Quote:
Originally Posted by Dragon Lady
Is there a way of telling if they are French or Amercican?
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I believe ALL the TPI Lagoons built in Rhode Island, USA have hull ID numbers/letters on the starboard side of the stern that begin with TSP
The rest of the numbers/letters identify the model, production number, the month and date of production, and model year. Note, the production year COULD be different than the model year--i.e. a boat produced in December 1995 most likely is a 1996 model.
I've only owned my Lagoon since 2008, but I longed to own a
catamaran for at least 10 years before that. I have followed a lot of models during that time. I could be wrong, but it has been my understanding that ALL the Lagoon 42s (51 built), 37s (41 built), and 35ccc (11 built) were all built by TPI (Tillotson-Pearson, Inc) of Warren, RI using the patented SCRIMP resin-infusion process; I don't know about the 42 or 37, but my
hull had a 10-year blister guarantee. All three models were produced under agreement with Jeanneau-Lagoon, the Jones Act being one reason (several were put into
charter in the US), and I believe reduced production costs due to the slumping $US could have been another (remember we were in a recession in the early 1990s).
Tillotson-Pearson has since reorganized as TPI Composites (manufacturer of large-scale composite structures for the
wind energy, transportation and military vehicle markets) and
Pearson Composites (which continues to build boats, including the
PDQ 34 & 41
Power Cats) both still using the SCRIMP infusion process. I believe Group
Beneteau acquired Jeanneau-Lagoon and reorganized around 1996-97 separating
Jeanneau (monohulls) and Lagoon (catamarans), the first boat of the new venture being the
Lagoon 380. And we know what a home run Lagoon hit with this design! 1997 also was the end of production of the L37 and the L35ccc. I am not sure when production of the L42 ceased, but I expect it was probably around this time as well.
According to the Cruising World Review of the
Jeanneau Lagoon 37 on January 1, 1995 by Quentin Warren:
When French mega-builder Jeanneau announced in November of 1990 that it would embark on a joint production venture with TPI in Warren, Rhode Island,to manufacture Lagoon cruising catamarans, multihull enthusiasts and the industry at large took sharp notice. The Lagoon series cat, at the time formidably represented by an ultrasleek 55-footer already in production, signified an extensive commitment to the multihull field by a major monohull enterprise. And plans for TPI’s inaugural effort -- the fashionable Lagoon 42 ultimately introduced a year later in the fall of 1991 -- suggested to the cruising public that the ongoing rise in multihull popularity was more than a passing fancy.
The 42 went on to enjoy a successful debut, garnering Sailing World magazine’s multihull and overall Boat Of The Year awards in 1991. Jeanneau’s next ploy was to have designers Marc Van Peteghem and Vincent Lauriot-Prevost reproduce the winning formula in a smaller boat. What resulted was Lagoon 37, as much a downsized version of the 42 as a striking cruising catamaran in its own right. Developed for private ownership or charter service, the 37 features the Lagoon series’ familiar curvilinear orientation and round, podlike cabin structure. Aesthetically the look is simple and modern. Jeanneau Lagoon 37 - Cruising World
According to Multihull Maven
Lagoon 37 catamaran: Sophisticated in design; simple in operation:
The Lagoon 37 was introduced in 1993 following the success of the Lagoon 42 in the US charter market. With the same designers and builders as the forerunner model and targeting the same market, the boat is a somewhat downsized version. The design, however, works very well in its own right. The Lagoon trademark curvaceous bridgedeck cabin is completely in proportion with the simple hull shapes, giving an overall clean and sophisticated appearance.
Multihull Maven DOES give a hint that maybe some of the 37s COULD have been built in
France a little further down the page:
This model was also re-branded Moorings 3700 for the Moorings charter market.
I believe the only changes during the life of the L37 was bringing the
galley "up" in 1996 (maybe late 1995). I don't know if the
galley in the L42 was ever "up".
BTW, Jeanneau-Lagoon commissioned Morrelli & Melvin to design the Lagoon 35 coastal cruising catamaran, setting a requirement that it had to be narrow enough to be transported by truck around the US, hence the 15'9" beam. Only 11 were produced before Group
Beneteau moved catamaran production back to
France.
This may or may not answer some questions, but I hope it was an interesting read!
Marshall
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