The marine press also took notice. The Lagoon 50 was named Multihull of the Year in 2018 and won SAIL’s Best Boat award in the 40-to-50-foot cruising multihull class for 2019.
Design and Construction
The Lagoon 50 measures 48 feet 5 inches overall, with a 26-foot-7-inch beam and a modest 4-foot-7-inch draft. It weighs nearly 46,000 pounds lightship and can carry another 20,000 pounds when fully loaded.
By the time the 50 appeared, Lagoon’s styling had become more angular. The boat follows that direction with hard transom lines, attractively tapered hulls, and a coachroof that slopes down toward the bow. Wrap-around vertical windows provide a terrific view from inside and contribute to the panoramic sightlines cited by the builder. Although they look continuous, the glazing is assembled from separate panels. The hulls and rigging are credited with giving the boat its contemporary signature look and exceptional performance.
Vacuum infusion helps keep weight low. The structure uses balsa coring above the waterline and in the deck.
Access from the water is straightforward. Two low steps lead from the transoms into the cockpit, while a second set of steps to starboard descends to the side deck. The hydraulic swim platform forms a teak beach and carries the tender in chocks that fold away.
Rig, Handling, and Performance
The mast is stepped farther aft. This helps prevent hobby-horsing and allows a shorter boom, making the mainsail easier to handle. With an 87-foot air draft, the higher-aspect rig can reach stronger winds aloft.
The spars are aluminum. Three Harken winches handle lines routed through clutches into three integrated sheet bins, helping keep the cockpit clear. An electric drum to starboard controls the continuous traveler sheet, allowing the large mainsail to be trimmed in a blow with little effort.
The standard sail plan combines a full-batten mainsail with an 87 percent self-tacking jib, providing about 1,700 square feet of upwind sail area. An optional Code 0 adds considerable speed on a beam reach.
During testing off Miami, the boat sailed at 5.1 knots while 60 degrees off the wind in 12 to 16 knots of true breeze. It accelerated to 7.4 knots at 140 degrees, and the Code 0 later produced 11.4 knots on a beam reach.
The test boat’s twin 80-horsepower Yanmar diesels with saildrives pushed it to 9.5 knots at 3,000 rpm. The standard engines are a pair of 57-horsepower units, and cruising at 2,200 rpm produces around 7.5 knots.
Cockpit and Helm
The cockpit table to port folds in for a quick breakfast or opens to seat eight. Its detachable end seat can be moved forward to create more room. To starboard, there’s a twin lounge and an outdoor galley with a sink, refrigerator, bottle cutouts, and a large counter.
Steps lead to the helm, where the bench accommodates the skipper and companions. The dash carries a B&G multifunction display, wind instruments, autopilot, and remote windlass control. A triple-wide sun pad sits behind the helm.
The centerline helm does bring one drawback: a skipper seated directly behind the wheel looks straight into the mast. Clear forward sightlines require sitting off-center. Both stairways could also use additional handholds when the boat is bouncing along in a seaway.
The engine-room hatches open upward and aft, allowing checks to be made from the cockpit instead of from the steps—an important detail when the boat is moving.
Accommodations
The Lagoon 50 is available with three, four, or even six cabins and as many as six heads, an unequalled choice of layouts for a boat of this size. The cabins are spacious and arranged with rest in mind, while shared areas such as the saloon and cockpit emphasize comfort and easy access.
Inside, the saloon settee runs nearly the full beam around a table that opens for dining. The table can then articulate forward to create a cocktail lounge facing a pop-up TV.
The starboard master suite includes an aft island bed and a forward double. Storage is extensive: huge hanging lockers with additional space behind them, a sliding-door bookcase, a desk with a settee, and a walk-in closet containing three rows of drawers. A skylight opens the suite visually to the saloon.
The split aft galley is equipped with a three-burner Eno stove and two Isotherm refrigerators.
Verdict
The Lagoon 50 is a versatile, award-winning cruising catamaran that combines generous living space with manageable handling for owner-operators who have outgrown a 45-footer. Its aft-stepped mast, tall rig, and low-weight construction deliver real performance, while the choice of three to six cabins suits both private and charter use. The obstructed centerline-helm sightline and lack of stairway handholds are minor shortcomings, but they’re worth noting.
Pros
- Exceptional performance and a contemporary look from the hulls and rigging
- Up to six cabins and six heads, with spacious, well-planned accommodations
- Aft-stepped mast reduces hobby-horsing and makes the mainsail easier to handle
- Easy transitions into the cockpit
- Engine hatches open aft for safer access from the cockpit
Cons
- The mast blocks the forward view when the skipper sits directly behind the centerline wheel
- Both stairways lack sufficient handholds in a bouncing seaway
