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Lagoon Recalls: What Lagoon 42 Owners Need to Know

A Lagoon 42 sinks in the Indian Ocean after a retrofitted escape hatch works loose. What lies behind the Goïot recall, what changed in 2026 and which other recalls affect the Lagoon 42.

MUTINYQUE · 02.10.2026 · 6 Min. Lesezeit6 min read

*Supplied: Australian Maritime Safety Authority*

And how the Lagoon Factory Refit can help you!

Lagoon Factory Refit

An escape hatch that worked loose, a catamaran sinking in the Indian Ocean and a skipper adrift in his dinghy for 15 hours: the case of a Lagoon 42, reported by the Australian broadcaster ABC at the end of September 2026, has thrust a recall campaign back into the spotlight that many owners had long considered closed. An overview of the known Lagoon recalls – and what owners should check now.

The latest case: Lagoon 42 sinks after hatch failure

According to ABC News, 70-year-old Canadian single-handed sailor James “Ted” Rutledge was on a circumnavigation when the alarm went off at night: water was pouring in through the escape hatch, roughly half a metre wide, in the starboard hull. The hatch had been retrofitted in Panama following the 2020 recall campaign – and yet had apparently worked loose of its own accord. Within about ten minutes it was clear that the boat could not be saved.

The life raft was already under water, and Rutledge only just managed to reach the dinghy. Some 1,000 km from the nearest coast, south-east of Christmas Island, he was finally picked up by a helicopter from HMAS Supply following a search flight by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) – after 15 hours at sea. His assessment: he had made no navigational error; the windows had simply not been installed securely enough.

Background: the Goïot recall since 2019

Since 2007, Lagoon has fitted fixed escape hatches from the supplier Goïot: a “Securit” glass pane bonded to an aluminium frame and bolted to the hull. In the event of a capsize, the crew are meant to break the pane and escape through the hull.

In 2019, Goïot informed the shipyards of a risk affecting hatches delivered before September 2018: the pane can detach from the frame. Lagoon, Fountaine Pajot, Catana-Bali and Nautitech then launched a joint recall campaign. At Lagoon, the recall covers catamarans built from 2007 to 2019 with fixed Goïot escape hatches. The remedy: a retaining kit with clips designed to hold the pane in place should it detach, thereby limiting water ingress.

Even before the latest case, this solution had drawn criticism. Sailing forums discussed, for instance, another total loss of a Lagoon; owners doubted that the small plastic retainers could reliably hold a detaching pane in heavy seas.

New in June 2026: replacement every 10 years

On 17 June 2026, Lagoon updated its recall notice – with an important addition from Goïot: the affected hatches should be replaced every 10 years, as the materials and adhesive age under UV radiation, temperature fluctuations, moisture and salt water.

Lagoon draws a clear distinction between two things:

The retaining kit is a safety measure to prevent the pane from falling out – it does not replace the hatch, nor does it extend its service life.
Replacement after 10 years is part of routine maintenance – even if the retaining kit has already been fitted.

As the affected boats were built between 2007 and 2019, almost all of them have now reached or passed this limit. Replacement hatches are available from Lagoon dealers and service centres.

Other recalls and known issues on the Lagoon 42

Besides the hatches, Lagoon 42 owners report further factory measures on their blogs:

Mast step: for early boats (built up to 2018), there was a recall to modify the mast step structure. The design was changed from model year 2019. When buying an early 42, check whether the work has been carried out.
Mast steps for climbing: one owner reports a recall of the mast steps on boats built in 2020/2021.
Crossbeam corrosion: there was no insulation between the aluminium crossbeam and the stainless-steel bow rollers and fittings, which can lead to galvanic corrosion. Lagoon provided a retrofit kit to address this.

What owners report: discussions in Facebook groups

For this article, we analysed discussions in the Facebook group “Lagoon Owners Group”, a private group of Lagoon owners. All statements are reproduced anonymously. The authors’ names are known to the editors and documented. The date, time and link of each post are listed in the sources (F1–F7); the links are visible to group members only. These are accounts from individual owners, not verified manufacturer information.

Escape hatches: criticism of the retrofit

The sinking of the Lagoon 42 in September 2026 is being discussed in the group as yet another hatch failure despite the recall retrofit. (F1)
One owner reports that on a Lagoon 39, a Goïot hatch retrofitted according to the procedure recommended by Lagoon failed again. The crew were close to the coast and managed to bring the boat ashore. According to the report, Lagoon’s new replacement hatch is additionally bolted at the corners. (F2)
Another owner reports a leaking Goïot hatch on a boat only around four years old: a visible separation between glass and frame in one corner. His advice: check hatches regularly for detachment, discolouration and salt deposits. (F3)
As early as May 2025, the group discussed another Lagoon sinking after a hatch failure; according to the post, the sailors concerned were in dispute with Lagoon and their insurer. (F4)
In December 2019, one owner published the CNB Lagoon circular dated 19 December 2019. In it, the shipyard mentions a small number of cases in which the pane had detached from the frame and offers to fit the retaining parts free of charge. (F5)

Underestimated: corrosion on the Lagoon 42 crossbeam

One issue that goes beyond the hatches is documented in detail in the group: galvanic corrosion on the forward crossbeam of the Lagoon 42. One owner describes how, within one to two years, up to 90% of the material thickness had been eaten away in places – beneath the main and spare bow rollers, at the anchor locker mounts and at the forestay. The tell-tale sign, he says, is a white, paste-like deposit around the stainless-steel fittings. The cause: stainless-steel fittings and rivets sit directly on anodised aluminium without an isolating layer; stray currents on board or in the marina can accelerate the process. (F6)

According to this report, Lagoon provides a repair kit (two-component compound, plastic isolating pad, Tef-Gel, new rivets). In extreme cases, the crossbeam has to be replaced; the owner knew of only one case in which this was paid for, and reports a warranty claim lasting 18 months. New crossbeams, he says, are now supplied with pre-fitted insulation. (F6)

As recently as September 2023, a surveyor in the group pointed out that he finds many boats without this kit during inspections. Where pitting is present, he recommends filling the holes, sanding and priming – only then applying Tef-Gel, rivets and the Teflon isolating pad. (F7)

What owners should do now

Check whether the boat was built between 2007 and 2019 and has fixed Goïot escape hatches.
Make sure the retaining kit is fitted – and, regardless of this, check the age of the hatches. Older than 10 years means: replace.
If in doubt, contact your dealer or service centre – or Lagoon directly via the recall address lagoon19009@beneteau-group.com, stating the model, hull identification number (HIN) and your dealer or servicing yard. We are also happy to help with the process: christian@mutinyque.com.
For pre-owned boats: request proof of the hatch retrofit, the mast step modification and the crossbeam kit.
Remove the bow rollers and fittings on the forward crossbeam and check for white deposits or pitting; request proof of the crossbeam kit.
Inspect escape hatches regularly for gaps between glass and frame, discolouration and salt marks.
When replacing hatches, ask for the current version that is bolted at the corners.

Since the start of the campaign, Lagoon itself has stressed that this is a safety issue that must be taken very seriously. The case in the Indian Ocean shows why.