- Beam: 28' 3''
- Hull Material: Composite
- Max Draft: 11' 0''
- Displacement: 36,000 lb
- Fuel Tank: 2 x 132|gallon
- Fresh Water: 2 x 79|gallon
- Max Passengers: 12
- Cabins: 5
- Heads: 4
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Balance Catamarans doesn’t just set the gold standard for performance cruising — we invented the category. Since launching the first Balance 526 in 2013 and winning Cruising World’s prestigious Import Boat of the Year in 2017, we have earned more major awards, independent reviews, and jury recognitions than any other catamaran brand in the past decade. Sailing World. Cruising World. SAIL Magazine. The British Yachting Awards. The verdict is unanimous: no one builds a performance blue-water catamaran like Balance. And now the Balance 580 has just won Boat of the Year from SAIL Magazine in 2026.
The Balance 580 shown here is our ultimate voyager — the pinnacle of everything we have learned across a decade of building the world’s finest performance cruising catamarans. She is not an evolution. She is a statement. Designed for sailors with speed in their hearts but luxury on their minds, the 580 is ready to take you anywhere on earth — without hesitation, without compromise, and without a professional crew if you wish. Slots are filling fast. Nine hulls were spoken for before the first one even hit the water. If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to own a Balance, this is it.
The Balance 580 is the highest expression of performance catamaran design — engineered for owner-operators who demand true offshore capability alongside genuine luxury living. With long, lean hulls, high underwing clearance, and carbon reinforcement throughout, she is the lightest catamaran in her class. Every 580 is hand-laminated and vacuum-bagged with closed-cell foam cores in full 100% epoxy construction. For owners who want the ultimate, the 580 XP takes it further still with full carbon construction throughout. As one owner put it: “Having owned and maintained more than a dozen yachts — including a Hinckley, Oyster, J-boats, Swan, and Nautitech — Balance is by far and away the best boat I have ever owned and sailed.”
Every detail of the 580 has been rethought at scale. Our signature VersaHelm® — the 90-degree pivoting helm station we pioneered and that no other builder has matched — delivers total four-corner visibility whether you’re sailing in sunshine or driving through a squall. Wide glass doors fully retract to create a seamless transition between cockpit and saloon, and a built-in drop-down bow thruster makes tight-quarter maneuvering effortless for a couple sailing alone. A cutter rig with three furling headsails, line-management solutions at the helm, and electric furlers mean the 580 can be handled comfortably shorthanded in any conditions. As owners consistently tell us: “She’s powerful yet easily handled solo and extraordinarily fast, while still sea kindly.”
On the water, the 580 is in a class of her own. A powerful 210 m² (2,255 sq ft) sail plan enables her to ghost along in as little as five knots of wind — conditions where most cruising yachts are burning diesel. Upwind, she points high with little leeway, sailing comfortably at 9 to 12 knots with her high-aspect daggerboards doing the work. Reaching in true winds between 8 and 16 knots, she holds windspeed or better with ease. Put her in stiff winds and surf, and she accelerates reliably into the twenties. One owner reported 17.4 knots of boatspeed in just 15.3 knots of true breeze en route to the Caribbean.
Sustainability meets capability with the optional VersaDrive Diesel/Electric Hybrid — reducing fossil fuel consumption by as much as 25% while charging the 51 kW 48V lithium battery bank at up to 15 kW per engine. Up to 3,400 W of flush-mounted solar is integrated directly into the coach roof, and high-output 48-volt charging keeps all systems running silently at anchor. The 580 is one of the most advanced off-the-grid eco-cruising platforms available today. Stay out longer. Spend less on fuel. Sail cleaner.
Below decks, the 580’s interior is pure luxury at a scale unmatched by any other performance catamaran. Wide glass doors open the saloon fully to the cockpit, creating indoor-outdoor living suited to both passagemaking and life at anchor. The fit-out features foam-cored cabinetry faced with real wood veneer — the warmth of traditional joinery without the weight — plus an island galley layout, flush thresholds, and real glass windows throughout for a clarity of view that acrylic simply cannot deliver. Multiple layout configurations are available, including three-, four-, and five-cabin versions, making the 580 equally suited for private ownership, liveaboard couples hosting guests, or luxury crewed charter. Spacious cabins, hand-crafted weight-saving joinery, and abundant storage allow voyagers to provision for true extended independence. This is not a production boat.
