45 to 46-foot Catamaran Models Comparison

This 45 to 46-foot catamaran models comparison covers the features of four premium yacht brands. This size category holds a special place in the multihull market. They are as generous in terms of communal spaces as the 47-48′ catamarans, but usually have only four cabins, which is more than enough to accommodate one or two families.

Significantly more spacious than the 42′, which can also have four cabins, they offer more room for a comfortable sailing experience. With the popularity of this size catamarans, it’s no surprise that the four brands we discuss are competing in this segment. Lagoon 46, Bali 4.6, Excess 14, and Fountaine-Pajot Elba 45 – each offer a unique approach, and share a commitment to quality and performance.

Lagoon 46

Lagoon catamarans are yachts designed with a primary motto in mind: comfort. The division of Bénéteau that builds them belongs to the brand’s Floating Real Estate sector. Floating Real Estate is an entire program dedicated to comfort on the water aboard a sailboat.

And on this yacht, comfort is everywhere – large cabins, welcoming flybridge, as well as comfortable navigation with self-tacking jib and powerful engines; everything you need to take this floating house of nearly 100m2 (1075 ft2) anywhere.

A roof that extends far to the back, three large modern rectangular hull windows, panoramic vertical windows wrapping the salon, a high-placed boom and a forward trampoline cockpit – all the distinctive elements of a Lagoon can be found on this new Lagoon 46.

The Lagoon 46 is built around its salon that houses the galley kitchen along with a lounge area and chart table. In the aft section lies a separate outdoor cockpit with an eight-person table opposite it; the daybed perfect for taking naps and an outdoor fridge and sink complete the layout.

On each side of the flybridge a staircase leads up to centrally-positioned steering station where the helmsman has a series of winches on each side, with the main ones being electrically powered. The multifunction screen is placed on an inclined navigation console for comfortable viewing. Up top, the helmsman has plenty of company with space for five people on either side of him. In the aft section, there’s a lounging area with cushioned mattresses.

At the front, two trampolines are found on either side of the beam, along with a lounge area with a U-shaped bench perfect for enjoying an evening drink.

Inside, Lagoon has done a great job with this 46. The four cabins are very similar in terms of volume and bed size. Four identical cabins with their own bathrooms is extremely rare and a major advantage of this comfortable boat.

The sail plan of Lagoon catamarans is designed to make maneuvers as easy as possible. The shipyard has chosen to continue using a traditional large mainsail and self-tacking jib. This configuration usually limits the surface area of the jib, but here Lagoon has moved the mast step further back on the roof, providing the jib with a surface area of 46m2 in addition to the 83m2 of the mainsail. With this rigging setup, you can tack without touching any sheets, making sailing with a very small crew (1 person!) more than possible!

A skipper who does all the maneuvers alone is a reality. Lagoon fully embraces it on this boat. When you have two couples and four children on board, you need eyes to watch over them and arms for cooking and activities. That’s where the self-tacking jib makes perfect sense.

Spacious and very comfortable, the Lagoon 46 is like an apartment at sea; a boat that leans more towards these characteristics than those of a pure sailing vessel.

Bali 4.6

Bali is the “mainstream” division of the famous Catana cruising catamarans. Balis are comfortable cruising catamarans, direct competitors to Lagoon, which they challenge with some unique features that have contributed to their success.

The Bali catamarans design is almost magical. Solid deck over the front, deck over the aft hulls, and you get the largest usable surface area in this category. A rectangle of 100m2 (1075 ft2)!

At the front deck on the Bali 4.6, there are no trampolines but instead a series of sun loungers and a forward deck cockpit with a table and seating. The front area connects to the salon through a convenient door – and this salon is designed for enjoying outdoor dining moments. It’s the only yacht in this comparison that doesn’t have trampolines, and kids will surely complain if asked to choose their dream catamaran!

At the back, Bali equips almost all of its boats with a pivoting rear door, similar to the operation of tilting garage doors. With minimal effort, the entire cockpit/salon partition disappears against the ceiling and the side windows slide open – you feel like you’re outside! Close everything up and you’re protected inside. This trick allows for a very large table and spacious kitchen to be housed in the covered area of the salon. The table is surrounded by sofas on one side and chairs on the other, with another sofa facing it, making the whole space very comfortable and versatile.

On the flybridge behind the helm area on the port side, a third dining location is provided by the cockpit lounge that can be transformed into a dining area with a view. This lounge adds another location option for meals – one of the central advantages of this catamaran.

To accommodate these features, the boom was raised high above the flybridge. To access it requires climbing up on the rigid bimini structure of the flybridge; where you are more than 4 meters high.

The rigging chosen is in line with this last characteristic, it’s a self-tacking jib and a lug main sail, battened, making sails easy to maneuver alone. We tacked without touching the sheets – it’s nice! In the version we recommend, the boat has 120 m2 of sail area upwind, an area slightly less than that of the Lagoon 46, but it’s a lighter boat by more than a ton.

