Lagoon 40 Review: The Gateway Catamaran

Quick Verdict

The Lagoon 40 is for people who want catamaran space on a catamaran budget. At 11.74m LOA, she's the entry point in Lagoon's current line-up, and she packs a remarkable amount of living space into those dimensions. Four double cabins, each with its own head and shower. A saloon that rivals monohulls ten feet longer. A cockpit that seats eight for dinner. If your priority is getting the most accommodation per euro, whether charter or purchase, this is where you start.

But be clear about what the Lagoon 40 is not. She is not a sailing yacht in the way a Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 410 is a sailing yacht. She points wide, she needs her engines in light air, and the helm gives you about as much feedback as a PlayStation controller. None of that matters to her target audience. They want a floating apartment that can move between anchorages, and this boat does that job with real competence.

Specifications

Under Sail

Here is where honesty matters. The Lagoon 40 points at 50–55° to the true wind. A decent 40-foot monohull, say a Beneteau Oceanis 40.1, manages 38–42°. That's a significant difference over a full day of sailing to windward. If your destination is upwind, you're going to tack far more often or, more likely, you're going to press the engine start buttons.

In light airs below 10 knots, the 75 m² sail plan simply doesn't push 11.7 tonnes with any conviction. On our test in 8 knots of true wind, we managed 3.2 knots of boat speed on a beam reach. Pointing higher dropped speed below 2 knots. The twin 20hp Yanmars came on within the hour. This is normal for cats of this size and not a Lagoon-specific failing. It's physics. If you're coming from a monohull background, read our monohull vs catamaran guide to calibrate your expectations.

The Lagoon 40 comes alive between 12 and 18 knots of true wind. On a beam reach in 15 knots, we logged 7.1 knots over ground. The ride was flat, stable, predictable. Reaching and running are where this boat earns its keep. With the apparent wind aft of the beam, the wide tacking angle becomes irrelevant and you have a fast, comfortable platform covering ground without fuss.

Above 20 knots, downwind remains surprisingly capable. We ran in 22 knots gusting 25 and held 8-plus knots with just the main and a reefed genoa. Upwind in those conditions, forget it. The bridge deck slams in short, steep chop, and the wide hulls generate enough windage that progress to weather becomes an exercise in frustration. Most charter itineraries don't require sustained windward work, and this is primarily a charter cat.

Living Aboard

This is the Lagoon 40's reason for existence. Step below and you're in a saloon that measures roughly 4.5m wide and 3m deep, larger than the main cabin on most 45-foot monohulls. The wrap-around windows flood it with light. The settee seats six comfortably, and the forward-facing nav station doubles as a desk. It feels like a proper living room rather than a boat interior.

The galley sits to port, open to the saloon. It's a genuine kitchen: full-size fridge-freezer, two-burner hob with oven, and counter space you can actually prepare a meal on. On our week-long test, two people cooked dinner simultaneously without colliding. Compare that to the galley on a Dufour 41, which is competent but designed for one cook at a time.

Four cabins, four heads. Each hull houses two cabins, one forward and one aft, and each has its own enclosed head with shower. The aft cabins are slightly larger, with better natural ventilation from opening ports. The forward cabins feel tighter at the V-shaped bow sections, but the double berths still measure roughly 1.95m × 1.45m. Good enough for most adults. The owner's three-cabin version converts one hull into a master suite with a proper wardrobe and a dedicated head. Worth considering if you're buying privately rather than for charter.

The cockpit is where you'll spend 70% of your time. A hardtop provides shade over the dining table, which seats eight without anyone hanging off the edges. From the cockpit, steps lead down to swim platforms on both transoms. Direct water access, no climbing over rails, no scrambling around the stern. For families with children, the layout is a genuine step forward, and it's a key reason catamarans now dominate charter fleets.

On Deck

The optional flybridge is the single biggest upgrade on the Lagoon 40 and deserves serious consideration. It adds a second helm station, a sunpad, and a lounging area above the saloon. On charter versions, the flybridge separates the skipper's world from the guests' world. The helm is up top while the cockpit below becomes pure social space. Without it, the helm sits at cockpit level to starboard, which works but puts the driver in the middle of the dinner party.

Not every charter Lagoon 40 has the flybridge fitted. Ask before booking. It's the difference between a good boat and a significantly better one.

