Bene 473 vs Lagoon 380, family of 4

[LotNick]

Hello;
With the intention of the Big Trip starting September 2019 from the Canaries westbound, it's about time to choose the right boat. With our budget, we are aiming at the Bene 473 but lately started considering a Lagoon 380S2 as this is pretty much the only sensible cat in our price range. We have experience on both monos and cats, and currently own a Bene 39.3. The crew is myself with the wife and our 2 kids, but most probably with 2-3 guests most of the time.

Help me choose! I have read all about how you should not overload the cat for cruising, hobbyhorsing motion at sea, the argument of not standing up from a knockdown vs never sinking etc. I know pretty much what to expect from the 473. I'd appreciate some thoughts especially from folks who have done both cats and monos. Thanks.

[daletournier]

Personally Id go the lagoon due to the family. If it was two of you with occasional guests then Id go the longer waterline Bene. The passage making is a small part of cruising, i believe a family will live better on a cat.

Regardless of what some will say they are both capable of crossing oceans safely. A lagoon 38 and 40 just crossed the indian ocean ahead of me this year, they had no more or no less problems than any other boat.

Have you thought of a island spirit 37, well built very roomy and most likely a better price than a lagoon.

[LotNick]

Thanks Daletournier. Fortunas are not so popular on this side of the pond, but we will investigate. Another contender is the Nautitech 40 of which there is not so much info on the net, and the Lavezzi 40 which has a reputation for developing all sorts of osmosis porblems with time.