Lagoon 380 - As A liveaboard

[Direstraits]

WE are looking for a liveaboard cat. We have lived on board a Morgan 60 and a Hatteras 50 Yachtfisherman for a total of 5 years.

About 5 years ago we swallowed the anchor and bought a shore base. Decided that was the wrong move and now want to go back to living aboard for a minimum of 5 years.....after living on the Hat we realize - a Cat is a better liveaboard than a mono (please no hate - it is our opinion). So we are looking at used cats and the Lagoon 380 is certainly in our price range but I fear it is not a really comfortable liveaboard boat.

So - I am kindly asking the Lagoon 380 crowd their thoughts on living on a Lagoon 380. Is it comfortable - does it have good seating in the salon - I call it a lounge factor - sometimes I just want to sit and watch tv - how does that work on a 380? Or any cat below 43 feet long.

WE have owned a Maine Cat 30 and an Island Spirit 401 in the distant past....but we never lived on them.....so I need some of the vast wisdom of this group.

Thanks
Dennis

[Shrew]

We're in our fourth year of part-time living aboard (6 month/yr). It's easy to go bigger, but harder to go smaller. If you've been living on a 50 ft Hatteras YF, moving to a Lagoon 380 will be an adjustment. Especially if a land home is in between.

Yes, I think a Lagoon 380 is doable for a couple.....depending on the couple.

[Tin Tin]

Your Hatteras probably had an island bed and decent bathroom and large galley, you won't get these until cat is around 44ft which may blow the budget eg Owner version Lagoon 440 and up

[Cheyne]

We have a 380 4 cabin. Would we like a bigger cat? Sure, but what we have fits our budget and needs. We are starting our 3 season with the boat and it is where we live year round. We regularly have guests on board with no problems. The wet heads took a bit to get used to, but now it is just normal. We cruise in a group of 5 boats and we are the only cat and only boat under 50ft. Our boat is the host boat for most evenings as our cockpit is more comfortable.

Cheyne

[old pirate]

Not a 38 but probably similar budget restrictions ! We moved aboard our 42TPI and find it to be very comfortable for two. They are an older generation, (1991 to 1995) but to some of us “older is sometimes better”. Being an owners version probably helps as the 4 cabin boats tend to have small aeroplane type bathrooms. Plus the extra length gives a better ride. We have just completed a 6 day/night passage comfortably sailing at 7knts for the most part in wind to 40knts.

[boatman61]

Not lived aboard one but have delivered several owners version L380's and consider them very liveaboardable..
I'd not touch the 4 cabin charter version.. having the whole of one hull with sleeping area, dressing room and large ensuite is wonderful leaving the two cabins in the other hull for guests/storage and spare heads is more than adequate for a liveaboards couple.. plus they are one of the better sailing Lagoons.
The saloon galley is roomy enough as is the cockpit area.. I guess it depends how big you like your parties to be

[floydmiami1]

My wife and I live on a leopard 38 2001 model and find it very comfortable.3 cabin layout with a big aft shower.Becuse of the shaft drives as opposed to sail drives The bunks are a little high up.

[SailingHarmonie]

We have a number of friends who have moved from monos to cats (and they are still our friends!) But they all had the same comment: The lack of usable storage space. And they were on boats appreciably bigger than a 380.

For some people this isn't an issue, but it is worth a mention. There are lots of lockers, but the are typically very small. Do not count doors, but open them and look inside. A cabinet that on my mono would be 18 or 24 inches deep might be only 4 inches from door to hull! Storage might be great for a charter lasting a week or two, but for living on, it might be a challenge.