The Lagoon 46 is a roomy, comfortable cruising catamaran that puts the helm on the flybridge and the family in a big, connected cockpit and saloon. It is a good boat for owners and charter groups who value space over speed. It is not a performance cat, and it will not point as high as a monohull. Below you get the numbers, the layouts, how it sails, what reviewers say about the build, and what one costs. At the end we explain how it compares with what we charter in the British Virgin Islands.
TL;DR
- The Lagoon 46 is about 47 ft overall with a beam of roughly 26 ft, built for living space, with a 3-cabin owner version and a 4-cabin charter version.
- It sails comfortably off the wind, but expect tacking angles of roughly 50 to 55 degrees apparent upwind.
- Hull and deck are infusion-molded sandwich with a balsa core. Reviewers praise the layout and flybridge helm but have noted some finishing details.
- Used boats in the US have been listed from the mid-$600,000s, and recent models close to $1 million. Charter rates in Europe are far lower than buying.
- If your goal is a week of island hopping in the BVI, you do not need to own or even charter this exact model to get the same kind of space and comfort.
Table of Contents
- Lagoon 46 specifications at a glance
- Layouts and accommodation
- The Lagoon 46 Iconic: what changed
- How it sails
- Build quality and reliability
- Pros and cons for family cruising
- What does a Lagoon 46 cost?
- Our perspective on the Lagoon 46
- Chartering in the BVI instead of buying
- Is the Lagoon 46 right for you?
- FAQ
- Sources
Lagoon 46 specifications at a glance
Lagoon’s own standard specification sheet gives an overall length of 14.5 m (47’7") and a hull length of 13.99 m (45’11"), with a beam of 7.96 m (26’1"). That is why you will see it called a 46 and a 47 in different places. The owner’s manual lists a light displacement of 16.313 tonnes.
| Spec | Lagoon 46 |
|---|---|
| Length overall | 14.5 m (47’7") |
| Hull length | 13.99 m (45’11") |
| Beam | 7.96 m (26’1") |
| Light displacement | 16.313 tonnes |
| Construction | Infusion-laminated hull and deck, balsa core |
| Layouts | 3-cabin owner, 4-cabin charter |
The beam is the number that matters most for day-to-day life. A boat that wide has room for a large saloon, a proper galley and three or four real cabins, but it also needs a wide slip. Check marina fees and slip width before you commit to owning one in the US.
Layouts and accommodation
Lagoon offers a 3-cabin owner’s version or a 4-cabin charter layout. In the owner version, the owner’s accommodation sits in the starboard hull, so the suite gets a whole hull to itself and the guests share the other.
How to choose:
- 3-cabin owner version. Best for a couple or a family who live aboard for weeks at a time. You get the big private suite and more storage, and one hull for guests.
- 4-cabin charter version. Best for two couples or a family with older children. Every cabin is similar in size, so nobody feels they drew the short straw.
Above the saloon, the flybridge has a sunbathing area and generous lounge zones. On a boat this size it is where most people end up at sunset, and it is the main reason catamarans of this type are popular with groups.
The Lagoon 46 Iconic: what changed
The Iconic is the refreshed version of the 46. Lagoon describes a 1980s-inspired design package with geometric shapes and color accents, expanded lounging areas and updated swim-ladder access. Features vary mainly by the equipment pack chosen when the boat is ordered, such as Essential versus Comfort.
In practice, the Iconic matters in three ways:
- Foredeck use. More sun pads and a forward swim ladder make the bow a place you will actually use at anchor.
- Equipment packs. Two used 46s of the same year can feel very different depending on the pack. Ask for the original order sheet.
- Options. Lagoon lists an optional furling boom, a fixed bimini and a tender lift. A tender lift is worth having if you will carry a dinghy on davits and move between anchorages often.
If you are comparing a pre-Iconic boat with a new one, the hull, rig and basic layout are the same family. The differences are mostly about styling, outdoor living and how well the boat was specified.
How it sails
The 46 has an aft-stepped mast and a self-tacking jib, a setup that keeps the cockpit uncluttered and makes tacking a one-person job. Controls converge at the central flybridge station, and one reviewer found operation poses no problem for a solo skipper.
