450: Lagoon 450

[Wellington]

I've just received this link in an e-mail from Lagoon.
Catamaran Lagoon 450
I can't believe that over 400 Lagoon 440 have already been built. The successor seems to be promising...

[zarkmud]

This boat appears to have two helm stations outside-flybridge and port side? If so, this is a measurable improvement over the 440, I think.

[Steve_C]

It has a flybridge and an inside nav station just like the 440. Seemed to work fine for the 440, why change it.

[Abaco]

I believe 450 has not been built so the live action scenes are of the 440 and 420. The renderings are the 450.

[zarkmud]

Do you think it has two helm stations-fly and cockpit?

[Steve_C]

You can clearly see in the attached renderings that it has one helm station in the center of the flybridge, and an inside nave station. This is exactly like the 440.

[MarkJ]

Is the fly bridge at the aft of the roof top? Didn't the 440 had it foreward, which I liked. Why? Cos any cruiser will fill it with solar panels. Or is that where the hot sweaty chics are meant to lie...?

[Steve_C]

I am confused, can anyone SEE the pictures above?????

I don't mean to sound rude, but its VERY CLEARLY right where it is on the 440.

The renderings for the 560 show it more like it is on the 620. Is that what your referring to?

[zarkmud]

Sorry Steve, I did not blow the thumbnail up. Yes, I can clearly see that there is just one helm station. Now it begs the question...what is different about it? I would have loved 2 helm stations. I am making a transatlantic crossing from FL to the UK in a 2006 Broadblue 415...I think a lot of my question will begin to be answered.

[MarkJ]

Originally Posted by zarkmud

Now it begs the question...what is different about it? .

There doesn't need to be a huge difference in a new model of boat, as we have seen with cars. The economics of new models must meant that there is a spark of publicity generated and current owners wish to upgrade.

I could be a test driver for a year or 2. Then I could write them an email saying how I still hate cats but theirs is OK at a squeeze

[zarkmud]

I was hoping that the 450 would hold such radical improvements as to make the 440's in diminished demand vs. a new 450. But if it is evolutionary only then this will not happen and the prices of the 440's will not be impacted much. Too bad for me. But who knows? Maybe after this trip to the UK in a Broadblue 415 other doors will open. Now what about sailing East in May from Ft Lauderdale to the Azores via Bermuda?

[Laidback]

As it appears to be only arriving on the 15th May - maybe there is still time for a face lift ???

[Scottie2]

It seems a little short on reviews for the 450. I know it's early, and only a few hulls have been produced, but I am very eager to see some real reviews on the 450. As I am very familiar with the 440 having chartered it 4 times, I would be particularly interested to know the differences ("improvements") between the 440 and the 450. Anyone?

[muskoka]

Very attractive interior - they'll probably sell like hotcakes.

But it weighs in at 15.5 tons!!! With a 134 sm sailplan that's a puny 8.6 sm / ton. By comparison the 380 has a sailplan of 11.1 sm / ton - or relatively speaking, a 30% larger sailplan. There seems to be a trend of substantially de-powering the newer line of boats. Is this due to feedback from the charter trade?

It would be well worth upgrading to the 55 hp engines.

[zarkmud]

Well, I went with a captain on a Broadblue 42. It was quite the dog. We were caught in the Gulfstream and the boat took a pounding. Two hatches began leaking. I was supposed to go from Ft Lauderdale to Bermuda, Azores and then to France. The captain was such a jerk, I abandoned ship in Bermuda. If you crew...follow your initial instincts. I had some warnings about this guy when I first met him in FL...I should have acted on those instincts. Anyway, it proved to me I want more performance than a dog Broadblue although the helm station on the port side was fine and convenient to the cockpit. I can see the tradeoffs for the flying bridge. Do not crew for any retired BA pilot.