Multihull impresario Phil Berman has probably sold more cruising catamarans than any other American and has, along the way, figured out that what modern cat cruisers want is balance. They want the space and comforts a of cruising cat while also preferring to sail a boat that has a spirited turn of speed.
Out of this understanding came the seeds for Balance Catamarans. Designed by Berman and his co-designer Anton de Toit and built by the Paarman brothers in St. Francis Bay, South Africa, the new 580 fits in the Balance line between the 540 and 750 and has all the DNA that has made Balance so successful.
When Berman launched Balance, he made the determination that his new designs would be excellent sailing yachts so he embraced dagger boards, sleek hull forms and powerful multi-headsail rigs. Yet, the boats were to be comfortable at sea which means they couldn’t be too light nor should they ever fly a hull.
Berman also determined that construction would be modern but not engineered to the edges of the enveloped. While he will build you and all-carbon and epoxy hull and deck, he advises against it since carbon hulls are noisy in a seaway and extremely costly to repair following an encounter with a dock or another boat.
The 580 has the Balance trademark reversed bows and the low-slung cabin top that fits very sweetly on the hulls. The cockpit hard top and the cabin top provide enough acreage for a huge solar array. The cockpit is spacious and the raised helm is easily accessible from both the side deck and the cockpit.
Balance has been building their boat with their trade-marked Veri-Helms for many years. This innovation means the actual helm can pivot so you can steer either from the raised helm seat or while standing in the cockpit well protected from the weather.
The roomy saloon has the galley along the port side, the inside helm and chart table forward and the dinette to port. Two huge folding doors partition the saloon from the cockpit and when retracted create an enormous social space.
The 580 can come with three accommodation options of three, four and five cabins. The three-cabin version offers by far the most storage and will appeal to families that will be voyaging and living aboard in remote cruising areas for long periods.
The four-cabin version will appeal to larger crews and perhaps those who want to charter. The five-cabin option is really the four cabin layout with a small single berth tucked into the starboard bow.
We have not had a chance to sail the new 580. But, the gang at Sailing Today magazine has been out for a sea trial and came away mightily impressed.
Read more here.
