502 Carbon Core & 502 VersaDrive Carbon Core
Our trend-setting carbon fiber speedster with available Hybrid Drive ticks off big nautical miles carrying significant cruising payloads yet remains small enough to easily maintain and operate short-handed. All new model launching July 2025!
Overview
Overall Length
15.25 m
50.03 ft
Beam Overall
7.9 m
25.92 ft
Sail Area
143.5 m2
1,544 ft2
Designers
Philip Berman
Draft (Boards Up)
1.16m
3.81ft
Displacement (Equipped Launch Weight)
12,800-14,000 kg
28,219-30,864 lbs
Anton du Toit
Performance
With her heavily carbon fiber reinforced foam core hulls, carbon fiber substructure and powerful 1,544 square foot sail plan the Balance 502 cc is a fast and able voyager. Upwind she points high, with little leeway, in the 8 to 9 knot range with her high aspect ratio carbon fiber daggerboards. Reaching she enjoys speeds up to 18 knots. Dropping down a swell she’ll surge into the 20’s, steering like a surfboard with her high performance carbon fiber spade rudders.
* Polars are known as Velocity Performance Predictions (VPP’s). Balance polars are calculated using advanced computer modeling from the Wolfson Unit at the University of South Hampton. The polars shown here are produced using the average launch weight displacement of a cruise equipped Balance 502. We do not run polars at lightships displacements because they are a poor predictor of catamaran performance in real world conditions. Our polars do assume a flat sea state, properly trimmed sails and a clean bottom. Polars of any kind, however, do not guarantee specific performance. Vessel performance in real world conditions vary due to sea state, hull condition, payloads, and the skill of the helmsman. To learn more about VPP’s and catamaran performance, click below to view our eight part Catamaran Conversations video series.
Construction
CC – Carbon Core Performance Hull
The entire interior core structure of the 502 cc is crafted in carbon fiber – her cabin soles, partition panels, primary beams, bulkheads, daggerboards and trunks, as well as her rudders are full carbon construction. We wrap her carbon substructure with vacuum-bagged closed cell foam cores and e-glass in 100% vinylester resin, producing a lighter, stiffer yet quieter and more sea-kindly performance catamaran when sailing at high speeds.
Propulsion
502 cc Integrel VersaDrive Hybrid
In the VersaDrive model fossil fuel consumption of the 502 cc will be reduced by as much as 25%, while her large 36kw, 48 volt lithium battery bank is charged at the incredible speed of up to 15 Kw per engine. Add on up to 3,000 watts of air-cooled glass solar panels and the 502 cc VersaDrive is a peerless, state-of-the-art eco adventure catamaran.
502 cc Integrel E-Power
We were an early adopter and partner of Integrel’s E-Power 48-volt alternators because we are committed to green, efficient, and safe catamarans. These alternators do away with the need for a third diesel engine, allow us to create safer, propane free catamarans, and produce “free” electrical charges to our batteries whenever our engines are operating. They burn less fuel, reduce maintenance, and decrease weight.
Learn More About The NEW 502 cc
Design Your Balance or Pick from one of the Curated Designs below
Professionally Curated Design Themes by OLC Philadelphia
Layouts
Full Specs
Overall Length
15.25 m / 50.03 ft
Waterline Length
15.25 m / 50.03 ft
Beam Overall
7.9 m / 25.92 ft
Main Sail
95.63 m2 / 1,029.4 ft2
Working Self-Tracking Jib
39.31 m2 / 423 ft2
Sail Area (100% Foretriangle)
143.5 m2 / 1,544 ft2
Asymmetric Spinnaker
217.9 m2 / 2,345 ft2
Draft (Boards Down)
2.27 m / 7.46 ft
Draft (Boards Up)
1.16 m / 3.81 ft2
Air Draft / Mast Clearance
22.4 m / 73.49 ft2
DISP (Cruise Equipped Launch Weight)
From 12,800-14,000 kg / 28,219-30,864 lbs
Max Load Displacement
18,850 kg / 41,550 lbs
Underwing Clearance
From 932 mm/ 36.7 inches to 827 mm/ 32.6 inches
Screacher/Reacher
CODE D – 89.55 m2 / 963.37 ft2
Engine
YANMAR 4JH45 x SD60
2 x 34kW 2 x 45 HP
VersaDrive
2 x 15kW 2 x 20HP Integrel E-Drive
2 x 34kW 2 x 45 HP Yanmar Diesels
Fuel Capacity
2 x 400 ltrs / 2 x 106 gals
Fresh Water Capacity
2 x 390 ltrs / 2 x 103 gals
Black Water Capacity
2 x 61 ltrs / 2 x 16 gals
Balance Designs New Models
Balance is releasing two dynamic new models launching in 2025 and 2026 – available with either standard diesel engines or with the new VersaDrive diesel/electric...
Reviews
“On the water, Balance Catamarans achieve the elusive combination of excellent performance in a broad range of wind and sea conditions, on most points of sail, with good payload-carrying ability.”
Seahorse Magazine
“Truly impressive…With the scaled-down 442, Balance fills out the family offering with dimensions and a price point that make their designs more accessible to a broader swath of the cruising market. The result is a performance catamaran that’s perfectly positioned to appeal to an experienced sailing couple looking for quality, livability, speed, and savvy systems, all in a true 44-foot package that is a kick to sail.”
Sail, February 6, 2023
“The choice of materials is qualitative (the foam core and wood veneer for furniture), as well as the overall finish, in a word: impeccable.”
Voile Magazine
“I think the Balance 526 represents an important moment in the history of multihull design and evolution…there was something missing in the marketplace that Phil recognized: a high-performance voyaging cat that an experienced couple could take anywhere…finally, we have that a couple can really sail well.”
Tim Murphy, Judge, Cruising World Boat of the Year 2017
“Pretty as she is, every aspect of her design seems to have been refracted through a simplicity prism. Access for repairs is exceptional. The movement from helm to side decks and from side decks to foredecks is a breeze. The wiring and systems installations all reflect a commitment to functional excellence.”
Multihulls World
“Several Balance 526 owners have reported 24-hour periods covering 260 miles or more. This is one very, very fast catamaran, laden or empty.”
Multihulls World