Architecture

Over the years, Lagoon has acquired a real expertise in developing innovative features on catamarans.
A number of these technical or technological advances introduced by Lagoon are today a must on most modern cruising catamarans.


The fixed fin keels
The debate between architects, shipyards and sailors for or against fins or daggerboards has been passionate for decades. Here are the reasons for choosing fixed fins:


Displacement
Modern cruising catamarans generally carry a lot of equipment and their displacement suffers the consequences. Lagoon always endeavours to save weight in the structures and the accommodation, as with a sandwich construction by infusion.
Keels are then the preferred solution for three reasons:


The higher resistance to lateral drift
The longer and more linear profile, the extra volume of the keels offer a notable gain in buoyancy, which allows for the same displacement to stretch the lines and enhance the performance


Running aground
Whether voluntary (beaching for antifouling at low tide) or accidental, the possibility to dry out safely or to hurt a reef without damaging the hulls to such an extent that the boat would sink is an important security factor. On the Lagoon, the keels are either totally isolated from the boat interior (like on the L380 and L410) or contain the freshwater or fuel tanks (L570, L67). This has allowed the designers to stretch the lines further (the volume of the water tanks is not part of the volume of the hull).
If a keel is damaged, the boat will not sink… safety.

Like all moving parts on a boat, centreboards require maintenance and a certain expertise to be used correctly (when should they be raised? On which wind angle? At which depth should they be set?) None of these questions occur with the keels… simplicity.



Draught of a catamaran is that of its rudders, the keels are always designed to be a few centimetres deeper for safety. Therefore, whichever version you choose, you will not be able to get nearer to the beach whether the boat has centreboards or fixed keels. On the other hand, it will be possible to sail upwind shallow waters with keels, this cannot happen with daggerboard… efficiency.
Daggerboard catamarans may offer a better performance, but on condition that their weight is kept down to a minimum. Lagoon has chosen the consensual option; the one which best suits its clients’ sailing plans.



The hulls

The symmetrical hulls of the Lagoon generate a very linear flow of water where the molecules travel on each side of the hull at the same speed. The Van Peteghem Lauriot Prevost hull designs are today’s reference; the result of nearly 20 years of racing and the undisputed domination of the Open 60s multihulls class - a guarantee of quality and utmost security. By developing the advances gained with racing boats, the architects are the best judges when it comes to compromise between performance and seaworthiness.

The Lagoons’ bridgedecks are amongst the highest, which is a guarantee of comfort at sea (less slamming, less noise), as well as of security: less stress on the composite structure… Strength!

The gullwing shaped bridgedecks are an exclusive design, created in 2004 on the Lagoon 440 and developed since on all the new models. No flat surface under the bridgedeck (reduction of the wave impacts, less noise) more comfort.