Sail handling is straightforward. The mainsail is managed from the cockpit via a single line to the electric winch. The self-tacking jib is standard, which simplifies short-handed sailing considerably. There's no bowsprit for a Code 0 or asymmetric spinnaker unless you've ordered one, but charter boats rarely carry them. The hardware is functional rather than refined: Lewmar winches, basic clutches, adequate but not generous cleating. If you've sailed a well-specced Sun Odyssey 440, the deck hardware will feel a step behind. It works, and that's the point.

Transom access on both hulls makes anchoring stops simple. Drop the hook, walk down the steps, swim. The trampolines forward provide sunbathing space for two, though the netting on charter boats degrades faster than you'd expect. Check its condition at handover.

The Catamaran Question

If you're a monohull sailor stepping aboard a Lagoon 40 for the first time, here's what happens. You walk aboard and are immediately struck by the space. Then you motor out of the harbour and think: this is wide. At 6.76m beam, you feel every centimetre of it in a tight marina. Med mooring requires a mental recalibration.

Under sail, the absence of heel is the first shock. Monohulls lean. It's part of the feedback loop between wind, water, and your body. On the Lagoon 40, you sit flat. Your drink stays where you put it. The wheel turns but tells you almost nothing about what the sails are doing. For the first hour, it feels wrong. By the second hour, you start to relax. By day three, you'll wonder why you ever tolerated being thrown across the cabin at 25° of heel.

The honest trade-off is this: the Lagoon 40 sacrifices sailing involvement for living comfort. Nobody gets seasick. Kids run around the cockpit safely. You cook a full meal underway without anything sliding off the counter. The wind-in-your-hair, tiller-feedback, rail-in-the-water experience of a good monohull simply doesn't exist here. It's a different activity, equally valid, but different. Our full monohull vs catamaran guide goes deeper on this question.

One thing that consistently surprises monohull converts: manoeuvrability under power. Twin engines, widely spaced, mean you can spin the Lagoon 40 in her own length. One engine ahead, one astern, and she pivots. Tight harbour? No problem. She's genuinely easier to dock than most 40-foot monohulls, despite the wider beam.

Charter Market

The Lagoon 40 is the most available catamaran in the 40-foot charter segment. Full stop. You'll find her in Croatia, Greece, the BVI, Thailand, the Bahamas, and every significant charter base in between. If you're searching for a catamaran charter and want guaranteed availability, this is the boat.

Charter rates run €3,500–5,500 per week depending on season and base. That positions her as the most affordable catamaran option in most fleets, typically €1,000–2,000 per week less than a Lagoon 42 or Fountaine Pajot Isla 40. Split between four couples, you're looking at €875–1,375 per couple per week before extras. For broader cost context, see our charter pricing guide.

In the catamaran brand hierarchy, the Lagoon 40 sits at the entry level. She competes directly with the Fountaine Pajot Isla 40, and in practice the choice between them often comes down to which one's available at your preferred base and dates. Both are competent. The Isla 40 has a marginally better sailing reputation; the Lagoon 40 has a marginally better interior layout. Neither will change your life.

For families, the Lagoon 40 consistently ranks in our best family charter yachts list. The level platform, secure cockpit, and direct swim access tick every box that matters when children are aboard.

Used Market

The Lagoon 40 was introduced in 2018, so the used market covers a five-year production span. Expect to pay €280,000–360,000 for 2018–2023 models, with price depending heavily on engine hours, equipment list, and charter history. A privately owned, low-hours example with flybridge commands the top end. A high-hours ex-charter boat without flybridge sits at the bottom.

The predecessor Lagoon 39 (2012–2017) offers a budget alternative at €210,000–290,000. She's slightly smaller, less refined in the saloon layout, but fundamentally the same concept. If you're buying for personal use and budget matters more than the latest interior styling, the 39 represents decent value.

When inspecting ex-charter Lagoon 40s, focus on five areas. Engine hours first: anything over 3,000 warrants a full service inspection and likely impeller replacement. Hull gelcoat second: osmosis blistering below the waterline is common on cats that have spent years in warm Mediterranean marinas. Trampoline netting third. UV degradation makes this a replacement item every four to five years, and charter companies rarely replace proactively. Fourth, the daggerboard wells, if fitted, accumulate debris and the boards can seize. Fifth, check every seacock. Charter crews are not always gentle with through-hulls. A proper survey before purchase is non-negotiable. Refer to our handover checklist as a starting framework.