Leopard and Lagoon are two of the best catamaran brands out there. Chances are that if you are on the market for a new or used cat you are considering one of these two options as your next boat. In this article, we will be looking at 2 of the most popular catamarans from both brands and trying to determine which is better. 

Leopard

The Leopard Catamarans have achieved critical acclaim as one of the prime pushers of the boundaries of innovative catamaran design. Having been around for 50 years, this group has constantly found inspiration to evolve by making good use of customer feedback. Leopard Catamarans has teamed up with builders, Robertson and Caine, to craft today’s Leopard range, which comprises roomy, robust, performance-driven blue water cruising catamarans. Over 2,500 of their much-coveted Catamarans have now been delivered all over the globe. 

In 1994, Robertson and Caine, South African designer, entered into an arrangement with The Moorings to produce specifically built catamarans for their charter floors. From 1994 to 1998, Robertson and Caine delivered the 100th catamaran to The Moorings, with each one powered or sailed to its destination around the world.

The partnership with Leopard Catamaran’s launch in 2000 for private procurement was extended because of business demand. As Robertson and Caine is an internationally trusted brand, it was not surprising that sailors worldwide quickly sponsored the company and wanted to buy it for private use by choosing the optional layout and distribution locations for themselves.

By 2012, Leopard Catamarans had taken impressive steps and expanded rapidly in the past decade, becoming a market leader in producing and distributing premium catamarans for private and charter fleets worldwide.

Lagoon

Lagoon by boat maker Lagoon. The company began as a specialist multihull offshoot of Jeanneau, a monohull constructor. Both companies are run by Groupe Beneteau, which arguably is the biggest name in boat making and charter business. 

Lagoon is probably one of the world’s largest multihull builders and has built a name in making modern catamarans suitable for both coastal and offshore sailing. One could say it is their specialty, and one of their ways of satisfying a wide range of customers is by making most of their models available in the charter and owner versions. Customer feedback was credited as the secret of their speedy evolution and wide customer satisfaction by the designers, Marc van Peteghem and Vincent Lauriot-Prevost.

>>Also Read: Best Catamaran Brands

Leopard 43 X Lagoon 42

The Leopard 43 is a popular cruising catamaran. The relaxed and well-considered style and shorthand ability to sail is a perfect blue-water cruising craft. Built with high construction standards, the use of catamarans is good value for money.

The Lagoon 42 bears a strong resemblance to the Lagoon 52. Although it retains the signature features of the new generation of Lagoons, it sports a beautiful and elegant silhouette.

Built Quality 

The Leopard 43 is a convenient and relatively quick transition manufacturer that allows you to sail with shorthands. Based on the award-winning Leopard 42, it is designed both interiorly and exteriorly by Simonis and Voegd and built by Robertson and Caine, the renowned South African boat builder. Leopard 42 cats were built in two configurations, one for private ownership and the other for the charter sector. The Leopard 43 edition of the owner has three cabins and three heads. The Moorings 4300, the charter version has four cabins and four heads.

A well-built hardtop offers adequate protection in the cockpit for enjoying life on the water. The hardtop also provides a convenient location for the solar panels and traveler, reducing cockpit clutter. The bridge deck, which has a low clearance with the water and is known to slam in rough seas, is one downside of the Leopard 43’s design. The dinghy is firmly held in place by strong davits placed on a complete walk-around duckboard on the transom. This is a versatile design that is easy to use when sailing and offers excellent access to the tender and the ocean while at anchor.

The Lagoon 42 is indeed a special catamaran. The mast that was previously located in the mid-aft was moved far aft to re-center the weight and thus greatly minimize pitching. Short-handed sailing or a couple is also a lot easier with the new self-tacking genoa and a much smaller boom.

The open transoms and one-level living area from the cockpit into the saloon are new and provide a nice unobstructed living area. The saloon and cockpit are large areas with plenty of lounging room everywhere. The raised helm door is shut by sliding it, similar to that of the 450S and 52S.

The 42 demonstrates her sense of style as well as her strong personality. Her success is determined by the strength of her design as well as her careful construction. The architectural lines of this exquisite vessel were drawn by VPLP and Patrick le Quément, while taking into consideration all the signature Lagoon characteristics: vertical windows, single-level cockpit and saloon, integral deck hatches, and ergonomic helm station.

>>Also Read: Best Catamarans Under 200k

Comfort (Indoor Spaces, Heads, Cockpit)

The Leopard Catamarans is great in terms of the comfort of its lounge, which is only second to its very strong build, and opens to large windows, a feature that simply floods the interior of the boat with natural sunlight and great sea breeze. You will no longer be able to do without the aesthetic refinement of the cabins, not to mention the sizeable Italian bathroom of the Owner’s Suite. The Leopard 43 comes with a super-sized flybridge which includes a grill, wet bar and provides easy access to the sunbathing platform found forward.

