Catamaran Comparison: Dufour 48 vs. Lagoon 46

Multihulls have been growing in popularity for the past years, and there is no sign of catamarans stopping their conquest anytime soon. Major brands known for their monohull production have now a dedicated line for multihulls. In this article, we compare the all-new Lagoon 46 and the Dufour shipyard’s first catamaran Dufour 48.

The popularity of catamarans can be explained by their stability, manoeuvrability and comfortable and spacious living areas. They are great for chartering.

In case you are unfamiliar about the two brands or the catamaran models in question, here’s a brief introduction.

Dufour is known for following new technologies and using innovative materials. A model of the Dufour Catamaran was revealed at Paris Boat Show 2017, the global launch at the Cannes 2019 in water boat show. It is designed by Umberto Felci and Lorenzo Giovannozzi. According to Michel Dufour: “We have developed this project with the vision to match an elegant and comfortable catamaran with outstanding sailing abilities.”

Lagoon is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of cruising catamarans. The brand values freedom and lifestyle, resulting in elegant and comfortable yachts. Designed by Nauta Design and Patrick le Quément, The Lagoon 46 represents innovation, freedom and courage – the fundamentals of the Lagoon brand. The global launch for the catamaran was in Düsseldorf boat show in January 2019.

Now, let’s get to the details.

Technical specifications

In the table below, you can see the key specifications. For more detailed information, click on the following links: Lagoon 46, Dufour 48 (include a link to a brochure or relevant website)

EXTERIOR

Dufour

The Dufour catamaran has a contemporary design with voluminous hulls. The reversed and narrow bows cleave the water efficiently. The aft placed mast allows larger headsails, and the boom is more angled than in Dufour’s monohulls. The self-tacking jib (48 m2) combined with the mainsail (76 m2) creates a total sail area of 124 m2.

Dufour is famous for great comfort and outdoor living areas. The catamaran doesn’t fail, as it comes with a huge flybridge with stairs access from both starboard and port sides. At the back, there is a wide L-shaped sofa, and in front of the helm, you’ll find a double sunbed. The central helm station is compact with winches nearby. Visibility around the boat is excellent. Walking area too.

At the back of the boat, there are wide stairs from the water level on to the cockpit and side decks. The spacious layout gives the impression of a bigger catamaran. The cockpit is an extension of the living room – a lounge area to starboard and seating for eight to port. There are two options for dinghy lifting: standard davits or a hydraulic platform.

At the bow, there are two double sunbeds just in front of the coachroof. Additionally, there are two small trampoline sections just aft of the cross beam.

Lagoon

The Lagoon 46 is designed for uncompromised performance. The hulls are optimised for form and volume with vertical bows. Lagoon’s total sail area (140 m2) is slightly larger than Dufour’s, as is also the self-tacking jib (50 m2). The Lagoon 46 is also a bit more heavy than the Dufour. The mast is placed a bit further aft, and the foretriangle is larger than usual. This allows for more choices of headsails and ensures efficiency. FlatWinder mainsail track is placed on the roof.

The flybridge on the Lagoon has two functions with sunbeds and the helm station – a balance between comfort and steering. Compared to the single helm seat on Dufour 48, the Lagoon has wide sunbeds with adjustable backrests in two rows. While the steering wheel and the seat might be too far apart to drive while sitting down, they are too close for allowing walking past the helmsman. The winches are located on port side, which means one has to leave the steering position.

Lagoon’s one level cockpit at the back gives safe and easy access to the sea. The space is designed to accommodate up to 12 guests. There is a bench at the back and an eating area with an L-shaped sofa on the port side. The bench can be slid to the front to fold open the table. On starboard side, there is an outdoor galley and a lounge bench. There is also a large storage space against the saloon bulkhead. For hoisting the dinghy, here are also two options: single davit system or Tenderlift platform. At the front cockpit, there is a U-shaped lounge sofa and two trampolines.

INTERIOR

Dufour

The Dufour 48 has a 360-degree loft-style saloon connected to the cockpit. On the port side, you have fully equipped galley with lots of storage space at the back, an island in the middle and an adjustable L-shaped sofa in the front. At starboard front corner, there is an office space that functions as a navigation station. A plotter screen and autopilot controls make it possible to drive the boat from inside. Thanks to the sliding glass doors and large windows, you can enjoy plenty of natural light and fresh air.

What comes to accommodation, there is room for up to 12 overnight guests. You can choose between three to five cabins and up to five heads. The starboard hull has two cabins and heads as well as day head and a service room. It’s possible to transform it into a single bunk cabin. The cabins have own entrances that ensure privacy for guests. The port hull either has an owner’s cabin and a possible crew cabin or two double cabins mirrored to starboard hull. All the cabins have a lot of daylight coming in through many windows and hatches.

Lagoon

Similar to Dufour’s cat, The Lagoon 46 has also a 360-degree layout in the saloon. There is an U-shaped galley at port and an L-shaped sofa with dining table at starboard front corner, facing the aft cockpit. There is a navigation area on the port side front corner. The sliding glass doors and windows give lots of natural light and ventilation as well as enhance the flow between interior and exterior.

When it comes to the layout of the Lagoon cat, you can choose between three or four cabins. The front and aft cabins are identical and always with separate heads and showers en suite. The combination of functionality and elegant finish gives you an impression of a luxury hotel room. The cabins are very spacious and comfortable, thanks to the specially formed hulls with extra width above the waterline. With the 4-cabin version, it’s possible to have crew cabins in both bows.

Key Highlights

We’ll summarize with some key highlights:

Dufour 48

1. Distinctive Dufour design, outstanding sailing capabilities
2. Excellent ratio with exterior and interior space, luxury Interior finish
3. Excellent communication between the different areas, spacious walking and living areas
4. Best in class fly-bridge
5. Best in class saloon layout

Lagoon 46

1. The heritage, quality and performance of Lagoon
2. Faster, more luxurious successor of the Lagoon 450
3. More sailing area than Lagoon 450
4. The different living spaces in perfect balance, modern interior design
5. Incredibly comfortable and spacious cabins, various relaxing areas on the deck

While each of the catamarans have their unique characteristics and differences, we can agree they both represent innovative technologies and luxurious comfort. If you want to have more information and your share of their outstanding sailing experiences – don’t hesitate to contact us!