Lagoon 42 vs Bali 4.2: Which 42-Foot Catamaran Is Right for Your Charter Holiday?

Every summer, the same debate plays out in group chats and family WhatsApp threads across Europe: "Should we get the Lagoon or the Bali?" It"s the catamaran version of iPhone vs Android — both are excellent, both have loyal fans, and the answer usually says more about you than about the boat.

We get asked this question all the time, and after years of watching crews come back from their trips — some raving about the Lagoon, others swearing by the Bali — we"ve got a pretty clear picture of who ends up happier on which boat. Here"s what we tell people.

The short version: The Lagoon 42 is the proven, polished all-rounder — powerful engines, elegant interior, ideal for experienced sailors and couples wanting the owner"s suite. The Bali 4.2 maximises living space with its solid foredeck, tilting saloon door, and dedicated skipper cabin — a better fit for larger groups, families with young kids, and first-timers. Croatia has 30+ Lagoon 42s in its charter fleet but only around 3 Bali 4.2s, so if the Bali is your pick, book early.

Lagoon 42: The Proven Crowd-Pleaser

The Lagoon 42 has been one of the world"s best-selling catamarans since its launch. It won European Yacht of the Year in 2017, and you"ll spot them in pretty much every Croatian marina. There are currently over 30 Lagoon 42s available for charter in Croatia alone — part of a fleet of nearly 180 Lagoon catamarans across the country. That means you"ll rarely have trouble finding one, even if you"re booking a bit later in the season.

Key Points:

• Size: 12.80m (42′) long, 7.70m (25"3") wide. A generous beam that creates lots of living space inside and out.
• Layouts: Available in 3 or 4 cabin layouts. The owner"s version gives you an entire hull as a private suite. Can sleep up to 12 people.
• Living Space: The standout feature is the single-level flow between the cockpit and saloon — no steps, no tripping. The galley is U-shaped and well-equipped. Large vertical windows flood the interior with natural light, and the Italian-designed interior has a premium, polished feel.
• Sailing: Standard 57 HP Yanmar engines give you solid motoring power — important in Croatia where you"ll sometimes need to push through the Maestral or motor into a tight marina. Sails comfortably at 8-9 knots in good breeze. The self-tacking jib makes sailing easier, especially for less experienced crews.
• Build: Quality fiberglass construction with balsa core. Elegant interior finishes that feel more "yacht" than "holiday boat." The Lagoon brand has over 40 years of catamaran-building experience behind it.

Pros: Powerful standard engines, beautiful interior design, seamless indoor-outdoor living, proven track record, self-tacking jib, separate shower stalls in aft cabins.
Cons: Smaller standard fuel and water tanks (more refilling stops), the foredeck has traditional trampoline nets rather than a solid platform, helm position can feel uncomfortable on longer passages, and some wish for better saloon ventilation.

Who we recommend the Lagoon 42 to

When a couple or a small family asks us for a recommendation and we can tell they"ve been on boats before, we"ll usually point them to the Lagoon. Especially if they want the owner"s version — one hull as a proper master suite, the other hull for guests or kids. That layout is hard to beat for a couple who organised the trip and want their own space. We also recommend the Lagoon to people who tell us they care about how things look and feel on board. It sounds like a small thing, but when you"re living on a boat for a week, the quality of the interior makes a difference. The Lagoon just has that "proper yacht" feeling that some people really appreciate, and others don"t care about at all.

If you"re also considering the smaller Lagoon 40, we"ve written a separate Lagoon 40 vs Lagoon 42 comparison that might help.

Bali 4.2: The Innovative Space-Maker

The Bali 4.2 comes from the Catana Group — a French builder that decided to rethink what a cruising catamaran should look like. It looks different, it feels different, and it lives differently from most other catamarans you"ll find in Croatia. One thing to know upfront: the Bali is a much rarer sight in Croatian waters. While there are nearly 180 Lagoon catamarans available for charter here, you"ll find only around 17 Balis across all models — and just a handful of Bali 4.2s specifically. That"s not a knock on the boat; it just means the charter fleet hasn"t caught up with the demand yet.