This is your home — custom-built to your vision, hand-crafted in South Africa by a team of nearly 1,000 dedicated craftsmen who take enormous pride in every hull they deliver. “In the rapidly expanding world of large performance cruising catamarans, the new Balance 580 is a stand-out design,” says founder and co-designer Phil Berman — “responsive, fast, and enormously fun to sail, but also with the deck space and internal volumes to truly offer luxury living, without the need to sail with a professional crew.” The Balance 580 is ready to take you anywhere the wind blows — faster, smarter, and in greater comfort than anything else on the water.
Explore the full model range, watch our build videos, and join the Balance community at balancecatamarans.com. Follow us on Instagram and YouTube @balancecatamarans — and when you’re ready to talk about making one of these extraordinary yachts yours, reach out directly. We’d love to help you find your balance.
Specifications
Overall Length:17.78 m / 58.32 ft
Waterline Length:17.78 m / 58.33 ft
Beam Overall:8.6 m / 28.21 ft
Main Sail:140.9 m² / 1,516 ft²
Working Self-Tacking Jib:79.5 m² / 856 ft²
Sail Area (100% Foretriangle):209.5 m² / 2,255 ft²
Asymmetric Spinnaker:310.83 m² / 3,346 ft²
Screacher / Reacher:125.7 m² / 1,353 ft²
Draft (Boards Down):3.35 m / 10.99 ft
Draft (Boards Up):1.65 m / 5.40 ft
Air Draft / Mast Clearance:27.43 m / 89.99 ft
Displacement (Cruise Equipped Launch Weight):16,668 kg / 36,753 lbs (Standard Carbon Cross Version)
Underwing Clearance:1.10 m / 3.61 ft
Fuel Capacity:2 x 500 L / 2 x 132 gal
Fresh Water Capacity:2 x 300 L / 2 x 79 gal
Black Water Capacity:2 x 60 L / 2 x 16 gal
Co-Designers:Phillip Berman & Du Toit Yacht Design
Denison Yachting - Annapolis is pleased to assist you in the purchase of this vessel. This boat is centrally listed by Balance Catamarans.
Denison Yacht Sales offers the details of this yacht in good faith but can’t guarantee the accuracy of this information nor warrant the condition of this boat for sale. This yacht for sale is offered subject to prior sale, price change, or withdrawal from that yacht market without notice. She is offered as a convenience by this yacht broker to its clients and is not intended to convey direct representation of a specific yacht for sale.
STANDARD SAIL-AWAY equipment as per Schedule "A" specifications
Owners Three / Four Cabin GA ( with either convertible office / bunk beds / captains quarters for the Four Cabin option)
Carbon Core Construction - Corecell SAN foam core with epoxy resin and carbon reinforcements in high load areas
Carbon Daggerboards & Trunks
Carbon Rudders, Stock & Quadrants
Aluminium Mast with spreaders and wire rigging - Sparcraft Masts
Aluminium Hayrack Boom - Sparcraft Masts
Carbon Crossbeam and Longeron - Fused Composite Designs
Deck, hull and cockpit including non-skid standard colour Cloud white
2 x Harken 60 Electric Radial Winches (Jib Sheet, Reefs) at helm
2 x Harken 60 Electric Radial Winches (Main Halyard & Genoa) at helm
2 x Harken 50 Electric Radial Winches (lifting dinghy, dagger boards and/or spinnaker and Code 0) aft end coaming
1 x Harken 60 Electric Radial Winch 3 speed at Mast Base
Straight Jib Track on Foredeck
Main Sail (Square Top) - Ullman Sails Crosscut Dacron with stack pack.
