Lagoon 46 Catamaran Review, Specs and Price Guide

Why the Lagoon 46 matters

The Lagoon 450 was one of the most successful cruising catamarans ever built, with roughly 800 boats delivered over a decade. Replacing it was never going to be a cosmetic job, and when the Lagoon 46 arrived in 2019 it carried the same overall footprint but a very different philosophy on deck.

The headline change is the rig. VPLP moved the mast well aft, closer to the center of the boat, and paired it with a larger, square-top mainsail and a self-tacking jib. On a 46-foot catamaran that matters, because a smaller headsail that tacks itself turns a two-handed beat up a channel from a choreographed event into something one person can handle from the helm.

Flybridge, helm and sail handling

The helm station sits on the flybridge to starboard, with all halyards, sheets and reefing lines led back to winches within reach of the wheel. Owners coming from older Lagoons will notice that the bridge is larger and better protected, with a sunbathing area forward and enough seating for four or five people to stay with the skipper on passage.

Lagoon lowered the boom compared with the 450, which makes flaking the main and fitting the sail cover far less of a climb. The trade-off of a flybridge helm is visibility of the leeward bows in tight docking. Most buyers add a pair of bow cameras or simply learn to use the side decks as a sightline.

• All lines led to the flybridge helm
• Self-tacking jib on a track forward of the mast
• Square-top mainsail for more power aloft
• Electric primary winch is a near universal option

Saloon, cockpit and the forward cockpit

The aft cockpit is a single level with the saloon, divided by a large sliding glass door, so the whole main deck reads as one room in warm weather. There is a proper dining table to port, a lounge to starboard, and steps to both swim platforms.

A door at the front of the saloon opens to a forward cockpit with a sunpad and seating. On anchor this becomes the quietest spot on the boat, sheltered from the breeze funneling through the aft cockpit. The galley stays in the saloon on the 46 rather than moving to an aft position, which keeps the cook connected to the guests at the table.

Three cabin owner layout versus four cabin charter layout

Private buyers usually choose the three cabin owner's version, which dedicates the entire starboard hull to a master suite with a desk, sofa, generous storage and a large head with separate shower. Two guest doubles with their own heads share the port hull.

The four cabin version gives each corner its own double cabin and head, which is why it dominates charter fleets in the Caribbean, the Mediterranean and Southeast Asia. If you plan to put the boat into a charter management program, the four cabin boat is easier to fill and holds its resale value better in the ex-charter market.

How it sails

This is a comfortable, predictable cruising catamaran rather than a performance boat. In 12 to 15 knots of true wind it typically reaches at 8 to 9 knots, and with a code zero or gennaker on a broad reach double digit speeds are realistic. Close hauled it will point to around 50 degrees apparent, which is typical for a fixed keel production cat of this weight.

Because the jib is smaller than on the 450, light air performance upwind depends heavily on having a code zero aboard. Most private owners order one, and many charter boats do not, which is something to check when you compare listings.

Engines, tankage and systems

Standard power is a pair of 45 hp Yanmar diesels, with 57 hp versions available. The upgrade is worth having if you motor into chop often or plan long canal and coastal hops. At around 2,000 rpm on both engines expect roughly 7 to 8 knots while burning about 1.5 to 2 gallons per hour in total.

With 275 gallons of diesel and 159 gallons of water, the boat has enough range for island hopping, but a watermaker is close to essential for serious cruising with a full crew. Air conditioning requires a generator, and lithium battery banks combined with a solar arch have become the most popular refit on privately owned boats.

What it costs to own

Budget roughly 5 to 9 percent of the purchase price per year for insurance, berthing, maintenance and haul outs. Catamaran beam is the big variable: at nearly 26 feet wide, the Lagoon 46 needs a double slip or an end tie in most US marinas, and those can cost 50 to 100 percent more than a monohull berth of the same length.

On the other hand, two small diesels, no ballasted keel and a simple rig keep mechanical costs predictable. Antifouling, sail replacement roughly every eight to ten years of cruising, and the generator service schedule are the main recurring items.