What to expect:
- Reaching and running. This is where the boat is happiest, with comfortable average speeds for a loaded family cruiser.
- Upwind. One review gives expected tacking angles around 50 to 55 degrees apparent. In the trade winds of the Caribbean, many cruisers simply motor the last stretch to windward.
- Helm feel. The flybridge steering position gives excellent visibility, but the same YACHT test notes minimal rudder feedback compared with other configurations. If you love the feel of a tiller, this is not that boat.
A catamaran this wide also behaves differently in a marina. Windage is large and the two engines do the steering at low speed. A first-time cat skipper should practice docking with the engines before relying on the sails.
Build quality and reliability
People often ask whether Lagoon catamarans are well built. The standard specification confirms the hull and deck are laminated by infusion with a balsa core. That is a common, lightweight way to build a production cruising cat, and it keeps weight down, which matters a great deal on a boat this wide.
A German magazine test describes the same infusion-molded sandwich build, lists a 2-year guarantee and a 5-year anti-osmosis guarantee, and also noted some gaps and unfinished bilges. That is typical of series production: good structure, with some cosmetic finishing you will not see from the saloon.
When you inspect a used 46, we would look hard at:
- Bilges and hull-to-deck joint for signs of past water ingress or repairs.
- Core moisture readings around deck fittings, windlass and chainplates.
- Engine hours, especially on ex-charter boats that may have run many hours at low load.
- The condition of the flybridge helm, canvas and trampolines, which take the brunt of tropical sun.
- Whether service records exist for both saloon doors, hatches and seals.
An ex-charter boat is not automatically a bad buy. It was usually maintained to a schedule. But it has also had many different hands on the helm, so the survey matters more.
Pros and cons for family cruising
What we like
- Huge living space, with the cockpit and saloon connected so the whole group stays together.
- A flybridge that doubles as a lounge and a helm.
- Single-handed controls, which help when the skipper is also the cook and entertainer.
- A stable platform for children and for anyone prone to seasickness.
- Choice between a private owner suite and an even four-cabin charter layout.
What to weigh up
- Upwind performance is limited, as it is on most cruising cats.
- Low rudder feedback at the flybridge helm.
- Width: slips and haul-out yards that take a 26 ft beam are fewer and cost more.
- Reports of finishing gaps in places you rarely see.
- A large sail area and a lot of canvas to look after.
One review pitches the boat as suitable for family use and long sea voyages, praising space, comfort and single-handed controls. That matches our experience of how guests use boats of this size: they spend almost all their time in the shared spaces, not in the cabins.
What does a Lagoon 46 cost?
Prices move with year, equipment pack and location, so treat these as snapshots. In autumn 2026, RightBoat’s Lagoon 46 listings showed a 2022 used boat at $675,000 and a 2024 used boat in Riviera Beach, Florida at $999,999, alongside new Iconic models. Brokers will negotiate, and listing prices are not sale prices.
Beyond the purchase price, budget for:
- Insurance, which in hurricane zones can come with named-storm restrictions.
- Slip or mooring fees for a boat with a very wide beam.
- Annual maintenance, antifouling, engine and rigging service.
- Registration and documentation, which affects where you can legally charter and insure the boat. If you are weighing a US flag against other registries, flag registration in luxury yacht charters is worth reading before you buy.
Charter is a very different budget. One European review lists Lagoon 46 charters from about €5,500 to €8,000 a week. That is a fraction of the cost of buying, and it lets you test the boat before spending seven figures. Rates in the Caribbean in peak winter season will differ.
Our perspective on the Lagoon 46
We have chartered in the British Virgin Islands from our base on Tortola since 1996, and we are a family-owned operation. Here is how we see a boat like the Lagoon 46.
It is a well-liked design because it solves the right problem: how do you get six to eight people to enjoy a week on the water together? The answer is volume, shade and a cockpit that feels part of the saloon. We agree with that logic completely.
But we would add three things from experience in the BVI:
- Distances are short. The islands sit a few miles from each other, so sailing performance matters less than anchoring comfort, air conditioning, water-making and a stable platform. A boat that sails slightly better to windward does not change much when your next anchorage is an hour away.
