can be totally different than they are today!!!! Watching you walk through the hulls was amazing...it looked like you were on a tug boat, instead of a perfectly designed , high performance CAT!!!!! Consult the Wynns & other cat sailors....I'd bet they would spend more $$$ for more Cat[quality/performance/comfort] in hindsight!!! You TWO CAN SAIL A BALANCE!!!!!!! It's wind , water & sails....c'mon..... seriously I'm surprised at your concerns...could you drive a Lamborghini? A Porsche? I knew you could......lol After all that....I'll still love you if you go with the Seawind ;~) YOLO!!!!! None of us are guaranteed tomorrow, get busy living or get busy dying!!!!
I was very excited to hear your review of this boat. Thanks. I'd be interested in hearing why you'd find this boat 'intimidating' but the Outremer 51 which is only slightly smaller, and slightly less performance focused, didn't get that reaction from you. Even the cost of the Outremer X5 isn't dramatically different (which is to say if you can afford one you can probably afford the other).
@@sailingrubyrose To my eyes, that's the comparison point. As an example, an HH55 - a true carbon 'race boat' that is designed to fly a hull at 24 knots, is twice the price of a Balance 526. THAT is more boat than any live aboard ever needs, and it's 1.5M more money to boot. You've talked to Phil so you know that isn't what Balance is trying to accomplish. I got the impression from him that he's shooting for a better, slightly faster Outremer.
Tony & Susan here, We are sure that some day "post Brexit" you two will purchase a cat. We can see the two of you in this boat reviewing segments permanently or at least for many years to come. You have created a superb and well organized production. "Well Done" Ha Ha
@@sailingrubyrose Yes I agree, I think you do a much better job than the so called professional reviewers. Informative, balanced reviews, always an interesting watch, even if it is sometimes just kicking the tires (so to speak) of a high performance yacht (don't your critics realize the entire automotive journalism industry is pretty much based on reviews of cars 99% of people can't afford?)
Personally I feel that a sailing couple needs to have a boat that can be easily single handed and 40’ is my personal comfort max. Yes some large sail boats can be singled but the oops factor is always looming..add in the age factor of the couple and mid passage illness or injury could be a bad thing. This setup is wonderful and 38-40 with a little smaller sail plan and just a little more displacement to length ratio...well this could tick all my boxes. Beautiful cat! Ps...you two are wonderful...and have a great channel!
Regarding the interior stark whiteness (aesthetics), if the mfg offered the option of a tint to the carbon fiber walls, a much warmer, homier affect could be achieved, assuming such is possible.
Lovely design features. The helm variability is unique and really practical. Visually, absolutely sterile, so agree with you about it‘s lack of comfort looking features and if being used by a family, lack of homeliness. The price, with so much carbon, is very fair 👍
Balance 526 has many good qualities: performance, build quality, styling. If it would cost double to build in Europe, then I'd say the value is high. In terms of style, it's like a luxurious racing boat. Not quite the same as a Gunboat but definitely in the same conceptual area. Both balance performance with luxury, though Gunboat is even higher performance and vastly higher priced. The thwartships berths balance luxury with performance. They give a good view with reasonable space while not compromising performance. Being racing influenced, yes, it has a lot of power for it's weight, and yes, it would be wise to have experience with how to handle that power safely. But surely it is possible to learn that. And it's also possible to use less than maximum sail area and go a bit slower while learning how to safely sail the more powerful configurations. The daggerboards are a performance feature that improve performance, and they are unobtrusive yet well integrated. There are new monohulls that have swinging helms. I prefer clean, modern and minimalist styling.
Thanks for another great review! I really look forward to hearing your honest thoughts about these boats. My husband and I will be part of the 95% in a few years and we appreciate your unbiased take and opinions. Keep talkin Nick! ⛵️
@@sailingrubyrose And thank you for that. Even if Nick's comments at 28:20 were totally out of line from a marketing point of view, considering his audience 😀. First time I hear it, but that was bad for your brand image / business, imho.
