A boat-show crowd-pleaser with twin aft helms, a solid foredeck and a galley that shames far larger cats.
Bali unveiled the Catsmart 38 at the La Grande Motte boat show, and by the tour guide’s account it was one of the busiest boats on the docks — so packed with visitors that filming it was a little chaotic. That popularity is easy to understand once you walk the deck: this is a 38-footer that borrows almost every trick from Bali’s larger models and squeezes them into a package a couple can actually manage.
Twin aft helms and 360-degree awareness
The walkthrough starts at the boat’s signature feature: two twin aft helm stations. The video demonstrates the claim rather than just making it, zooming in on the furthest corner of the boat from the wheel — all four corners are visible from the seat, which is exactly what you want when you’re docking a catamaran single-handed. The helm seats are comfortable, and each lifts up and away to give access to the engine room beneath.
Rig-wise, the boom sits noticeably low, which lowers the center of gravity while allowing more sail area. It’s also simply easier to reach when you need to work the mainsail. Halyards and control lines run inside a tunnel along the coachroof, keeping the deck clear and tidy, and there’s a track for the self-tacking jib. Solar panels already occupy part of the hardtop, with room to cover much more of it.
Deck spaces you’ll actually use
The aft cockpit seating is generous, and this boat is fitted with a plancha grill on the aft deck. Forward, Bali’s characteristic tilting door opens the saloon to the cockpit, and sliding side windows add serious cross-ventilation. Up on the solid foredeck — a Bali hallmark — there’s a proper lounging and seating area, steps to the roof with two handholds, an anchor locker, and a grating that reveals a substantial drain hole for the day a wave comes over the bow. Two opening windows sit right where the galley is, which matters more than you’d think when you’re cooking at anchor.
An interior that surprises
Even the presenter admits surprise at the volume below. The galley is the standout: long countertops with real prep space, a three-burner stove and oven, and the fridge-freezer set under the counter right where you work. Storage is relentless — lockers under the counters, overhead cabinets on both sides of the saloon, pull-out drawers behind the settee, drawers beneath the stove and more alongside the companionway.
This particular S/V Bali 38 Catsmart is a three-cabin layout. The owner’s suite gets a queen berth, a striking head with a big shower, and cabinet space throughout, all well ventilated. On the port side, the aft cabin has another queen with its own separate shower, head and basin, and the forward cabin offers a nicely sized berth in an equally airy space.
Where it sits in the market
| Active Bali 38 Catsmart listings | 1 |
|---|---|
| Asking range | $330,000 |
| Median asking | $330,000 |
For buyers who want catamaran volume, walk-around deck access and easy sail handling without stepping up to a 45-footer, this is a compelling boat. Speak with Eric Macklin for specifications and details.