- Maintenance shows. Guests notice a boat that is clean, well-serviced and quiet. That is why we curate our fleet for maintenance and luxury, with modern catamarans from builders including Fountaine Pajot, Leopard, Aquila, Aventura, Lagoon, Horizon and Two Oceans.
- Power or sail is a lifestyle choice. Plenty of families do not want to trim a sail at all. A power catamaran gives the same living space with predictable speed and fewer things to manage, which is why that is the type we focus on.
If you are reading Lagoon 46 reviews because you want to buy, take a week on the water first. If you are reading them because you want a great holiday, tell us how many people are coming and what kind of week you want, and we will match the boat to the trip.
— alexia
Chartering in the BVI instead of buying
If the real goal is an unforgettable week among the islands, our bareboat and crewed power catamarans offer the same generous deck space that makes the Lagoon 46 attractive. Our published weekly prices, listed in our pricing pages, are:
| Charter type | Boat | Weekly price |
|---|---|---|
| Bareboat | 3-cabin power catamaran | £6,000 to £10,000 |
| Bareboat | 4-cabin power catamaran | £8,000 to £14,000 |
| Bareboat | 5+ cabin luxury power catamaran | £12,000 to £20,000 |
| Crewed | Premium catamaran (4 to 6 guests) | $25,000 to $35,000 |
| Crewed | Luxury catamaran (6 to 10 guests) | $35,000 to $70,000 |
| Crewed | High-end luxury catamaran or motor yacht | $70,000 to $120,000 |
See the bareboat charter pricing and the crewed charter pricing for what each range covers. If you are not an experienced skipper, a captain is $250 per day, or $300 for a training captain, as set out in our charter costs guide. Wi-Fi is a $250 one-off fee per charter, listed on our what’s included page.
To choose between layouts, our guide to power catamaran layouts walks through cabin arrangements and who each suits.
Ready to plan? Browse our luxury crewed charters, or send us your dates and group size through the booking form, and we will come back with boat options.
Is the Lagoon 46 right for you?
Choose it if you want a family or two-couple cruiser with an owner suite option, a lounge-friendly flybridge, and a rig that one person can handle. Look elsewhere if upwind performance is your priority, if you want strong helm feedback, or if you need a narrower boat for tight marinas.
Before buying, do three things: charter one for a week, commission a full survey from an independent marine surveyor, and get an insurance quote for your cruising area before you make an offer. Those three steps cost little compared with the price of the boat.
FAQ
How big is the Lagoon 46?
It is 14.5 m (47’7") overall, with a hull length of 13.99 m (45’11") and a beam of 7.96 m (26’1"), according to Lagoon’s standard specification. The beam is the figure to check against your marina slip.
Are Lagoon catamarans well built?
The Lagoon 46 uses an infusion-laminated hull and deck with a balsa core, and a magazine test lists a 2-year guarantee and a 5-year anti-osmosis guarantee. The same test noted some cosmetic finishing gaps. A survey of any specific boat matters more than the brand name.
What is the difference between the Lagoon 46 and the 46 Iconic?
The Iconic adds a restyled design package, expanded lounging areas and updated swim-ladder access. Most feature differences come from the equipment pack chosen at order, such as Essential or Comfort.
How much does a used Lagoon 46 cost in the US?
In autumn 2026, listings on RightBoat showed a 2022 boat at $675,000 and a 2024 boat at $999,999. Actual sale prices depend on equipment, engine hours and survey results.
Sources
- Lagoon 46 owner’s manual
- Lagoon 46 standard technical specifications
- Lagoon 46 model page
- Lagoon 46 article, Sailing Magazine
- Lagoon 46 review, Boat Tomorrow
- Lagoon 46 test, YACHT
- Lagoon 46 review, Toprik
- Lagoon 46 boats for sale, RightBoat
- Flag registration in luxury yacht charters
Recommended
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- Monohull vs Catamaran: Which Should You Choose?
Did You Know?
The BVI are only accessible by boat. Check out our charter yachts that can get you there. View Our Fleet
