Design and Construction
Le Quément and VPLP traded hard angles for soft curves. The 42-2 has a gullwing bridgedeck shaped underneath to minimize pounding in rough seas, along with an expansive coachroof that forms a compound curve around the cabinhouse. Glazed vertical windows bend around the corners to reduce heat inside the hulls.
The composite bimini angles upward to suggest suspension. Infused injection-molded construction keeps weight down without sacrificing the structural center beam, which secures the forestay fitting, Code 0 sprit, anchor roller, and anchor chain well. Nauta’s interior brings an elegant touch to a layout built around same-level movement between cockpit and saloon.
Rig, Sailing, and Engine Performance
The VMG Soromap mast sits well aft, opening the foretriangle for more downwind options while centering weight to reduce pitching. The shorter boom and taller mast produce an efficient, high-aspect sailplan. The self-tacking jib runs on a track forward of the mast, making shorthanded work straightforward. An optional square-top mainsail by Incidence Sails adds 40 square feet over the standard main.
Testers found that the boat tacked smoothly and without hesitation in light air. She reached 6.1 knots in 11.6 knots of true breeze at 50 degrees. Under a 732-square-foot Code 0, she made nearly 7 knots at 75 degrees apparent in 10 knots, dropping to 5.3 knots when borne away to 110 degrees. Owners have also reported a later 15-knot dash in 22 knots of true wind off Bimini.
Standard power is provided by twin 45 hp Yanmars. With the optional twin 57 hp Yanmars, saildrives, and Flexofold props, the test boat cruised at 7.8 knots at 2,000 rpm and reached 8.7 knots wide open.
Cockpit and Helm
Wide transoms and just two low steps up to the single-level cockpit make boarding from a dock or dinghy less awkward. The cockpit has a starboard dinette for eight, a port lounge for two, and a small seat ahead of the davits.
The raised helm to port leaves enough room for two people to work the pair of Harken winches, while a third can stand or pass behind the seat. A window in the hardtop keeps the mainsail in view. All controls are within reach of the wheel, allowing the boat to be sailed single-handed.
Interior and Accommodations
A three-panel glass door opens into the saloon. Here, the center compression post doubles as a handhold, while the athwartships settee backs onto the outboard navigation station, which has its own B&G instruments.
The split U-shaped galley places a three-burner Eno stove and single sink to starboard, with refrigeration to port.
In the owner’s layout, the entire starboard hull becomes a private master suite. It includes a low island bed, desk, large hull windows, and a forward head that occupies a third of the hull and includes a huge shower. The port hull contains an aft cabin with a private head and a forward cabin with a combined head and bow storage. A charter version provides two cabins and two heads in each hull.
Known Issues
The Goiot 49.42 escape hatch fitted to some Lagoon 42-2s has a defect that can allow the acrylic lens to pop out near the waterline, traced to silicone that fails to adhere to the lens.
On deck, the coachroof’s smoothly finished fiberglass edge has no antiskid and becomes slippery when wet. There are also no handholds mounted on the coachroof itself. For less agile crew, the only access to the mainsail bag is via the helm steps.
Testers also found the top-loading refrigerator at the edge of the port stairs awkward to reach into while balancing. The saloon has no overhead hatch, so ventilation depends on two forward windows and the glass door.
The Verdict
The Lagoon 42-2 is a thoughtfully engineered midsize cruiser. Its aft-mast rig, soft-curve structure, and same-level social spaces make it easy to live aboard and sail shorthanded. However, buyers should pay attention to the shortcomings in ventilation and topside grip, as well as the escape-hatch defect affecting some boats.
Pros
- Aft-mast, high-aspect rig centers weight and simplifies shorthanded sailing
- Infused construction and a structural beam keep displacement low without sacrificing stiffness
- Wide transoms and level movement between cockpit and saloon make it easier to get around
- Owner’s hull provides a genuinely private master suite with large hull windows
Cons
- Coachroof edge is slick fiberglass, with no antiskid or mounted handholds
- Saloon lacks an overhead hatch for ventilation
- Some boats have a Goiot escape hatch with a lens-pop-out defect
- Top-loading refrigerator is awkward to use from the edge of the stairs