The cabins are decorated in soothing and modern beige and brown tones. And just like on the Lagoon 46, the cabins put everyone on an equal footing, with all four having similar beds and storage. The beds are placed crosswise, unlike the Lagoon 46, and the Balis beds are larger than those of their competitor.

The 4 and 5 cabin versions are preferred for charter operations, the latter layout including a small “v-berth” cabin installed in the forward hull.

The Bali 4.6 is one of the most habitable in this 45 to 46-foot catamaran models comparison. Featuring three separate living/dining areas, it is the most versatile. Direct competitor of the Lagoon, the choice between these two very beautiful cruising catamarans in this 45 to 46-foot models comparison is only a question of personal taste!

Fountaine-Pajot Elba 45

The Elba 45 by Fountaine-Pajot is a yacht that, while not truly sporty, still remains oriented towards sailing without sacrificing comfort. On a Fountaine-Pajot, the booms are easily accessible, which is a sign of a boat that prioritizes sailing. The Elba 45 is a comfortable cruising catamaran, with a relatively compact silhouette and the characteristics of a real sailor’s vessel.

Fountaine-Pajot boats are very comfortable, but the shipyard has never lost sight of the need to be able to quickly perform reducing and hoisting maneuvers when necessary. For this reason, the boom of the Elba 45 remains easily accessible from the roof. The roof accommodates a large lounge area in front and a flybridge salon at the back. The steering position is offset to starboard.

Offered in a four-cabin version with their own ensuite bathrooms, the Elba 45 sailboats are very comfortable but forward cabins are slightly less spacious than those of the Lagoon 46.

The saloon features an L-shaped kitchen, a configuration that allows for cooking facing forward, and a welcoming lounge equipped with a coffee table. There is no chart table on the Elba 45, but instead a multifunction screen mounted in a cabinet near the entrance of the salon.

Relatively lightweight, the Fountaine-Pajot Elba 45 weighs nearly two tons less than the Lagoon 46 on the scale but two tons more than the Excess 14. The optional Tenderlift platform is well worth the additional weight it carries in terms of ease of launching the dinghy.

The Elba 45 catamaran’s rigging features a self-tacking jib and a large mainsail with three reefs (124 m2 at close-hauled). Taking reefs is made easier by the reasonable height of the boom from the roof.

The Elba 45 is equipped with two 50 HP diesel engines (optional 60 HP), and is also available in a Smart Electric version, fitted with electric motors, batteries, and a generator capable of providing it with a wide range of autonomy.

Sail-powered, slightly heavy, elegant, and well-designed, the Fountaine Pajot Elba 45 makes for a great cruising catamaran intended for those who enjoy sailing without sacrificing comfort. And the hybrid electric version is an exciting option!

Excess 14

The Excess catamarans are designed to be radically different from the Lagoon catamarans, which are also owned by Bénéteau. To differentiate the line from the Lagoon, they created the Excess line of open, relatively lightweight catamarans that prioritize sailing sensations – performance and pleasure. The Excess 14 is the latest addition to this family of catamarans and the most performance oriented in this 45 to 46-foot catamaran models comparison.

Excess occupies a unique position in the catamaran market. They are not high-performance machines like the Marsaudon, which are very fast but unforgiving. No, Excess boats are athletes but in the way that amateur athletes are, Sunday sports enthusiasts like you and me who love sports but don’t make it their life. These boats are designed for sailing enthusiasts, passionate individuals who refuse to compromise on both sensations and comfort.

Weighing in at 12 tons, the Excess 14 is the lightest catamaran in this comparison. With its 118 or 134 m2 (pulse rig) of sail area upwind, it has the best sail area to lightweight ratio among the boats in this 45 to 46-foot catamaran comparison. The absence of a flybridge plays a significant role. But wait, when we say “absence,” it’s not entirely true! On the Excess 14, removable mattresses can be installed during stops to enjoy sunbathing – but only while at anchor!

The Excess catamarans, including the Excess 14, also feature a steering control system using textile ropes (dyneema), which provides more feedback sensations than hydraulic steering pumps typically used. The helm stations are located at the rear of the boat and an intelligent opening bimini system allows for monitoring the sails or enjoying shooting stars while at anchor.

Inside, three finishes with matching color schemes and attention to sailor-inspired details (such as cordage used as drawer handles) make the interiors of the Excess catamaran unique and appealing. One could describe these interiors as Nordic, with light woods, bright tones, and white walls that suit it well. The layout is classic, with an L-shaped kitchen at the rear of the saloon and a forward-facing lounge area with a chart table on the port side.

The large cockpit table can seat eight people, and there are two trampolines at the front as well as two sunbathing benches.

The four-cabin version, preferred by charter guests, features separate baths for each cabin. The forward cabins are noticeably less spacious than those of the Lagoon 46 but redeems itself with many additional benefits!

The Excess 14 is a captivating sailboat, offering exceptional sailing sensations without ever sacrificing onboard comfort. It is a yacht that lends itself well to voyages, but it is also the only one in this 45 to 46-foot catamaran comparison that does not have a true flybridge.

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