Description

LAGOON 500 CATAMARAN YACHT

FULLY BUILT AND READY TO DISPLAY MUSEUM QUALITY SHIP MODEL

Dimension approx.: 28L x 16W x 43 (inch)
The model is already built. THIS IS NOT A MODEL SHIP KIT

When the Lagoon 500 first slipped into the water in 2005, it marked a turning point not only for Lagoon Catamarans, but for the entire world of cruising multihulls. Designed by the renowned naval architects Van Peteghem/Lauriot‑Prevost (VPLP) and built at the CNB shipyard in Bordeaux, the 500 arrived as a bold statement: comfort, space, and ocean‑crossing capability could coexist in a single, elegant catamaran.

At just over 51 feet, the Lagoon 500 was neither the largest nor the fastest catamaran of its era, but it was one of the most influential. Its defining feature — the flybridge helm — elevated the skipper above the deck, opening panoramic views and freeing up valuable cockpit space below. This design choice would become a hallmark of Lagoon’s future models, but in 2005 it felt like a glimpse of the next generation.

Below the waterline, the twin fixed keels and wide stance gave the boat a reassuring stability. Reviewers often remarked that the 500 seemed happiest at a steady 10 knots, gliding through moderate wind with a calm, predictable motion. Lagoon’s distinctive gull‑wing bridgedeck helped soften the ride, reducing slamming and making long passages more comfortable for families and charter guests alike.

Inside, the Lagoon 500 offered a level of volume that surprised even seasoned sailors. Depending on the layout, owners could choose three, four, or five cabins, each with its own head — a flexibility that made the boat equally at home as a private cruising yacht or a high‑demand charter platform. The saloon was bright and open, with Lagoon’s signature wraparound windows that blurred the line between sea and sky.

Commercially, the Lagoon 500 was a triumph. Roughly 150 hulls were built before production ended in 2012, and during those years it became one of the most recognizable silhouettes in anchorages from the Mediterranean to the South Pacific. It bridged the gap between owner‑operated boats and larger crewed yachts, offering a taste of luxury without the complexity of a super‑cat.

By 2011, Lagoon introduced the Lagoon 52, a sleeker, more modern successor with a forward‑stepped mast and self‑tacking jib — innovations aimed at easier short‑handed sailing. Yet the 500 never faded into obscurity. Instead, it settled into a well‑earned legacy: the catamaran that proved big cruising boats could be both spacious and seaworthy, both comfortable and capable.

Today, the Lagoon 500 remains a beloved choice on the used market, prized for its durability, generous living spaces, and unmistakable Lagoon DNA. It stands as a flagship of its era — a boat that didn’t just follow trends, but helped define what modern cruising catamarans would become.