Staysail - Ullman Sails Crosscut Dacron on manual Single Line Furler on torsion cable with lock
Genoa - Ullman Sails Crosscut Dacron on Structural Forestay manual Furler with single line
Screecher (Code 0) - Ullman Sails Radial Nylon on manual continuous line Furler with lock
2 x Yanmar (4JH80hp) SD60 sail drive diesel engines and standard fixed props
Yanmar VC20 Dual electronic throttle (upper helm & lower helm)
Each engine has a 12V 130a/h AGM start batteries trickle charged from the main house bank
E - Power Single Integrel 9KW – 48V charging system - port engine
Dual Racor fuel filters per engine
Service Voltages: 48 VDC & 220V 50Hz & Optional - 110V 60Hz per ISO/CE standards
Victron Lithium-ion Batteries 4 x 24V 200A/h, 400A/h capacity at 48 volts
Victron Lithium-ion Batteries 1 x 24V 200A/h, charged from the 48V bank
Victron Quattro Inverter Charger 2 x 48V 5KW, 230V Charger/Inverter for the house batteries
Digital Battery & Monitoring System via Victron display
C-Zone digital switching system
Shore power cable; 20m 230V Marinco with easy lock system starboard transom step
AC outlets/USB: 2 x AC outlets/USB per cabin, 4 x AC outlets/USB in the galley, 2 x AC outlets/USB at the nav, 2 x AC outlets/USB at fridge area, 1 x AC outlet/USB at the DB board, 1 x AC outlet /USB in hull passage
LED Downlights for cockpit, saloon, galley, companion ways, heads and cabins - warm white/red.
Self switching LED service light in engine rooms, DB board, sail lockers, water maker cupboard, comms cupboard & foredeck lockers
Courtesy lights (warm white) one on each transom step
LED strip lights for port and starboard companion ways, galley, nav area, saloon plinth & furniture detail in cabins
Reading lights - Chrome, warm white self-switching x 2 in each cabin
Each cabin has 2 x Caframo Sirocco white fans
Electric Tecma silent plus 2G 24v (Tall) white toilets x 3, salt & freshwater plumbing
Indel Double Drawer 160L Light Fridge
Indel Double Drawer 160L Light Freezer
Bosch Electric oven, 4 plate induction hob with stainless-steel pot holder
Portlights in saloon windows - 2 x 600 in the front windows
B&G ZEUS S 12 Multi-function Display (Includes chart for South Africa)
B&G HALO20+ 36NM Radar on the mast
B&G TRITON2 digital display
B&G Autopilot - NAC-3 autopilot computer, RF25N rudder feedback unit, Precision-9 solid-state compass, 1 x TRITON2 Autopilot control head
B&G Hydraulic 24V T3 Ram
B&G V60 DSC- AIS - RX VHF marine radio fitted at nav table
B&G V3100 SOTDMA Class B AIS with GPS-500
Transom Outdoor Shower Pressurized hot and cold water - starboard side
Aluminium flip up Sparcraft swim ladder - starboard side
Electric Anchor windlass (non-capstan) with wired remote
Primary Anchor - Rocna 50 MKII with 50m of 10mm (3/8”) galvanized chain
Secondary Anchor: Fortress FX-85 with 3m chain & 90m warp
8 x Inflatable fenders with 2.5m of polyester rope
2 x custom fenders for aft transom step
10 x 15m by 18mm black dock lines with spliced eye
8 x Black alloy mooring cleats - Sides and transom
2 x Pop up cleats on the transom
2 x Fairleads for mooring at the bow of the boat
Carbon Steering wheel
Carbon Stanchions with Dyneema triple line guard rail
Carbon Dock line chafe plates
Dyneema Trampoline, black colour
Line bag & Daggerboard covers package
Black Aluminium pulpits with white composite seat
Versa-Helm swing pedestal (upper/lower position)
Folding stainless-steel Bimini with canvas sunshade at upper helm
Composite grab handles around coach roof, transom coaming & between lower & upper helm
Build in Aft Cockpit track for canvas enclosure
Versa-Doors with custom sliding on transom port & starboard
Salt water deck wash located on the fwd face of anchor locker & port transom
Cockpit composite table on telescopic pedestals to lower into daybed
Wooden Saloon table (matching carpentry) with double fold out leaf on telescopic pedestals to lower into daybed
Cockpit quick-dry foam cushions covered in outdoor rated fabric
Foam mattresses 150mm (6") thick for all cabins with memory foam topper.
All Cabins have Dometic Oceanair pleated shades
All heads and showers have Dometic Oceanair white roller shades
Heads counter tops, Solid surface with matching basin all white with towel rails in all heads
Bottom Paint - Pettit Odyssey Triton Black
Interior Fabric and Timber Veneered Cabinetry options as per the Balance Configurator
Launching and Commissioning
Contact our team to schedule a private showing.
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