Three Atlantic crossings, a 3D printer, and 2,400 watts of solar — this custom-kitted catamaran is built to go anywhere.
Andrew Hodgdon of The Multihull Company met us dockside in St. Augustine, Florida, for a walkthrough of S/V GTFO, a 2024 Balance 482 that has already logged three Atlantic crossings. She’s a proven blue-water platform layered with thoughtful owner upgrades — the kind of boat that rewards a slow, careful tour.
Rig, Sails, and Deck
GTFO carries Zoom Hydranet sails, a material prized for its shape retention and long service life, paired with a self-tacking jib on track. The wardrobe is deep: code zero, asymmetric, and a symmetrical spinnaker. Up forward, the standard aluminum crossbeam and bowsprit house a Rocna 33 kg anchor, windlass, and chain locker, and the oversized port sail-locker hatch is sized to be worked from at sea. A Sparcraft aluminum mast carries lines aft, with reefing and hoists handled at the helm.
Below the waterline, Coppercoat antifouling and a vinyl-wrapped hull round out a package clearly set up for long-distance ownership.
Power and Systems
Energy independence is where GTFO really separates herself from a stock 482. She carries 2,400 watts of solar in total — 2,000 watts on the coachroof plus a 400-watt panel over the davits — all in efficient real-glass panels rather than flush-deck laminates. Storage lives in an upgraded Victron lithium bank at 48 volts, fed by APS high-output 48V alternators regulated by Wakespeed external controllers. The inverter/charger stack is beefed up too: an 8,000-watt 110V unit alongside the standard 5,000-watt 220V, with full 110/220 multi-voltage wiring and outlets throughout so appliances can be sourced anywhere in the world.
Air conditioning is 48V DC high-efficiency soft-start, one unit in each cabin and the salon, capable of running two units overnight directly off the battery bank. The twin Yanmar 45 hp diesels sit in the sugar-scoop hatches and vent via a dry exhaust system — noticeably quieter when idling as a generator at anchor.
Cockpit and Helm
The cockpit is classic Balance: a big drop-down table that converts to a lounge bed, generous seating, and a refrigerated locker under the down-helm seat. A full Eisenglass and shade-cloth enclosure lets you seal the cockpit for weather or privacy. A Kenyon electric grill sits ready for burgers.
The VersaHelm is the centerpiece — swing it down, close the top, and you have a fully protected station with 360-degree visibility through real laminate glass. Garmin chartplotters, wind instruments, and autopilot are duplicated at both down- and up-helm positions, and GTFO adds a redundant autopilot on a simple switch-over — a genuine offshore feature. Two cameras (bow and masthead) help with anchoring, mooring pickups, and tight harbor approaches. Up top, three electric winches, organized clutches, a pop-up bimini, and a tucked-away Starlink dish complete a practical working station.
Interior
Inside, the standard 482 layout is finished in bamboo cabinetry with a matching drop-down salon table. A forward-facing nav station with a movable ottoman seat gives a proper working surface at sea. The U-shaped galley includes a Miele four-burner induction cooktop with bridgeable burners and silicone pot pads, a Whirlpool convection oven, a farm-basin sink, and two large double-drawer fridge-freezers to complement the cockpit refrigeration.
The starboard hull is the owner’s suite: a queen island berth, big hanging closet, and an aft ensuite with a large shower and a handy wet-gear hanging rail. The port hull holds two guest cabins with a split head arrangement. Ventilation is strong throughout, with overhead hatches, portlights, and an added second fan in the master.
Voyager Extras
Two details underline how this boat is set up to fend for itself: an onboard 3D printer for fabricating small plastic parts and fittings, and a Sailrite heavy-duty sewing machine for canvas and upholstery work. Combined with the watermaker (mounted with easy access and a drain tray on the starboard passageway) and the accessible DC panel, GTFO is genuinely equipped for self-sufficient cruising.
Market Snapshot
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Balance 482s sold (24 mo.) | 1 |
| Median time to sell | ~296 days |
| Active listings | 2 |
| Asking range | $1,455,000–$1,525,000 |
| Median asking | $1,490,000 |
For buyers focused on this specific model, the pool of available boats is small — which makes a heavily upgraded, ocean-tested example worth a closer look.