Design and Construction
CNB Marine in Bordeaux — a yard whose pedigree runs to high-end custom work — built the 470 using resin-infusion molding over a core sandwich, with vinylester resin throughout. The choice of resin infusion over conventional lamination is not cosmetic: the process raises the fiber-to-resin ratio for a stronger, lighter panel and, critically, forces resin into the kerfs of the core material under atmospheric pressure, sealing future paths for water ingress before they can form. The hull-to-deck joint is similarly well considered, with a solid (uncored) perimeter flange bonded with Sikaflex and mechanically fastened with stainless-steel compression rivets — a belt-and-suspenders approach that holds up under the working loads a big catamaran generates offshore.
The deckhouse redesign from the Lagoon 47 is the most visually obvious change. A vertical leading edge replaces the old sloped greenhouse, adding 14 windows that dramatically improve saloon light and forward visibility from the helm. The tradeoff is real: that vertical face is more exposed to boarding seas in severe conditions, and the builder acknowledged this by reinforcing the mullions between windows and using a structural adhesive sealant to retain the glazing under impact loads. Owners planning extended offshore passages in high latitudes should treat a bow-deployed sea anchor as standard equipment rather than optional insurance.
Rig and Sail Handling
The fractional sloop rig stands 69 feet above the waterline and carries a working sail plan of 1,292 square feet. The mainsail alone accounts for 807 square feet, and the traveler spans nearly the full beam, giving the helmsman genuine control over mainsail trim rather than the vestigial traveler arrangements found on some production cats. Control lines are led sensibly, and reefing is manageable for a short-handed crew — provided the watch on deck is disciplined about reefing before the breeze builds rather than after.
The boat points credibly for a cat with fixed twin keels rather than daggerboards. The lateral plane from the small keels reduces leeway and improves upwind tracking without requiring the crew to manage board positions on each tack — a tradeoff that most cruising crews, as opposed to performance-oriented sailors, will accept without regret. In light air below ten knots of breeze on a reach, the 470 will slow and benefits measurably from a gennaker or asymmetric spinnaker; owners who add a snuffer sock and a furling unit for a code zero will find the boat genuinely rewarding downwind.
Power and Systems
Twin Yanmar saildrives power the 470 in standard 40-horsepower configuration, with a 56-horsepower option for buyers who frequently face windward landfalls under time pressure. Both options deliver hull speed in calm conditions, and the mirrored fuel and water tankage across both hulls — 126 gallons of fuel and 158 gallons of fresh water — keeps weight distribution balanced without asymmetric load penalties. Owners fitting a watermaker commonly swap the allocation, dedicating more capacity to fuel. The 15-gallon holding tank is adequate for a couple but becomes a constraint when the boat is carrying four cabins' worth of guests; an upgraded tank or Y-valve arrangement is a sensible early addition.
The North American market specification included a Profurl headsail furling system, a Lofrans windlass, and a Raymarine electronics suite with radar and GPS. An Onan generator and Mastervolt inverter are fitted for hotel loads, providing the electrical foundation for refrigeration and the eventual addition of a watermaker or air conditioning.
Accommodations
Lagoon offered three layout options: a four-cabin charter configuration and two owner layouts — one with the galley-down arrangement and one with the galley-up arrangement. All versions center on a bridgedeck saloon with a large elliptical table that seats eight comfortably and ten in a crowd. The galley is generous regardless of position, and the CAD/CAM-machined joinery keeps finish quality consistent while managing weight — a meaningful concern on a boat whose performance depends on staying close to its light-trim displacement of around ten tons.
Headroom in the passageways is a genuine strength, a product of the relationship between the raised bridgedeck and the tall deckhouse. Wide berths in all cabins and a sense of volume that feels more residential than naval make the 470 a realistic liveaboard or extended-passage platform rather than a weekend accommodation.
Known Concerns
The vertical deckhouse leading edge, while a clear improvement for light and visibility, is the 470's most significant structural conversation point. Extra reinforcement in the window mullions was added at the factory, but prospective owners should inspect this area carefully — any cracking, crazing, or delamination around the window frames warrants investigation before bluewater passages. The holding tank capacity is undersized for the boat's guest load and should be addressed early. And while the fixed-keel arrangement is lower maintenance than daggerboards, it does limit upwind performance in light conditions where a daggerboard cat would pull ahead.
Refits and Upgrades
The 470's strong electrical foundation — generator, inverter, and alternators on both engines — makes it a good candidate for a modern energy upgrade. The boat's beam and bridgedeck geometry provide meaningful solar panel real estate, and the davit arrangement astern is sized for a practical RIB. Light-air sail additions (asymmetric spinnaker with snuffer, code zero with furler) are the single highest-return performance upgrades available and are offered as factory-supported running-rigging packages. A watermaker is the other logical early addition, allowing the water-tank capacity to be reallocated to extended-range fuel.
The Verdict
The Lagoon 470 is what a mature production catamaran looks like when the builder listens carefully to the people who actually use the boats. CNB's manufacturing quality is well above the production-cat average, the layout options are genuinely thought through, and the rig gives a short-handed crew the tools to manage the boat without heroics. It is not a performance cat, and owners who want to chase racing multihulls or push upwind in light air will be unsatisfied. But for the cruiser who wants a capable, well-built, spacious platform for extended passages and liveaboard comfort, the 470 delivers on its promises.
Pros
- Resin-infusion construction with vinylester resin sets a high bar for laminate quality
- Wide-beam traveler and sensible sail-plan give genuine control options
- Multiple layout configurations including liveaboard-friendly galley-down option
- Strong electrical systems foundation for modern refit
- Proven offshore capability demonstrated by transatlantic deliveries on own bottoms
Cons
- Vertical deckhouse leading edge requires careful inspection for window-frame integrity
- Fixed keels limit upwind performance compared to daggerboard-equipped cats
- 15-gallon holding tank undersized for full four-cabin load
- Light-air performance below 10 knots of breeze requires supplemental downwind canvas
- Ten-ton displacement means light-air reaching requires active sail management