Key Points:

• Size: 12.80m (42′) long, 7.28m (23"11") wide. Slightly narrower than the Lagoon, but the clever design makes you forget that quickly.
• Layouts: Available in 4-cabin layouts, and — this is a big one — there"s a 5-cabin version with a dedicated skipper cabin in the bow, complete with its own separate head. This is a real practical advantage. It means your hired skipper has private quarters that are completely separate from the guest cabins, so everyone has their space. No awkward sharing of bathrooms with the captain at 6am.
• Living Space: This is where Bali really stands out. The signature feature is the solid foredeck platform — no trampoline nets. Instead, you get a massive sunbed area, an L-shaped dinette, and a settee. It"s like having a second living room at the front of the boat. A door from the saloon opens directly onto this foredeck, so you don"t need to walk around the side decks. Then there"s the famous tilting saloon door that lifts up into the ceiling, completely opening the cockpit to the interior — creating one huge covered space that feels like an open-plan apartment.
• Sailing: Standard engines are smaller at 2×30 HP (upgradeable to 45 HP). Most charter versions have the upgraded engines, and you"ll want them for Croatian conditions. Under sail, the Bali performs well in medium winds. The solid foredeck means you don"t get water spray coming through nets — a plus when anchoring or picking up mooring lines.
• Build: Bali uses closed-cell foam core in the hull instead of balsa wood — a more expensive construction method that resists water absorption better over time. The interior design is more minimalist and functional than luxurious. Think clean lines and practical surfaces rather than wood veneer and polish.

Pros: Massive living space with the solid foredeck and tilting door concept, much larger fuel and water tanks (fewer refilling stops), closed-cell foam hull construction, dedicated skipper cabin with private head, innovative forward cockpit, huge fridge/freezer.
Cons: Weaker standard engines (make sure your charter has the upgrade), interior finishes can feel basic compared to Lagoon, no separate shower stalls in the guest heads, very limited availability in Croatia (book early!), and as a younger brand it"s less of a known quantity.

Who we recommend the Bali 4.2 to

When a bigger group calls — two or three families, or a bunch of friends — and they tell us they want a skipper, this is almost always where we steer them. The dedicated skipper cabin changes the dynamic completely. Your captain has proper private quarters with their own bathroom, separate from the guest areas. It sounds like a detail, but it makes the difference between feeling like you"re sharing a boat with a stranger and feeling like you have a crew member who happens to be on board. Everyone"s more comfortable, including the skipper.

We also recommend the Bali to families with younger kids — the solid foredeck is just safer, and parents visibly relax when they see there are no trampoline nets. The forward cockpit becomes the kids" zone while the adults claim the aft cockpit. And when someone tells us "honestly, we"re not really boat people, we just want a week on the water" — the Bali is usually our suggestion. It feels less like a sailboat and more like a holiday home that floats. People who"ve never set foot on a boat step on a Bali and feel at home almost immediately.

One important caveat: if you"ve got your heart set on a Bali 4.2 in Croatia, don"t wait. With only a handful available across the whole country, they get booked out months in advance — especially for July and August. We"ve had people contact us in March already too late for peak season. The Lagoon 42, by contrast, has a much larger fleet, so you"ll usually find availability even with shorter notice. If the Bali is your first choice, book it as early as you can and treat the Lagoon 42 as a strong backup.

Quick Specs: Lagoon 42 vs Bali 4.2

Specification	Lagoon 42	Bali 4.2	What it Means
Length	12.80 m (42′)	12.80 m (42′)	Same overall length
Width (Beam)	7.70 m (25"3")	7.28 m (23"11")	Lagoon is wider = more interior volume
Draft	1.25 m (4"1")	1.22 m (4"0")	Both great for shallow Croatian bays
Weight	12.0 tonnes	11.4 tonnes	Bali is slightly lighter
Sail Area	94 m²	85 m²	Lagoon carries more sail
Std. Engines	2 x 57 HP	2 x 30 HP*	Big difference in standard engine power
Fuel Tank	570 L	600 L	Bali carries slightly more diesel
Water Tank	300 L	860 L	Bali has nearly 3x the water
Cabins	3-4	4-5	Bali offers a dedicated skipper cabin
Hull Core	Balsa wood	Closed-cell foam	Different construction philosophies
Charter fleet in Croatia	30+	~3	Bali 4.2 is much harder to find — book early

*Most charter Bali 4.2s are fitted with upgraded 45 HP engines.

Two Different Boats for Two Different Holidays

The biggest difference between these two boats isn"t really about speed or specs — it"s about how you live on them during your week.

The Lagoon 42 feels like a well-designed yacht. The interior is polished and elegant, the cockpit flows beautifully into the saloon, and everything has a refined quality to it. You step on board and it feels like a proper sailing holiday. On the Adriatic, where you"re often hopping between beautiful little ports and showing off your boat at the marina, the Lagoon fits right in.

The Bali 4.2 feels more like a floating apartment — and that"s not a criticism. The solid foredeck with seating, the giant tilting door, the forward cockpit with direct saloon access, and the huge water tanks all add up to a boat designed around living rather than traditional sailing aesthetics. For crews who plan to spend most of their time anchored in bays, swimming, eating, and hanging out — which is honestly what most people end up doing on a Croatian charter — the Bali"s layout makes a lot of sense.

