lagoon 42 review

The Lagoon 42 follows the brand’s modern cruising-catamaran formula: a wide beam, raised bridgedeck and a deck plan focused on space and visibility. Its styling is functional rather than aggressive, with a big cockpit-to-saloon connection and an emphasis on easy living over high-performance sailing. The 2020 version is typically offered in layouts that favor charter or family use, including four cabins for eight guests.

Under sail, the boat is best described as easy and predictable rather than lively. The self-tacking jib simplifies tacking and reduces workload, which is useful for couples or crews with limited multihull experience. Public specs place the Lagoon 42 at about 12.8 m overall with a 7.7 m beam, a 1.25 m draft and twin diesel engines around 45 hp each, so harbor handling is straightforward but still requires awareness of the wide footprint.

Comfort is the Lagoon 42’s main strength. Cabin volume, standing headroom, and the natural light from the large hull windows make it feel larger than its length, while the four-cabin arrangement suits families or charter groups well. The tradeoff is that tankage and performance are merely adequate for a 42-foot cruising cat, so owners planning extended off-grid passages may want to consider extra equipment and careful provisioning.

In value terms, the Lagoon 42 remains popular because it combines a proven platform, easy resale appeal and a layout that works well for private cruising or charter income. It is a sensible purchase for buyers prioritizing space, simplicity and market acceptance, but sailors looking for a sharper helm or faster passage times will likely want a more performance-oriented catamaran.