Inside, the galley of this power cat is located in the forepart of the boat, and the forward-facing settee and table are placed aft. This layout, which includes sliding glass doors between the sofa and aft cockpit seating area, plus a large window forward and access door to the bow, allow for nearly 360-degree panoramic views and create a feeling of continuous indoor-outdoor living space.

Versions

First option version: three cabins, two heads, six berths, and two showers (regarding the option chosen).

Second option version: four cabins, two heads, eight berths, and two showers (regarding the options chosen).

The 42’s cockpit layout is truly ingenious. The space provided between the single-level saloon, the aft crossbeam, and the various sunbathing areas is exceptional for the size of this boat. The aft platforms and steps are suspended and widened, so the transom skirts create a new space for leisure and relaxation. Access to the coach roof and its sunbathing area is facilitated by the access steps at the helm station.

Functionality is the caption in the 42’s saloon: an incredibly wide dining table capable of accommodating all the guests on board while providing plenty of stowage beneath the seats. The large chart table carries all the instruments, allowing the crew to effectively manage navigation. The starboard galley looks out towards the cockpit and comes with several worktops. Being a fully equipped galley, it comes with a hob, oven, stainless steel sink, ample stowage, and a large cold cabinet on the portside.

The Owner’s Cabin is better described as a suite. Natural light overruns the entire cabin, thanks to the numerous and efficient hatches, portlights, and several other openings. The living area consists of an island double bed enabling mounting the bed from the sides, a dressing table, a small library, sofa, wardrobes, and numerous storage spaces. The head is private and ample, with plenty of stowage and equipped with a separate shower. The full sea view is supplied with the cabin!

The forward and aft guest cabins have double beds and many stowage spaces. They have their private bathrooms, and in the three and four-cabin versions, the aft cabin comes with a separate shower!

>>Also Read: Best Catamarans Under 40 Feet

Overall Sailboat Design (Hull, Keels, Deck) 

Sailors on the Leopard 43 have effortless access to the water with the big duckboard and the big sugar scoop steps. These would be very useful for diving in the water if you feel like snorkeling or when you want to pull your fresh catch aboard. An outdoor shower located at the port scoop is a great idea because one could use it for a quick rinsing off afterward. There is a lot of space on the aft rail for a grill to be set up.

Seats are placed on the pulpit in the front, providing a comfortable place to sit and watch the water and occasional islands go by or to enjoy sundowners. And there’s more. The trampolines are of sufficient size for both comfort and protection. When moving along the deck, grab rails mounted on the cabin top are both convenient and secure.

The helm is on the starboard side, providing excellent visibility and protection. In the event of bad weather, it is enhanced by a windscreen Bimini that connects between the cabin rooftop and the hardtop. The entire cockpit area is adequately protected by the hardtop, and clears can be easily rolled down if unusually bad weather decides to turn up. The cockpit table has a wraparound lounge and can accommodate eight people with the help of two additional chairs. The majority of the lines are routed back to the cockpit and helm, with an electric winch supplying muscle strength. Additional winches can be found on the mast.

The helm station is protected by a composite bimini (optional) with a sliding cover and a direct stair to the coach roof and boom. Maneuver area is based around two winches for all operations. The self-tacking jib allows outstandingly efficient tacking. The sunbathing area, aft crossbeam, transom skirts, and cockpit form a single area for sports or relaxation. The hull sports almost vertical bows, with fine entries for performance and a gullwing bridge deck for a smooth ride through the waves. The form and volume are modified, capable of carrying a large payload without loss of performance.

It is easy to move about on the deck. Also worthy of mentioning are the wide side decks, flush deck hatches, and many handrails.

Wide transom skirts are available for ease of boarding and optimum usability at anchor. Two wide and low cantilevered steps enable easy access to the cockpit, in addition to a folding bathing ladder that has two ergonomic large integral handrails.

The foredeck has two large lockers. The one located starboard is reserved for the generator as an option.

Lastly, there is an ergonomic helming station for two people with all control lines brought together, and sailors that have test-driven the 42 can testify to the optimized circulation between the saloon, helm station, and deck. It is possible to access the coach roof from the helm station.

Lagoon vs Leopard – Final Thought

Leopards and Lagoons are both great boats, and unfortunately, there is not much in it between the two. While Leopards are more expensive for the same length, Lagoons are more broad-beamed. So you still get the same bang for your buck either way. The main differences between Lagoon and Leopard stem from your personal preferences regarding the interior/exterior design.