New entry level catamaran from Lagoon, FP and R&C?

[Piscis]

The Lagoon 380 seems to be history, as far as new boat buyers are concerned.
FP and R&C have entry level cats in the 38-40 foot range, exceeding most first time cat buyers financial abilities... as long as they want to buy new...

The Geminies seem to be a US based only alternative, and by design not everybodies flavor.

So after the new XCS11 entering the market at a very good price and still having the C-Cat 37 design and the Island Spirit in SE Asia on the market, will we see some competition entering the market from Lagoon, FP or R&C?

Thinking about a Lagoon 37, a Leopard 37 or an FP Anguilla 37?

Entry level catamarans in the 11 Meter range like the XCS11 but equipped with a semi flybridge helm and a well below existing entry level cats base price... Maybe only offered as an owners version...3berth/2 heads... something like the wonderfull Mahe 36 from FP.

For my part: I would love to see some more cats from those manufacturers at a lower entry price.

What do you guys think? Something about to come? What base price would you consider such an entry level boat? At what time would a manufacturer inform the public something is about to come?

Would love to hear your thoughts about that!

John

[Sand crab]

FWIW the Lagoon 40 is 38'6" or 11.74 meters.

[redneckrob]

Originally Posted by Piscis

The Lagoon 380 seems to be history, as far as new boat buyers are concerned.
FP and R&C have entry level cats in the 38-40 foot range, exceeding most first time cat buyers financial abilities... as long as they want to buy new...

The Geminies seem to be a US based only alternative, and by design not everybodies flavor.

So after the new XCS11 entering the market at a very good price and still having the C-Cat 37 design and the Island Spirit in SE Asia on the market, will we see some competition entering the market from Lagoon, FP or R&C?

Thinking about a Lagoon 37, a Leopard 37 or an FP Anguilla 37?

Entry level catamarans in the 11 Meter range like the XCS11 but equipped with a semi flybridge helm and a well below existing entry level cats base price... Maybe only offered as an owners version...3berth/2 heads... something like the wonderfull Mahe 36 from FP.

For my part: I would love to see some more cats from those manufacturers at a lower entry price.

What do you guys think? Something about to come? What base price would you consider such an entry level boat? At what time would a manufacturer inform the public something is about to come?

Would love to hear your thoughts about that!

John

As owner of a Mahe 36 I completely agree with you. It's not just price it's also size. If someone offered me a 40-42' cat (and it's really the beam that comes with that) of the same age and condition to swap I'd turn them down because it would really limit what we can do with no significant advantage for us. At this point the combination of the economy and building all the hurricane replacement boats means they have a long backlog of work, so from a business perspective dropping the lowest profit margin boats is the rational thing to do. Unfortunately they also get burned every economic cycle by adding capacity just before the downturn hits, and the long lead time for them makes the timing on that brutal....it's like playing musical chairs but you are the only one who can't sit-down until a minute after the music stops. I think a combination of working through the hurricane hump and a downturn that makes more affordable boats a requirement to stay fully employed will change things, but that's probably some years in the future.

[riki]

In that size, well actually smaller and cheaper, you have the aventura 34. But maybe you are expecting way too much asking for a semi flybridge in this range, unless you would be ok with a floating brick.

[Franziska]

Reg. Aventura 34.

Absolutely, kind of reasonably priced small liveaboard cat for 2 people.
Surely at least capable for inshore cruising.

Could have higher bridgedeck wave clearance though.
Still, looks not bad for what it offers.

Or, an old, but structurally still good, rough looking Lagoon 380.
Provided rig&sails&engines&drivetrain are not trashed. Which would my choice.

Originally Posted by riki

In that size, well actually smaller and cheaper, you have the aventura 34. But maybe you are expecting way too much asking for a semi flybridge in this range, unless you would be ok with a floating brick.

[harlem24]

And the Broadblues: 346 and 385.

[Sand crab]

Maine Cat still makes the 30. And the newer 38.


And the Tom Cat 32 from Canada.

[Tin Tin]

The XCS 11 in made by Beneteau the owner of Lagoon.

[Tillsbury]

Seawind?

[Franziska]

Hardly entry level if you look at the price tag.

Originally Posted by Tin Tin

The XCS 11 in made by Beneteau the owner of Lagoon.

[valhalla360]

Biggest issue is there is more money in bigger boats.

As long as they can keep the factories busy with 45-50ft models, there will be little interest in smaller boats.

[John_char]

I was also thinking the Seawind 1260. With the strong US dollar, or more so the week Aussie dollar, I hear that our American brothers, and sisters, are getting a very good deal.

[Sand crab]

Originally Posted by John_char

I was also thinking the Seawind 1260. With the strong US dollar, or more so the week Aussie dollar, I hear that our American brothers, and sisters, are getting a very good deal.

They are advertising the 1260 for $410K US. But when you add shipping, duties if applicable and all the extra goodies then you will probably be looking at near $600,000.

[thinwater]

Originally Posted by Sand crab

They are advertising the 1260 for $410K US. But when you add shipping, duties if applicable and all the extra goodies then you will probably be looking at near $600,000.

Entry level? Wow. That must be some kind of "new normal."

I had a PDQ 32, and for just me or me and my wife, bigger would just mean handling problems. For coastal cruising, which is what 98% of us actually do, it was all I wanted. If I buy a cruising cat again, it will be no more than 34 feet. Cats are kinna big for their length.

[Sand crab]

I am not sure what currency the Seawinds are priced at originally because of the Vietnam manufacturing. The Vietnamese Dong has not had the dramatic swing that the Ozzie dollar has had and has been pretty stable for the last 2 years or so.



The Lagoon 42 which is 41' can be bought for around the same base price and about the same price nicely equipped as the SW 1260.