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LeeV · 10-03-2019, 12:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Intentional Drifter

I disagree. I've sailed most of the more recent Lagoons in this size range, including the 380, 400, 410, 420, and 42. All of them sailed better than the Leopard 40 (the current version, the older M&M Leopard 40 is a very nice sailing boat).

Of the Lagoons, the 420 is the poorest of the bunch, and that's due to the compromises made in hull shape to make it a hybrid (which failed miserably). The 410 and 42 are both nice sailing cruising cats, in my opinion far better than the Leopard 40. We spend 2 weeks on a 42 last year in the same area. It performed quite nicely -- no speed demon, but competent. It was a joy and we will be chartering it again, this year.

If I was considering a Leopard in this size range, I'd try and find one of the M&M 40's that didn't get beat up in the charter trade. They were nice boats that sailed quite well.

ID

Which year 42 did you sail?

Intentional Drifter · 10-03-2019, 13:36

A 2017, Water Dragon, out of Nanaimo, whose owner is on CF, I believe. A very nice boat, by the way. I don't know the owner, so I have no self-interest, but I don't mind giving a 4-star rating for the boat. If you're looking to charter in the NW, or you want to try a 42 if thinking about buying, this is a nice boat, well-maintained, in a very nice part of the world to sail. Nanaimo Yacht Charters is a 1st-class operation, too, run by a father-daughter team of circumnavigators. I have no qualms in recommending them.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VIaTuzoik0

ID

LeeV · 10-03-2019, 13:43

Thought that might be it. Have seen the videos the owner made. We bought our Corsair 36 tri there several years ago. Beautiful area!

Sand crab · 10-03-2019, 14:35

I was wondering what was wrong with the hull shape of the 420. I know there was that weird downturn all the way aft underneath and I imagine that had something to do with adverse performance. Was that the only thing?

I was also wondering how it would be if you shaved that off and then faired that in. I think they did this on the 421 but with the mold modification (of course) and I also wonder if that boat sailed better.

Intentional Drifter · 10-03-2019, 16:26

Regarding the 420, we had signed up to buy one when they were still just drawings and concept papers, largely based on the success seen with the Solomon Technologies modified Lagoon 410's. There were several of those built and the owners loved them, I talked to two of them and had hoped the 420 would be an optimized electric 410. But, Lagoon kicked Solomon to the curb and designed/engineered/outifitted the 420, in-house. Then, the first 420 appeared at the Miami boat show. We were distinctly unimpressed and backed out of the purchase.

Anyway, the aft hull shape was configured to increase buoyancy due to the weight of the huge lead-acid battery bank they installed. That, and the large diameter fixed props used to try and get re-generation under sail. Unfortunately, the boat was already underpowered and with the drag from the props ended up being a quite "leisurely" boat under sail. But, that's why the hull shape is the way it is.

I understood that with the 421 they had given up on the hybrid concept and redesigned the aft section. I've never been on a 421 and have no knowledge about its performance.

Now, the interior of both models is excellent and we loved it. I understand there are some quite happy 420/421 owners. I don't regret not being one of them.

ID