Planning your days on the water? Our guides to Croatia"s best anchorages and the essential sailing apps will help you make the most of whichever boat you choose.

The Honest Summary

Neither boat is "better" — they"re aimed at different preferences and different types of holidays.

• The Lagoon 42 suits you if: You"ve sailed before and want a boat that feels like a yacht, you"re a couple or small family wanting the owner"s suite layout, you care about interior quality and finish, or you want powerful engines and don"t mind stopping for water a bit more often.
• The Bali 4.2 suits you if: You"re a larger group or multiple families splitting a trip, you have young kids and want the safety of a solid foredeck, you"re chartering with a skipper and want them to have proper private quarters, you plan to spend more time anchored than sailing, or you just want the most living space possible on a 42-footer. Just remember to book well in advance — there are far fewer Balis in Croatia than Lagoons.

A note on first-timers: If this is your first catamaran charter, you"ll be happy on either boat. The Lagoon might feel more familiar if you"ve been on sailing boats before. The Bali might feel more comfortable if you haven"t — it"s less "boat-like" and more like being on holiday from the moment you step on.

Frequently Asked Questions About Chartering a Lagoon 42 or Bali 4.2 in Croatia

#1) We"re three couples — which boat gives us the best cabin arrangement?

This comes up a lot. On the Lagoon 42 in the 3-cabin layout, one couple gets the full owner"s hull (huge suite, private bathroom) and two couples share the other hull — works well if one couple organised the trip and everyone"s fine with that hierarchy. On the Bali 4.2 in the 4-cabin version, each couple gets their own cabin with more equal sizing, plus there"s a cabin to spare for luggage or a skipper. If keeping things fair between the three couples matters to your group, the Bali"s layout avoids any awkward "who gets the big cabin" conversations.

#2) Are the Bali 4.2"s standard 30 HP engines strong enough for Croatian sailing?

We"d be cautious about the base 30 HP engines. The afternoon Maestral can build to 20+ knots, and you"ll regularly need to motor into marinas, against current in channels, or push through chop between islands. Most charter Bali 4.2s in Croatia come with the 45 HP upgrade — always confirm this when booking. With the upgraded engines, the Bali handles Croatian conditions just fine. The Lagoon 42"s standard 57 HP engines don"t have this issue; they"re powerful out of the box.

#3) We want a skipper but we"re leaning towards the Lagoon 42 — where does the skipper sleep?

This is the one practical area where the Lagoon loses to the Bali. Since the Lagoon 42 doesn"t have a dedicated skipper cabin, the skipper typically takes one of the guest cabins — meaning your group has one less cabin to use. On a 4-cabin Lagoon, you"re effectively down to 3 guest cabins. Some skippers will sleep in the saloon to free up all cabins, but that depends on the skipper and the arrangement with the charter company. On the Bali 4.2, the skipper has a proper bow cabin with its own head — completely separate from the guest area. If you"re chartering with a skipper, this is a genuine advantage worth considering.

#4) How far in advance should I book a Bali 4.2 for a summer charter in Croatia?

As early as possible — and I mean it. With only a handful of Bali 4.2s available in Croatia, peak season weeks (July–August) can sell out before the end of winter. We"ve had people contact us in March who were already too late. If you"re set on a Bali 4.2, start looking 6-9 months ahead. The Lagoon 42 is much easier — with 30+ boats in the fleet, you"ll usually find availability 2-3 months out, sometimes even closer to your dates in shoulder season.

#5) What extras should I budget for on top of the base charter price?

The base charter rate covers the boat, standard equipment, and insurance. On top of that, budget for: skipper fee (typically €150-200/day), fuel (€200-400/week depending on how much you motor), marina fees and mooring (€100-300/week — or less if you anchor a lot), provisioning/food, and optional extras like paddleboards, outboard for the dinghy, or bed linen. A rough rule of thumb: add 30-40% to the base charter for a realistic total. This applies equally to both the Lagoon and the Bali.

#6) Which boat is better for families with small kids?

We nearly always point families with children under 8 towards the Bali 4.2 — and the solid foredeck is the main reason. The Lagoon"s traditional trampoline nets are fine for adults and older kids, but parents of toddlers get visibly nervous around them. The Bali"s solid platform with raised edges feels much safer, and the forward cockpit naturally becomes a separate kids" area with sunbeds and seating while adults hang out in the aft cockpit. That said, the Lagoon 42 is still perfectly safe for kids — you"d just want to keep a closer eye on the foredeck area.

Browse all Lagoon 42 catamarans and Bali 4.2 catamarans available for charter in Croatia.