Balance 451

Balance 451 - Far Out - Main Features

Always privately owned. Never chartered.

Owner's version

Light weight, composite construction. Easily achieves 200nm / day

Extended waterline with reverse bows and long transoms for upwind performance, tracking and to minimise hobby-horsing

Ultralight hardtop Bimini 

Vinylester resins and closed-cell foam core in hulls and decks - no creaking when sailing! 

Many areas reinforced with carbon fibre for extra, light-weight strength. 

Dual daggerboards for better upwind angles, reduced leeway and off wind sailing with less effort due to greatly reduced drag

800amp hour Lithium ion batteries and 2,380 watts of solar - eliminates need for a generator 

Custom cedar walk-in closet on the owner's side

Longer stern platform for easy loading/unloading 

Almost all lines run to a central location for single/short handling

Protected, raised helm station for easy viewing and comfort and tucked away from elements

Sculpted, semi-circular seating in the cockpit with drink fridge, sink and full size propane BBQ

Huge master suite with large walk-in and sit-down shower. 

Self-tacking jib

Screecher on roller Furler for improved off wind sailing performance and easy handling

Standing rigging new 2024

Running rigging in great condition

Reliable 39HP each Yanmar engines for easy maintenance or sourcing parts anywhere in the world

Saloon renovated 2023. New marine vinyl flooring throughout boat, headliner removed for extra 3 inch ceiling height and new upholstery. 

Cabinetry made from honeycomb panels to keep boat light and no creaking when sailing. 

2 x electric flush toilets. Fresh water with hot and cold bidet

Reverse cycle air conditioning

Watermaker

Structural survey, mechanical survey, oil sample analysis and rig inspection. Reports available on request.

Turnkey, fully equipped with impressive inventory and available now.

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The Balance 451 is a 45-foot cruising catamaran, engineered by renowned New Zealand designer Roger Hill and Hobie Cat champion Phil Berman. It is highly regarded for successfully merging high-performance sailing (thanks to its daggerboards) with the luxurious, liveaboard comfort required for long-range voyages. 

The Balance 451 stands out in a few key areas:

Performance & Sailing

• Daggerboards: Unlike fixed-keel production cats, the 451 features retractable daggerboards. This reduces wetted surface area in light winds and allows the boat to point exceptionally high into the wind (35 to 38 degrees). 
• Fast and Nimble: Weighing in at around (8.3) tonnes dry, the lightweight, carbon-reinforced closed-cell foam-core construction allows for sustained, fast cruising speed. The Balance 451 is a performance catamaran that is designed for Bluewater cruising. It is less weight sensitive than an Outremer, hence suitable for all the gear you need to travel without compromising balance, yet much lighter and responsive than a Catana. The Balance catamaran is a perfect mix of both designs.

Interior Comfort & Craftsmanship

• Beautiful Woodwork: Built in CNC moulds, the boat features high-end, rounded wood cabinetry (American Cherry) with honeycomb core for lightweight,  that feels like fine furniture rather than a plastic production boat. The finish is outstanding.
• Superior Ventilation: Large custom opening hatches and tempered aircraft glass windows provide stellar airflow to keep the saloon cool at anchor without heavily relying on air conditioning. 
• Indoor-Outdoor Flow: The saloon seamlessly opens up to the aft cockpit, creating one large, unified social space. 

Construction

• Light but Strong: Built with epoxy/vinylester resins, vacuum-bagged foam coring, and carbon fibre reinforcement in high-load areas, it exceeds strict offshore racing standards.

A Word From The Owner:

"The Balance 451 is a custom performance cruising catamaran that perfectly blends comfortable liveaboard living with exceptional sailing performance. Far Out has always been privately owned, and as her second owners we have maintained and cared for her meticulously, with many recent upgrades completed throughout our ownership.

For the past five years, Far Out has been our home as we cruised extensively through the Caribbean, Central America and across the Pacific Ocean. During that time, she has safely carried us more than 25,000 nautical miles and has proven herself to be an absolute dream to sail. Unlike many cruising catamarans, she points exceptionally well, is responsive, light, and nimble under sail, and in conditions where other cats are forced to motor, Far Out sails comfortably and efficiently in as little as 10 knots of breeze.

