Design and Construction
The Excess 15 is built in three sections, pairing the Lagoon 50's bridge deck and inner hulls below the waterline with new outer hull shells, and the entire line uses vacuum-infusion with balsa coring in the deck and hulls above the waterline. VPLP Design stripped roughly a ton from the Lagoon baseline by lightening interior fixtures and eliminating the flybridge, and the builder committed that no Excess model would carry a flybridge, keeping the emphasis on sailing athleticism. At 42,018 pounds light ship with a 26-foot-4-inch beam and 4-foot-7-inch draft, the platform carries a displacement-to-length ratio of 182 and a sail-area-to-displacement ratio of 22, figures that place it firmly in the lively cruising-cat end of the spectrum rather than the heavy charter mold.
Rig and Handling
The standard rig is a square-top main with a self-tending jib, and the optional PulseLine configuration adds a bowsprit for a Code 0 plus about 120 square feet of upwind sail area between the square-top main and self-tacking jib. A Pulse package described elsewhere raises the mast three feet and sets the code zero on a continuous-line furler, and a test boat sailed in solent-rig form tacked with nothing more than a turn of the wheel and a touch on the Harken electric traveler. Twin wheels sit aft and outboard on each transom, with the starboard pod carrying a Raymarine display and engine controls and the port helm fitted with wind instruments and a tablet mount; the builder claimed the vertical saloon windows ahead improve forward sightlines from those aft helms. Testers found the boat easy to handle and fun to sail, making around 8 knots under jib and main within 60 degrees of true wind and touching 10.5 knots with the Code 0 on a broad reach.
On-Deck Living
Beyond the twin aft helms with their double seats, the boat carries a soft-top accordion sunroof and a genuine forward cockpit lounge, with elongated handrails running nearly the full length of the coachroof for secure movement forward. The aft cockpit itself holds an inviting dining table to port wrapped by an L-shaped settee, a large lounge opposite, and a transom bench between folding helm seats; the Bimini center slides open to admit sunlight and keep the mainsail in view. A cockpit on the test boat added a sink, fridge, and ice maker to support gatherings outside.
Accommodations
Buyers choose between four cabins with four heads, or a three-cabin owner's version giving the entire starboard hull to a master suite with a bow head carrying his-and-hers sinks plus a desk and outboard sofa. The saloon reads lighter and more contemporary than the Lagoon 50's, with an L-shaped settee slightly raised above the main deck facing a bench aft of the compression post, and a second table with another L-settee forward beneath glass windows all around and a large aft sliding door. The galley tucks into the aft port corner with an L-shaped run of sink, stove, oven, and microwave, opposite a drawer-style fridge and freezer with added counter space, while a six-cabin, six-head charter arrangement with forepeak crew berths is also offered.
Propulsion and Performance Under Power
Standard propulsion is twin 57-horsepower Yanmar diesels, with the test boat upgraded to 80-horsepower units, and folding propellers carried the boat at 7.5 knots wide open and about 6.5 knots cruise. The combination of low drag from the feathering props and the moderate 4-foot-7-inch draft makes for relaxed dock-to-anchor motoring without stressing the standard engine package.
The Verdict
The Excess 15 succeeds as a cruising cat that does not apologize for its helm feel. By reworking the Lagoon 50's shell, dropping a ton of interior weight, and refusing the flybridge, VPLP and Excess produced a 48-footer that sails into the double digits under reaching spinnaker yet still houses a proper owner's suite and a sociable aft cockpit. It is a boat for the sailor who wants the space but refuses to leave performance at the dock.
Pros
- Shares proven Lagoon 50 bridge deck and inner hulls but with lighter, distinct outer hulls and no flybridge
- PulseLine rig adds 120 square feet of upwind area and a Code 0 bowsprit
- Twin aft helms with modern instrument pods and good forward visibility through saloon windows
- Owner's version delivers a full-beam starboard master with desk and sofa
- Easy handling: single-turn tacking via electric traveler on test sail
Cons
- Standard 57hp diesels are modest; sustained planing or heavy auxiliary use may want the 80hp upgrade
- Forward sightline claim from aft helms rests on builder assertion rather than measured test
