Hull Design and Construction
The most consequential change VPLP made to the Lagoon 39 was relocating the center of buoyancy of the hulls much farther aft, a shift that cascades through every aspect of how the boat is built and how it behaves. Moving that center meant there was no conventional main bulkhead under the mast position, so Lagoon engineered an unobtrusive compression post at the edge of a galley counter, backed by a husky bridgedeck comprising a composite beam and stringers that transfer rig loads directly into the hulls. That grid ties into fore and aft bulkheads, creating a square, stiff box that proved its mettle in rough-water testing.
The bows are fine and plumb to maximize waterline length, and the fine entries do more than look purposeful: under way in Atlantic chop, they sliced through the waves with noticeable buoyancy and no bridgedeck slamming whatsoever. The fiberglass laminate is vacuum-infused balsa core above the waterline and solid glass below, with the deck also balsa cored — a conventional but proven schedule for a production cruiser. Plumbing and wiring are first-class, with everything labeled, bundled and properly clamped, reflecting years of Lagoon experience building boats that must survive charter abuse.
Rig and Sailing Performance
The aft mast position that reorganized the hull structure also transforms the sailing character. Placing the spar farther back creates a very large foretriangle reminiscent of an ocean racing trimaran and supports a high-aspect mainsail that benefits enormously from the optional square-top. The double-spreader fractional rig features a rotating spar, extracting efficiency gains that a conventional fixed section cannot match.
Because the large foretriangle carries most of the drive, the mainsail is easier to handle than it is aboard many big multihulls, and all halyards and sheets fall conveniently to hand at the helm station — a direct consequence of running rigging routing to wherever the mast sits, which reduces friction and keeps lines clear of crew and passengers. Under sail in 18 to 22 knots, speeds of 6.1 to 6.4 knots hard on the wind climbed to 7.5 at beam reach and 8 knots downwind, numbers that flattered both reviewers who tested the boat independently. One tester recorded 7 knots most of the time to windward with a top of 7.5 knots, and noted the boat never hesitated to tack or respond to helm input. Off the wind the 39 accelerated easily to better than 8 knots and felt like a sailboat to steer — genuine praise in a class where helm feedback is often conspicuously absent.
Deck Layout and Helm Station
Lagoon's charter heritage is visible everywhere on deck: wide side decks, plenty of grab points, and good toerails create a safe working platform for mixed-experience crews. The foredeck is largely trampoline netting, reducing weight and slamming in rough water, while two large, deep lockers handle fenders and lines. All sheets and halyards live on the cabintop, leaving the cockpit large, comfortable and uncluttered — well suited to socializing under the targa top.
The helm occupies a cutout in the targa top on the starboard side, a position that puts every line tail conveniently to hand and eliminates the head-knocking overhangs that plague some contemporary designs. A line tail bag beside the wheel completes the functional station. One reviewer noted reaching the cabintop from the foredeck was not easy and that a step or two would be welcome — a useful ergonomic note for anyone who sails short-handed and needs to move forward under way.
Accommodations
Below decks, the Lagoon 39 was designed in two principal layouts. The owner's version uses a large double berth aft in each hull, plus a dressing table and a large head with a separate shower stall forward, giving the starboard and port hulls identical, mirror-image suites — an elegant doubling-down on an already good idea that speaks to how many owners actually use their boats. The interior is finished with Alpi wood laminate joinery and big vertical windows set low enough to look through when seated, flooding the saloon with light and delivering genuine panoramic views.
The galley runs to port, with the navigation station directly ahead of it — a forward-facing arrangement that permits sailing from inside under autopilot in poor weather, with a view that actually helps. The dinette table seats five easily. Interior design credit goes to Nauta Design, and their work shows in the thoughtful fiddles, mid-cabin grab post, and sturdy positive locker catches that distinguish a boat designed for blue-water use rather than a dock float.
Under Power
Twin diesel engines behave as twin diesel engines do on a well-sorted catamaran: the Lagoon 39 executes the classic cat pirouette in its own length with engines running in opposition, and measured 7.5 knots at 3,000 rpm with a sound level of 68 dBA. The CE certification rating of Category A for ten people confirms the designers built the structure for offshore conditions, not merely coastal passages.
The Verdict
The Lagoon 39 is a genuinely coherent piece of naval architecture, not merely a smaller version of a larger boat with the proportions scaled down. VPLP's decision to move the center of buoyancy and mast aft simultaneously improved performance, simplified sail handling, and kept bridgedeck clearance adequate enough to eliminate slamming in real seaways — a combination that production catamarans in this size range rarely achieve together. It is a charter-proven, owner-sailed cruiser that competes on sailing ability without sacrificing the interior volume and access that define Lagoon's appeal.
Pros
- Aft mast position reduces pitching, improves upwind speed, and routes running rigging cleanly to the helm
- Fine, plumb bows eliminate bridgedeck slamming in choppy conditions
- Mirror-image owner's suites in the two-cabin layout maximize privacy for two couples
- First-class plumbing and wiring reflect genuine build quality, not just cosmetic finish
- Helm station integrates line handling with no awkward overhangs or cluttered cockpit
- CE Category A certification confirms offshore structural integrity
Cons
- Transition from foredeck to cabintop lacks adequate steps for short-handed crews
- Helm position offers no built-in shade, a significant omission in tropical cruising grounds
- Large foretriangle requires commitment to a specific sail inventory strategy; getting it wrong leaves performance on the table
- Pitching motion, while less severe than many production cats, remains more active than a comparable monohull in steep chop
