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lagoon 42 review
Catamaran · 39 ft (12 m) · Volos
expert score
Key specs
- Builder
- lagoon
- Model
- 42
- Length
- 39 ft (12 m)
- Guests
- 10
- Cabins
- 6
Verdict
The Lagoon 42 is a spacious, easygoing cruising catamaran that prioritizes comfort, visibility and short-handed sailing over sharp performance. It suits charter use and relaxed family cruising well, though load sensitivity and limited upwind pace are the usual trade-offs.
Pros
- +Very large interior volume for a 42-footer
- +Bright saloon with strong visibility and cockpit connection
- +Shallow draft suits coastal cruising and anchorages
- +Widely available charter-friendly 4- to 6-cabin layouts
Cons
- −Not a performance-oriented catamaran
- −Windward ability is average compared with sportier designs
- −Wide beam can make marina berths and docking less convenient
- −Heavily loaded examples can feel less lively under sail
The Lagoon 42 follows the brand’s familiar emphasis on volume, easy movement and social spaces. Its wide beam, raised saloon and aft cockpit create a very open layout, and the 2020-era boats are commonly configured for charter or family cruising with multiple cabins and heads. The hull form and deck arrangement are aimed more at usability than racing efficiency, which is consistent with the model’s market position.
On the water, the boat is best described as steady and manageable rather than fast. Published tests note respectable cruising speeds under power and a sail plan centered around a self-tacking jib and optional larger mainsail, but the design is still a cruising catamaran first, so upwind performance and lively helm feel are not its strongest traits. The wide platform aids stability, though handling in tight marina spaces still requires attention.
Comfort is a major strength. The Lagoon 42 offers strong natural light, good headroom, and layouts that maximize livability in both the saloon and cabins. With 6 cabins on some charter versions, it can carry a lot of guests, though that comes with compromises in privacy and storage. Overall value is solid for buyers who want a proven, easy-living charter-style catamaran rather than a more performance-focused alternative.
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