Originally, we planned a two-year Pacific adventure, but we fell so deeply in love with the cruising lifestyle that our journey ultimately became a four-year voyage. Far Out is equipped with all the modern comforts you would expect ashore, making long-term living onboard both comfortable and effortless, without feeling like a compromise." Fiji June 2026

DIMENSIONS:

• LOA: 13.6 m / 44’ 8”
• Waterline Length: 12.9 m / 42’ 4”
• Beam: 7.1 m / 23’ 5”
• Minimum draft (daggerboards up): 0.8m / 2' 7”
• Maximum draft (daggerboards down): 2.1m / 6’ 11”
• Displacement: 8,391 kg / 18,500 lbs
• Maximum Payload: 1,557kg / 3,433 lbs
• Mast Height Off Deck: 17.22 m / 56’ 6”
• Mast Height Off Water: 19.19 m / 62’ 11”

ENGINES:

• Make/model: 2x Yanmar 3JH5E (diesel inboards)
• Engine power: 39 HP each
• Drive type: Sail drive - Yanmar SD-50 (cone clutch transmissions upgraded in 2024)
• Double fuel filter cleaners
• Full mechanical report inc. oil sample testing March 26, available on request.

TANKAGE:

• Fresh water tank (Polypropylene): 250 litres / 67 gallons (New in June 2024)
• Fuel tank (Aluminum): 340 litres / 112 gallons
• Holding tanks: 2x (one in each hull) 227 litres / 60 gallons
• Isotherm spa hot water heater and tank 40L.

ACCOMMODATIONS:

• Single berths: 1
• Queen berths: 2 
• Cabins: 3
• Heads: 2

Heads:

• Port side wet head - electric toilet flush with hot and cold bidet, shower, sink,  large hatch above and port light. Plenty of storage for toiletries. Towel rack
• Starboard-side master head featuring a generous walk-in shower with a teak sit-down bench. Electric-flush toilet with hot and cold bidet functionality. Vanity with sink and mirror, plus ample storage including large deep cupboards and additional storage beneath the sink. A large overhead hatch above the shower provides excellent ventilation and natural light, complemented by a port light above the vanity.

Galley, Salon and Cockpit:

• Spacious, open cockpit living area with excellent flow from the salon galley. Includes an outdoor sink, day/ drink fridge and full sized, high end Australian Propane barbecue on lifting gas struts. New upholstery 2022
• Open plan kitchen facing cockpit and saloon so you can prepare meals and entertain guests seated inside and outside. 
• Complete interior refit in 2022: New flooring, saloon repaint, rewiring lights in saloon, new upholstery, removed headliner to increase ceiling height. 
• Microwave
• 3 burner propane stove top
• Air fryer / toaster / convection oven (New 2024)
• Handmade hardwood dining/coffee table in saloon  (New 2023)
• Samsung QLED 32” television. Reduces sun glare (New 2025)
• Deck Shower hot and cold. 
• Ample refrigeration includes
  • 1 galley fridge/freezer
  • 1 cockpit fridge/freezer
• Honeycomb cabinetry to keep boat light and boat does not creak when sailing. 
  • 2 auxiliary deep chest Isotherm fridge/freezers in spare room. New 2026 and 2022
• Black UV window cover for saloon

COMFORT:

• Central Vacuum
• Electric, freshwater bidet toilets with hot and cold water
• Cedar lined master walk in closet to naturally preserve and protect your clothing
• Ducted Mermaid aircon and heating 2 x 120V. Can run off battery bank via inverter.
• Starlink
• Spectra Cape Horn Extreme water-maker, 17GPH (65l/h) 24v (Professionally serviced Mar 2026)
• Premium grade trampolines

SAILING:

• Standing rigging replaced in July 2024. All Seldon. 
• High performance Cruising XRP Neil Pryde Mainsail: 65.6 m² / 706.5 ft² (New in 2023)
• High performance Cruising XRP Neil Pryde Jib: 24.2 m² / 260.7 ft² (New in 2023)
  • Self-tacking blade jib on a curved track to simplify tacking.
• High performance Cruising XRP Neil Pryde screecher: 711.6 ft² / 66.1 m² (New in 2023). New stackpack 2023
• Symmetrical spinnaker.  1282.60 sq foot. LP% 184, True radial construction for high performance applications. Fabric 1.5 oz and ripstop nylon. 
• Manage the mainsail halyard and all reefing lines safely from the cockpit. 
• 1 power winch and 3 manual winches

ELECTRICS:

• 2,380 watts of solar (New Aug 2022)  with new Victron solar chargers parallel.  No need for dedicated generator
• Two high output Balmar 94 Series alternators (New Aug 2022)
• Maretron: DSM250 NMEA display, TLM-100 tank level sensor, 2x ESM100 engine monitors, RIM100 bilge alarm. ALM100 alarm, DCM100 battery monitor
• Victron: Multiplus 24/70/3000 120 VAC inverter/charger (New Nov 2025)
• Cerbo GX with touch display (New Aug 2022)
• MPPT 150|45 and MPPT 150|60 solar charge controllers (New Aug 2022)

