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The Passion Behind Balance Catamarans’ Growth

Bianca — Thu, 12 Jun 2025 11:09:25 +0000

When people say it takes passion to build something real, people roll their eyes because they have heard that before. Passion is the secret ingredient, the pitches on everything from microwave popcorn to cell phone apps scream!

But, what if the word passion is only part of the story? What if passion means lots of people working side by side to build something great?

What if the word passion is understood to mean that action by which creativity slams into hard work?

What if passion is the only word to explain the alchemy of science and design mixing together to create something that is not only beautiful, but fast on the sea, that provides a home and an adventure every single day?

Could it be that the word passion is the balance between so many other things that bring an idea to life? That’s what Phil Berman, founder of Balance Catamarans thinks as he reflects on what it means to welcome so many new voyagers to the community every year since he founded the company in 2013.

Berman spent some time thinking about all this recently while sitting on the Commissioning Dock for Balance Catamarans in Cape Town, South Africa, where the Balance 464, 502 and 750 are all made by teams of talented people. The Balance 526 and 580 are made in South Africa as well but a bit further south in St. Francis Bay where the first Balance Catamaras were launched so many years ago.

Berman says that with every visit to South Africa, he is in awe of what has been accomplished in the decade plus of building catamarans. Recently updated figures reveal that 77 Balance Catamarans are now gracing the waters, with even more innovative vessels consistently being launched. On platforms like AIS and PredictWind, our boats are visible as they dynamically sail across the globe. Proudly, by the close of this year, our fleet is anticipated to grow to 100,

While it is easy to spin a story of passion and use the numbers to prove the case, Berman points his evidence in another direction – the incredible individuals who dedicate each day to constructing these magnificent boats. Their dedication, love, brilliance, and craftsmanship breathe life into each vessel daily. That’s what passion is: all these skills, talents, innovations and people blended together to create something amazing.

Impacting Livelihoods Beyond the Waters

Balance Catamarans isn’t just a name; it’s a life, a career, a passion for hundreds of tradesmen and women in South Africa. Each individual associated with Balance’s production plays a pivotal role in its narrative and growth. Recently, we celebrated community and teamwork by participating in the Cape Town Cycle Tour – the world’s largest with over 30,000 participants making this grinding endeavor so amazing. Balance hosted a team of 22 participants. Everyone finished!

A Heartfelt Gratitude

Purchasing a Balance Catamaran extends beyond mere ownership; it’s an investment in the lives of numerous dedicated artisans in South Africa. Each purchase creates avenues for sustainable livelihoods, fostering growth and stability within our community. Hence, a heartfelt acknowledgement goes out to all our patrons for their invaluable contribution and to every diligent soul at Balance Catamarans striving daily for excellence.

In conclusion, to those who choose Balance Catamarans, thank you for being part of this incredible journey, and to our magnificent team, your dedication crafts our legacy.

Balance Catamarans continues to sail towards new horizons, powered by passion – yes, that word again – hard work, and an unwavering commitment to excellence.

Time to Sail Away

July 3, 2025 No Comments

The world has grown noisy. But the rhythm of sailing, the sound of water, the wind on our face offers peace, calm, focus, strength, confidence

Balance 540: Making History – Again!

June 29, 2025 No Comments

We made marine history when we launched the first Balance 526 in 2013, creating a brand-new category in the sailing industry – performance luxury catamarans.

CAPE TO CANET – A Transatlantic Voyage Aboard Balance 580 Swann

June 27, 2025 No Comments

From Cape Town to Canet-en-Roussillon, 7,353 Nautical Miles in 36 Days The Balance 580 “Swann” has completed her maiden voyage — an unforgettable 36-day journey

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Werner van Wyk Leads Warranty, Maintenance Center for Balance

Bianca — Wed, 10 Jul 2024 07:52:21 +0000

We are thrilled to announce the appointment of Werner van Wyk as the new head of our Warranty and Maintenance Center overseeing both the Caribbean and the East Coast of the USA.

Werner’s journey with Balance Catamarans began in 2012, when he joined the Balance Cape Town operation at the age of 19. His dedication and passion for the craft soon saw him progressing from factory work to becoming a mate on a custom 75 ft power catamaran.

Demonstrating exceptional skill and leadership, Werner eventually took on the role of captain, managing the vessel alongside his partner Angie, who later became his wife. The couple then expanded their horizons to the Seychelles, where they successfully ran and maintained a charter vessel fleet for several years.

Werner van Wyk, Warranty and Maintenance, Caribbean and the East Coast of the USA

Following the birth of their children, Werner and Angie decided to return to South Africa. Werner rejoined Balance Catamarans, contributing his expertise to final vessel fit-out, launch, sea trials, and handover, as well as service and maintenance of various larger custom vessels. Later he was named Head of Commissioning.

Now based permanently in Grenada, Werner will be overseeing off-site warranty and maintenance for Balance where his family will soon join him.

“Werner’s extensive experience and deep-rooted connection with Balance Catamarans ensures that our clients will receive the highest standard of service and support,” added Balance Catamarans Cape Town GM Mark Delany. “We are confident that under his leadership, we will continue to grow and uphold our commitment to excellence.”

