The builder credits the new hull form with delivering an exceptional quality of life aboard. The Lagoon 38’s dimensions and displacement point to a boat designed for volume rather than outright velocity, with a theoretical hull speed near 8.2 knots.
Design and Construction
Despite its name, the Lagoon 38 measures 43 feet 1 inch overall, with an 11-foot 4-inch hull length and a 21-foot 10-inch beam. Light displacement is 22,579 pounds, and air draft is 64 feet 11 inches, placing it firmly in the midsize cruising-catamaran class.
The Lagoon 38 has solid-fiberglass hulls and deck. Patrick le Quément handled the exterior styling, which SAIL Magazine suggested bordered on sorcery in the way it blends appeal and practicality, while Nauta Design developed the interior.
Extended, specially adapted transoms provide what the manufacturer describes as safe, easy access. Wide swim platforms project aft of the hull sides, with a solid outboard handrail for support.
Forward, the trampoline is asymmetrical and divided by the composite longeron, which carries the anchor chain from the crossbeam back to the windlass. A cushioned mini-lounge behind the trampoline adds another outdoor seating area.
The helm is set against the starboard bulkhead. A two-rung ladder leads from there to the Bimini, where a sunbed gives guests a place to sit with the skipper.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
The fractional sloop rig carries 836 square feet of upwind sail area. Sail choices include an optional 599-square-foot square-top mainsail or a 540-square-foot full-batten mainsail with roach, paired with a 237-square-foot self-tacking jib. A Code 0 is also available for light-air sailing.
The mainsheet is double-ended and runs on the Bimini without a traveler, simplifying trim from the helm. One winch handles all the lines, placing considerable demands on the jammer arrays. However, the starboard bulkhead helm has enough room for a driver and a line handler to work together.
Testers found the 237-square-foot jib’s reefs more of a suggestion than a necessity. With the square-top main and self-tacking jib, the test boat made 7.2 knots on a beam reach in 16 to 18 knots of true wind. Speed fell to 6.5 knots when pointing at 50 degrees apparent.
Twin 29-horsepower Yanmar diesels with Saildrives are the only propulsion offered. They deliver six knots at cruising speed.
Cockpit and Interior
The Lagoon 38 is offered with three or four cabins and two heads. The builder lists accommodation for six to ten people, while the modular layout can seat as many as ten for meals in what it describes as a warm atmosphere.
A sliding glass door joins the saloon and cockpit into one continuous living space. A separate three-panel glass door divides the two areas and stows ahead of and below the helm. Saloon seating runs along the port side and continues toward the cockpit.
The cockpit dinette is also to port. Its movable bench can face inward or outward, allowing the crew to change the arrangement on the spot. A wide, fixed transom seat sits just forward of the davits, with another bench to starboard. A deck-level sunbed fills the port side of the cockpit.
The galley spans the forward bulkhead beneath the front windows. It includes a three-burner Eno propane stove and oven, with floor-to-ceiling refrigeration to starboard.
In the owner’s version, the entire port hull becomes a spacious stateroom, with the bed forward and a colossal head and shower aft. The starboard hull contains two double cabins that share a head and separate shower stall.
Tankage, Solar, and Equipment
Standard tankage comprises 106 gallons of fuel and 79 gallons of water. An optional 53-gallon freshwater capacity adds some flexibility. The overall tankage remains modest; this is a design characteristic rather than a fault, but it will shape passage planning.
Standard UV filtration makes water from the tanks potable without aftermarket treatment. Optional equipment includes 1,420 watts of solar power embedded in the rooftop and davits, along with the Code 0 and square-top mainsail. These options reflect the kind of owner investment that can extend the boat’s self-sufficiency.
Known Issues
The record shows no structural defects, osmotic repairs, or systemic failures for this model.
The main operational caveat is the helm arrangement. Because a single winch handles every line, line management is concentrated rather than distributed, and the jammer arrays carry a heavy workload. Along with the modest tankage, this is the principal practical compromise identified in the Lagoon 38’s layout.
Warranties and Certification
Lagoon backs the 38 with a seven-year structural warranty, a five-year engine warranty covering Yanmar only, and a three-year general warranty with exclusions.
Its CE approval is rated A:8, B:12, C:16, D:20, confirming the design for the stated categories.
The Verdict
The Lagoon 38 is a thoughtfully modern cruising catamaran that trades raw speed for livability. Its hull form and interior volume are aimed squarely at family and charter comfort.
The concentrated helm arrangement and modest tankage are the only real compromises. Both are predictable consequences of the boat’s market positioning rather than oversights.
Pros
- VPLP hull design, Patrick le Quément exterior styling, and Nauta Design interior from Lagoon’s current generation
- Continuous saloon-to-cockpit living space through sliding and three-panel glass doors
- Owner’s-version port hull with a forward berth and an aft head and shower
- Strong optional solar installation and Code 0 support for self-sufficient cruising
- Seven-year structural warranty and five-year Yanmar engine warranty
Cons
- A single helm winch concentrates all line handling through the jammer arrays
- Standard 106-gallon fuel and 79-gallon water tankage is light for extended use