ELECTRONICS:

• Raymarine: Axiom+ 9 chartplotter (New May 2025)
• 2x i70 - mini displays
• iTC-5 Instrument Transducer Converter (New 2024)
• P70 - autopilot controller, 
• ACU-200 - autopilot computer
• EV-1 - autopilot sensor core
• 4kW 18” HD Color Radome
• DST810 depth transducer (starboard depth)
• P79 depth transducer (port depth)
• Raymarine AIS
• Wired masthead wind transducer.
• Raymarine VHF radio
• Starlink

Hydraulics and Autopilot:

• All new hydraulic hosing (March 2022)
• Lecomble and Schmitt VHM 45 rudder control cylinders (New March 2022)
• Lecomble and Schmitt 90 CT helm pump
• Lecomble and Schmitt RV2 autopilot pump (New Oct 2025)
• Raymarine Evolution Autopilot - brand new spare in box
• Raymarine EV1 Sensor Core - Brand new in box

DINGHY AND OUTBOARD:

• AB Lamina 10 AL dinghy (New Dec 2022). Alum. Reinforced RIB.
• AB 10’ Chaps (New 2023)
• Yamaha Enduro 15 outboard engine (New Dec 2022)
• Reinforced custom dinghy davits up to 300KG.  With one person raise/release system

ANCHORING:

• Lewmar CPX 3 windlass (Motor and windlass replaced in June 2024)
• 80 meters of 10 mm anchor chain (New Aug 2022)
• 25kg Rocna anchor
• Spare Spade anchor. 

SAFETY:

• 4 man Viking RescuYou premium life raft with auto release
• 2450 G p/her water pump 110V. 

SPARES AND TOOLS:

Watermaker Maintenance:

• Spare carbon fibre filters and 5 micron pleated filters all spectra brand. 
• O- rings and consumable parts from last re-build of the clark pump 
• Spare elbows and connectors from hose to filter housing. 
• Spare elbows for clark pumps and membrane. 
• Pickling solution
• 2x Spare Shurflo water pump head 
• 2x Spare Shurflo water pump pressure switches

Diesel Engine Maintenance:

Consumables

• LOTS OF 10 micron Primary fuel filters (Racor) 
• 7x 2 micron fuel polishing filters (Racor)
• 2x Secondary fuel filters (i.e. the on engine ones)
• 4x Oil filters
• 6x Used impellers
• 4x New impellers
• 2x Alternator belts (+1 used spare)
• Lots of motor oil, coolant, SD oil. 

Spares

• Used thermostat (in new box)
• Old water pump for engine
• Magnetic relay 
• Spare fan and two pulleys for new Balmer alternators
• Rubber seal/gasket for helmstation C-panel
• Jabsco Diesel pump (previously used as a fuel transfer pump - requires replacement fitting(s))

Misc.:

• Bag of various o-rings, seals, gaskets and ring shims (including a bag of three different kinds of rudder o-rings)
• Windlass rocker switch
• Old starter motor 
• Windlass parts
• Used windlass motor. 
• Bilge pumps
• Plumbing hoses and fittings
• Extra LED lights
• All electrical wiring equipment - heat shrink connectors, fuses, various size wires, heat shrink tubing, bus bars. 
• Toilet pump repair kit
• Spare antenna cable
• Misc spares for BMS - USB/Bluetooth interfaces
• Jabsco waste pump service kit… partially used
• 2x Lewmar 90 amp circuit breakers
• Raritan toilet control panels
• 1x pair of Raritan joker valves for toilet
• 2x Maretron DC current sensors (DCM100)
• Radio antenna

Anodes:

• 2x brick anodes
• 2x sail-drive collars, zinc
• 2x sail-drive collars, aluminium
• 2x sail-drive end cones

Rigging:

• 1x NEW Lewmar clutch
• 1x OLD Lewmar clutch… (the one that was fixed, so might not be awesome)
• Lots of spare blocks, shackles and soft shackles
• Spare used halyards and sheets. 

Outboard motor and Dinghy:

• Spare propeller
• 3x spark plugs (2x in small boxes, 1x in a ziplock bag)
• Spare fuel line assembly
• Dinghy patches and glue repair kit 

Tools:

• Dewalt rechargeable battery angle grinder
• Makita power drill 
• Orbit sander
• Power washer
• Wet and dry vacuum
• Dremel and accessories
• Various necessary hand tools