Lagoon 47 Sailboats for Sale

What sets the Lagoon 47 apart is its combination of a wide 24-foot beam, shallow twin-keel draft of under four feet, and the fractional Bermuda sloop rig with swept spreaders that became a hallmark of the Lagoon line. The dual Yanmar diesel engines give comfortable independence from the sails in port and canal work. The design proved so well-suited to charter operations that a significant share of hulls spent their working lives in bareboat fleets, which has direct implications for buyers today.

Layouts on the Used Market

Charter four-cabin layouts are the more common configuration encountered on the used market, reflecting the design's strong uptake in commercial bareboat fleets. These hulls typically feature symmetrical accommodation across both hulls, with cabins of broadly equal size and dedicated heads to serve charter guests. Owner-operator versions with a three-cabin layout, often allocating more generous space and storage to one hull for the skipper, are available but less frequently seen.

Prospective buyers with liveaboard intentions may actually find the charter four-cabin layout workable — the cabins are compact but usable — while those wanting a dedicated owner's cabin with more privacy and storage will need to search more selectively. Neither layout is rare enough to demand a premium in searching effort; patience yields examples of both.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Given the production window, examples on the used market commonly reflect decades of owner investment rather than factory specification. Most hulls have received at least one full electronics refresh, and autopilots, chart plotters, and VHF radios from original equipment are frequently replaced with more current systems on boats that have seen active use. Dodgers and bimini arrangements are a frequent upgrade, often combined into a hardtop or rigid arch structure that improves cockpit shelter — particularly common on hulls that transitioned from charter to private ownership.

Watermakers appear on many examples, as befits a boat that attracted bluewater passages and extended cruising. Solar panels and wind generators appear on a good number of hulls, owner upgrades that reflect the catamaran cruising community's preference for energy independence at anchor. Gensets appear on some examples as well. The sail inventory is worth scrutinizing: headsails and mainsails age and soften over seasons of heavy use, and boats coming off charter cycles are particularly likely to carry tired canvas that will need replacement soon after purchase.

Outboard dinghies and their davit or arch arrangements vary considerably from hull to hull, ranging from simple transom-hung systems to more elaborate stern platform setups. Dinghy engine hours and condition are worth verifying independently.

What to Inspect

The Lagoon 47's charter history is the single most important context for inspection. Boats used heavily in commercial fleets may have accumulated far more engine hours and wear than their age suggests, and deferred maintenance is a known risk on boats returning from bareboat service. Both Yanmar engines should be surveyed carefully for hours, service records, impeller history, and heat exchanger condition, as twin-engine running costs compound quickly if both units need attention simultaneously.

The hulls are constructed of polyester fiberglass, and osmotic blistering is a known concern for boats of this era and construction method. A full hull survey with moisture meter readings across both hulls is essential before purchase; significant moisture ingress can require costly barrier coat remediation. Pay particular attention to the keel root areas and the bridgedeck underside.

The deck-stepped mast and aluminum spar with continuous stainless wire rigging should be inspected for fatigue, particularly at the spreader roots and chainplate connections. Rigging of this generation is likely original or early replacement and may be approaching end of service life even if it appears superficially sound. The standing rigging and chainplate hardware warrant close attention from a qualified marine surveyor.

Steering systems on the twin spade rudder arrangement should be checked for play, bearing wear, and cable or linkage integrity. Interior teak trim and woodwork, often a Lagoon hallmark, requires inspection for moisture staining, delamination, or rot, particularly in the heads compartments and around port frames — areas where water management is chronically challenging on any production cruising cat.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

The Lagoon 47 circulates across an international brokerage market with meaningful representation in the United States, Italy, the Netherlands, and New Zealand, as well as appearing periodically in other Mediterranean and Caribbean markets. Its strong charter history means supply tends to be reasonably steady rather than scant, but condition varies considerably and diligence rewards patient buyers.

The boat suits buyers who want a proven, capable bluewater catamaran from a respected French builder at a fraction of the cost of newer production equivalents — provided they budget for the inspection, any deferred maintenance, and likely sail and electronics updates.

Buyer's checklist before committing:

• Commission a full marine survey including moisture meter readings on both hulls, keel roots, and bridgedeck
• Verify engine hours, service records, and impeller and heat exchanger history on both Yanmars
• Inspect standing rigging and chainplates for age, fatigue, and replacement history
• Confirm whether layout is charter four-cabin or owner three-cabin configuration, and assess against your intended use
• Review sail inventory condition — mainsail, headsail, and any cruising chute
• Check autopilot, electronics, and navigation systems for currency and function
• Verify watermaker, solar, and any genset condition and service history
• Assess dinghy, outboard, and davit system independently
• Confirm steering system play and rudder bearing condition
• Inspect all port frames and heads compartments for moisture ingress and wood condition