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Expanding in South Africa – Welcome Dean Paarman

Bianca — Thu, 29 Feb 2024 10:51:09 +0000

Balance Catamarans, a leading brand in the global catamaran industry, is making strategic moves to fortify its staffing in South Africa. The company announced the expansion of its marketing team, a crucial step towards amplifying its impact both on the South African boat building industry and globally.

Leading this expansion is Dean Paarman, a seasoned professional with a wealth of experience in video production, brand development and tourism. Having recently returned to South Africa from Lisbon, Portugal, Paarman is charged with leveraging that diverse skill set to drive the growth of the Balance community.

“The addition of Dean to our team marks an exciting chapter for Balance Catamarans. His expertise aligns seamlessly with our commitment to innovation and community building,” says Phil Berman, Founder and President of Balance Catamarans, based in the United States.

Balance Catamarans is renowned for its dedication to transparency and authenticity in the industry. In line with this commitment, the company is set to unveil an enriched content strategy. This includes continuing the “how we build this” series, offering enthusiasts an exclusive look into the craftsmanship behind these exceptional catamarans.

Balance will also continue to shine a spotlight on the key figures behind its designs and builds, providing a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the talent and expertise that contribute to the company’s success. This unique initiative in the marine industry aims not only to showcase the craftsmanship but also to foster a deeper connection with the ever-expanding Balance community.

With new and exciting projects on the horizon, Balance Catamarans is set to expand its production in South African and drive sales globally with an increased focus on European sailing markets. Stay tuned for more updates as Balance Catamarans continues to build not just remarkable catamarans but a vibrant and engaged community.“We worked with Dean some years ago on some other Balance video projects and we loved that experience,” added Berman. “Since then Dean has spent the past five years working in Multimedia projects in Europe. This was key to our global aspirations – a wealth of international experience. We are thrilled we were able to lure him back to South Africa.”

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Learnership Program Expands in St. Francis

Bianca — Thu, 23 Feb 2023 10:29:36 +0000

We are committed to community outreach at Balance Catamarans and support various programs both in South Africa and in the United States. Our partners in St. Francis, for instance, run an incredible program that is part outreach, part smart business, called the Learnership Program. We have written about it before but thought you might like an update.

The program is in its third year and has been a great success with 90 percent of the students staying on as permanent employees. The remaining have all gone on to further their educations so any way you look at it, this one is a winner.

The program starts its fifth session next month. The program started in 2019 with just 8 students and today has 19 students recruited from the area. The class focuses on a variety of life skills as well as team building, communications skills, and basic technical understanding of the types of work and commitment needed for a career in the marine industry.

Upon graduation, the students are given a certificate that they can use to gain employment with others in the industry as well. Happily, most opt to apply for positions with Balance and are enthusiastically hired.

Next up for this program is a specialized classroom that will be added to the new factory recently set up for the Balance 580. This will allow for a central gathering place for the students and a Birdseye view of great catamarans being built.

Learnership Program 2022

Learnership Program 2021

Learnership Program 2020

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Staff Profile – Andrew Butler, aka “Chippy”

Greg — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 01:17:15 +0000

Andrew is a real Balance Legend, having joined the team at Balance Catamarans in St Francis when we first started building the Balance 526 in 2014. As his nickname suggests, Andrew runs the Carpentry Department at Balance in St Francis.

Andrew’s background is nothing short of impressive: sailing and multihulls are in his blood – he grew up sailing with his family on his dad’s various trimarans, and they in fact lived on a trimaran for a year. As an adult, he has made a valuable contribution to sailing in South Africa – amongst other things, he has held the position of Commodore of Redhouse Yacht Club and brought the RS Tera into South Africa and founded the Tera class in the country.

Andrew always had a passion for woodwork, and after school he studied carpentry and furniture making through the Furniture Industry Training Board. He spent 20 years working for big furniture factories in South Africa, before founding his own carpentry and shop fitting business and fitting out over 80 kitchens and high-end offices. He also did some work on fishing vessel interiors before getting a call to join the team in St Francis. The rest is great Balance history.

Andrew is known for the incredible quality of his work and dedication to what he does. He turns a semi-custom Balance 526 interior around with his team in eight weeks, and his work is perfection.

Combining his love for carpentry and sailing and boats means Andrew is constantly in his happy place.

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Staff Profile – Margaret Hannie, aka “Margie”

Greg — Tue, 13 Sep 2022 01:16:52 +0000

Margaret Hannie, or “Margie”, as she is known to her co-workers, is the Laminating Manager at
Balance Catamarans in Cape Town.

Margie is 66 years old this year and has worked with Managing Director Mark Delany for 25 years, since 1997. Margie was supposed to retire last year but she is loved and needed so she opted to stay on a bit longer and we can’t tell you how much this means to all of us at Balance as she is a consummate pro.

Margie was actually trained as a schoolteacher, but fiberglass called her name! She started by first building fiberglass boxes and then small watercraft for Stan Rob Marine and did that for 12 years before joining Mark and later heading up lamination operations for Balance. Over the course of her career, Margie has managed the lamination of hundreds of catamarans up to 110 foot and will tell you flat out that she loves every moment of her job. She supervises a very large team of both men and women whose respect for her is clear and unambiguous. She knows here stuff.

“Every day, I learn something new”, Margie says with a smile.
Yup, now you see why she is so special.

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