Design and Construction
Above the waterline the 560 uses an infused balsa core with multi-directional roving to keep the structure strong while limiting weight, while below the waterline the rule is solid glass. The resin-infused shell remains solid fiberglass down to the waterline, with balsa used only in topside and deck to save weight. Isophthalic/NPG gelcoat and vinylester resin resist blister formation. Longitudinal chines run along the hulls, and the bridgedeck follows Lagoon's gull-wing shape, an approach the design takes to mitigate slamming, a problem all cats face to some extent. Vertical saloon windows give the boat its distinctive look and provide 360-degree visibility from the saloon.
Rig and Handling
The 560 carries a three-headstay rig and a Park Avenue carbon boom, with an optional square-top mainsail of 1,356 square feet and a furling genoa of 871 square feet; a Code 0 of 1,506 square feet is also optional. All lines lead to Harken electric winches on either side of the flybridge near a large Carbonautica carbon fiber wheel, making sail handling easy. On Biscayne Bay, test sailors hoisted the huge square-top main and unfurled the genoa, accelerating to 4.2 knots in 6.5 knots of true wind, and with a giant gennaker at a true wind angle of 75 degrees the twin hulls sliced cleanly through slight chop while going almost as fast as the wind. Despite displacing close to 70,000 pounds, the boat remains very maneuverable.
Accommodations
The interior spans three levels with a voluminous four- or five-cabin layout and up to five entirely private cabins. A lateral or central galley is offered; the L-shaped galley to starboard boasts a four-burner propane stovetop above a large separate oven, a double sink and dishwasher aft, and an island counter with a small refrigerator and flat-screen television. To port, seating for eight surrounds a dinette table that folds down to coffee-table size. A wide centerline sliding door flows the saloon outdoors, and a small forward nav station affords all-around visibility.
The starboard hull holds a sole-to-ceiling wine rack next to a full-size refrigerator/freezer, then a master cabin with athwartships queen berth, inboard hanging lockers, and a head forward and outboard. The port hull's aft VIP cabin is reached only from the cockpit and features a fore-and-aft queen berth; the port forward cabin is even larger and closes off via a sliding pocket door. In the five-cabin version, upper and lower single berths and another head sit between the two port cabins. Three separate outside social areas—cockpit, aft sundeck, and flybridge—complete the picture, the last with the skipper's area forward and a sunbathing pad aft.
Power and Systems
Twin engines of 110 horsepower each are listed by the builder, while standard 75-horsepower Yanmar saildrives and optional 110-horsepower Yanmars with conventional shafts and three-blade Flexofold props appear in period reviews. Owners report roughly 6.5 to 7 knots at 2,000 rpm on one engine burning about 1.3 gallons per hour, with a range under power beyond 1,700 miles; motoring with both engines at 2,200 rpm delivered nearly 8 knots. The boat can be operated from inside via joystick steering, autopilot, and throttles. LED fixtures throughout draw little from the 420 amp-hour house bank.
The Verdict
The Lagoon 560 is a thoroughly modern cruising catamaran that trades the spartan ethos of earlier generations for residential comfort and easy handling. VPLP's hull and rig work, paired with Nauta's interior architecture, produce a boat that feels larger than its length and handles with surprising nimbleness for 70,000 pounds.
Pros
- Three-level, up-to-five-cabin layout with genuine private staterooms and a megayacht feel
- Gull-wing bridgedeck and solid-glass lower hull addressing slamming and blister resistance
- Easy sail handling via flybridge electric winches and full inside control
- Strong light-air performance under gennaker; long single-engine range under power
Cons
- Helm station on flybridge somewhat exposed in heavy weather
- Close to 70,000 pounds displacement limits spontaneity under low wind without engine assist
- Aft VIP cabin accessible only from cockpit, reducing privacy from main companionway
