Commissioned by Balance Catamarans' own founder with nearly every factory option, this 2022 performance cat is now on its second owners — and Conor Dugan walks us through her.
Some boats are simply well specified. Others are built by the person who knows the model best, for themselves. S/V inBalance, a 2022 Balance 482, falls into the second camp: as Conor Dugan of The Multihull Company explains at the start of his walkthrough, she was commissioned by the founder of Balance Catamarans as his personal boat and carries nearly every factory option. Today she’s with her second owners — and the video makes a good case that the original brief has aged very well.
Performance first
The 482 was Balance’s push to redefine what a performance catamaran under 50 feet could be, and inBalance leans into that. She’s lightweight and driven by retractable daggerboards, with a genuinely deep sail inventory from Ullman Sails: a fully battened tri-radial squaretop mainsail new in late 2025, a furling jib with UV protection, a screecher on a Facnor FX4500 furler, an asymmetrical furling Code D new in 2025, and a nylon asymmetrical spinnaker.
Forward, Dugan points out the practical side of that speed: extensive deck storage, large trampolines, an aluminum forward arm with built-in anchor access, fender stowage, a ventilated utility space, and an oversized deck hatch serving the sail locker.
The helm that made Balance famous
The signature feature gets a proper demonstration. All control lines lead aft to the upper helm station and its electric winches, with push-button control at the skipper’s feet and clear sightlines to sail shape and course. Then Dugan drops the helm — the iconic adjustable Balance position — into the protected lower spot, where large tempered glass windows keep visibility and instrument access intact when the weather turns. It’s a neat answer to the usual catamaran compromise between seeing the rig and staying dry.
The cockpit is finished in aquatraction decking with generous seating, a telescoping table that lowers to form a daybed, storage under the settees, and a top-loading electric cooler built into the lower helm seat.
Living aboard
Inside, sliding doors open onto a bright saloon with attractive wood joinery and premium upholstery. The U-shaped galley includes an oven with microwave function, induction cooktop, basin sink, and drawer fridge and freezer units replaced in 2024. A large nav desk houses Victron power management, backed by roughly 20 kWh of lithium batteries, 1,600 watts of solar, and dual 9 kW Integrel charging for quick top-ups.
The owner’s hull is a study in accessible systems — Spectra watermaker and Samsung washer-dryer tucked away but reachable — plus a master head Dugan calls the most comfortable shower on a catamaran under 50 feet, with natural light and bench seating. Forward is an island berth with all-weather ventilation and walk-in forepeak access with hanging lockers. To port, guest cabins, more storage, and a guest head separated from the shower.
Where the 482 sits today
The model trades thinly, which is worth knowing if you’re comparing options.
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Solds, last 24 months | 1 |
| Median time to sell | ~297 days |
| Active listings | 3 |
| Asking range | $1,395,000–$1,549,000 |
| Median asking | $1,525,000 |
| Low | $1,395,000 | |||
| Median | $1,525,000 | |||
| High | $1,549,000 |