Catamaran Comparison · 2026

Excess 12 vs Lagoon 55

Two near-neighbours in the 41–55 foot class — here's how they actually differ on the water.

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At a Glance

Excess

Excess 12

The Excess 12 is a 41-foot 4-cabin catamaran launched in 2022. Best for performance, modern lovers, couples. A performance-leaning hull form for sailors who care how it feels on the helm.

Lagoon

Lagoon 55

The Lagoon 55 is a 55-foot 4-cabin catamaran launched in 2020. Best for family, luxury, long range. A proven family-friendly layout.

Quick Comparison

Spec	Excess 12	Lagoon 55
Length overall	41 ft (12.45 m)	55 ft (16.56 m)
Beam	6.74 m	8.8 m
Cabins (guest + crew)	4 + 1	4 + 2
Max guests	8	8
Year introduced	2022	2020
Best for	performance, modern lovers, couples	family, luxury, long range
Standout amenity	AC, generator	AC, generator
Charter regions	Caribbean, Mediterranean, Mexico & Central America, US East Coast & Florida	Caribbean, Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, South East Asia, South America & Galápagos
Indicative price (bareboat low season)	$7,000	$7,000
Indicative price (crewed peak season)	$57,500	$57,500
View full detail	View →	View →

Pricing data drawn from current-season bookings across BVI and Mediterranean bases. Updated quarterly.

What Would Each Boat Actually Cost You?

Design & Comfort Differences

The two boats feel meaningfully different on board, even within the same nominal size class. Three specific differences worth knowing:

Saloon and deck space. The Excess 12 has a classic enclosed saloon with a wide aft deck; the Lagoon 55 offers a more conventional enclosed saloon.
Cabin configuration. Both boats offer 4 symmetrical guest cabins. What differs is cabin shape — the Excess typically uses a forward-galley / island-berth layout, while Lagoon often offsets the galley aft. Worth seeing both layouts before deciding for a couples-only trip.
Amenities & kit. Excess 12 comes with AC, generator, watermaker, solar, dinghy. Lagoon 55 adds bow thruster, ice maker. The Lagoon 55 has a bow thruster — easier docking in tight Med slips.

Performance Differences

Neither boat is a racer; both are cruising catamarans. But the Excess 12.

In light air (under 10 knots true wind), the heavier-displacement boat will feel slightly sluggish; in 15–20 knots trade-wind conditions both perform similarly. In big Med Meltemi/Mistral conditions (25+ knots) the Lagoon 55's wider 8.8 m beam will initially feel more stable but pushes more water resistance.

For bareboat charters both behave predictably under sail and under power. We rarely see either one out-sail the other in normal charter conditions.

Price & Value

In current-season data, the Excess 12 starts at $7,000/week bareboat (low season, BVI or Greece) and the Lagoon 55 starts at $7,000/week. At the high end (crewed, peak season) we see the Excess 12 reach $57,500/week and the Lagoon 55 reach $57,500/week.

For most charterers the price difference is small (~$500–$1,500/week) compared to the total trip cost — meaning amenities, layout and your destination matter more than sticker price when choosing between two boats this similar.

Which Should You Choose?

If you're a family with kids

Both boats work for families — compare cabin configs in our detail pages and we'll help you pick the better-fitting layout.

If you want performance / a sailing-feel boat

Choose the Excess 12. It was designed with sailing performance in mind — the helm feels more responsive and you'll enjoy being on the wind.

If you want luxury / open-space

Choose the Lagoon 55. It's specifically tuned for indoor-outdoor living and the finish is the more premium of the two.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Excess 12 bigger than the Lagoon 55? ▾

The Excess 12 is 41 ft (12.45 m) long with a 6.74 m beam, while the Lagoon 55 is 55 ft (16.56 m) with a 8.8 m beam. The Lagoon 55 is the longer boat, but the difference of 14 ft may be marginal once you step on board.

Which is better for a family — Excess 12 or Lagoon 55? ▾

The Lagoon 55 is the stronger family pick — designed with family / luxury in mind, with 4 guest cabins and a layout forgiving for kids new to sailing. The Excess 12 leans performance / modern lovers — fine for older families with sailing experience.

Which is better value — Excess 12 or Lagoon 55? ▾

In our tracking, the two boats are priced within ~$0/week of each other at the low end, so value depends on which features you weight: the Excess 12 gives you AC, generator, watermaker; the Lagoon 55 gives you AC, generator, watermaker.

Can the Excess 12 and Lagoon 55 charter in the same destinations? ▾

Excess 12: Caribbean, Mediterranean, Mexico & Central America, US East Coast & Florida. Lagoon 55: Caribbean, Mediterranean, Indian Ocean, South East Asia, South America & Galápagos. Where they overlap (often the Caribbean + Mediterranean), they're both well-supported by local charter fleets and you can usually get a checkout sail either way.

How many guests can each boat sleep? ▾

Excess 12: 4 guest cabins + 1 crew cabin(s), sleeps up to 8 guests in standard charter config. Lagoon 55: 4 guest cabins + 2 crew cabin(s), sleeps up to 8 guests. Both sleep the same number — your choice depends on layout and amenities.

Keep Comparing

More 41–55-foot Catamaran Comparisons

Excess 12 vs Excess 14 47 ft vs 41 ft · same brand Excess 12 vs Lagoon 50 50 ft vs 41 ft · same cabins Excess 12 vs Lagoon 46 46 ft vs 41 ft · same cabins Excess 12 vs Excess 15 50 ft vs 41 ft · same brand Excess 12 vs Excess 13 43 ft vs 41 ft · same brand Excess 12 vs Lagoon 42 42 ft vs 41 ft · same cabins

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