The Lagoon 42 started in production in 2016 and to date more than 1000 of them have been built. To say the model has been a success for Lagoon is an understatement. It is one of the most successful catamarans to have ever been built. The popularity of the Lagoon 42 is due to its size, layout, comfortability and sailing charachteristics.
A year after we purchased Wild Rose, we could have sold her for more than we bought her for. This is pretty much unheard of with boats. The Lagoon 42 continues to hold their value even in the resale market. It’s a testament to the design and build of the 42.
All of that said, no boat is perfect, they all have issues. The Lagoon 42 is no different in that regard. There are some common problems, some have been recalled and paid for by Lagoon, and some are just issues you need to diagnose and fix on your own.
Below are the most common Lagoon 42 problems we have seen or personally had ourselves.
Mast Step Recall
This is only on the early models, there was a recall notice issued by Lagoon due to the arrangement of the mast step. The recall is a modification to the way the mast meets the mast step. If you are looking at an early model Lagoon 42 (2018 and prior) this is something to be aware of and make sure it was completed.
Mast Foot Step Recall
There are two foot steps on the mast that fold out so you can step up to manipulate the sail bag and main halyard. These steps were recalled for our boat and I’m guessing most 2020 and 2021 models. It is easy to check the product number to see if they need to be replaced. They are very simple to unscrew and screw the new ones in.
Escape Hatch Recall
Lagoon, as well as many other popular catamaran builders use a third party hatch manufacturer for their escape hatches. On early model 42’s these hatches had a design flaw and need to be reinforced or replaced. I am aware of several Fountaine Pajot models with the same issue. These were all recalled and new hatches and/or reinforcement kits were sent out. This did not affect our boat, but the early models did have this recall. Everyone we know with a 42 has had the new hatches installed.
Watermaker
Again, on early model Lagoon 42’s the factory installed SeaRecovery watermaker had pretty common problems. Since these issues came to light Lagoon and SeaRecovery have issued fixes to solve the issues. It seems to have been due to a boost pump issue and getting sufficient water flow.
We do not have this watermaker, we installed one ex factory, but this is something to be aware of.
Cross Beam Recall Issue
When Lagoon installed the cross beam they did not put a barrier between the aluminum cross beam and the stainless bow rollers and the stainless brackets that connect the chain plank to the cross beam. Dissimilar metals cause corrosion, especially when you introduce an electrolyte such as salt water. Our boat was one of the last to come off of the production line with this issue. We caught it very early on and had it remedied.
As a matter of fact, Lagoon came out with a kit that you can use to fix the issue. If you buy a 2021 boat it may have come with the barrier from the factory, Wild Rose came out of the factory in January of 2021. All models after this should be fine. Pre 2021 models will have needed this fix. If you are considering the purchase of a Lagoon 42, make sure this has been done, or pull the anchor rollers to determine the extent of the corrosion. This is a well known issue and most people I have spoken with have corrected it.
Fridge/Freezer Ventilation
We have found that although the ventilation for the salon refrigerator and countertop freezer is there, it doesn’t offer enough air flow. We installed a small computer fan connected to the fridge to bring in more air. This is very easy to do and costs about $12.
Final Thoughts
People often ask why boats have so many more problems than cars. I can see why they would ask that. The reality is auto manufacturers are making exponentially more vehicles than boat manufacturers are boats. The other issue is your boat is sitting in an electrolyte constantly trying to reduce it to its elemental state.
All boats have issues, the Lagoon 42’s issues are relatively minor and have been corrected by Lagoon as they have learned from the more they have produced. We feel like the issues have been minor and love our boat.
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