Since purchasing the boat (s/n 304; delivered new from factory 2014) I have made a number of improvements, as any proud home owner would, to the existing materials, products that Lagoon have provided and other general improvements. Lagoon has designed and constructed a good quality blue water cruiser however there are items that just haven't stood up to this environment and needed replacement.

Im not going to repeat the 'added' items Ive put on the boat to make it a blue water friendly cruiser (see very first blogs).

Caveat: I love my 450. All boats have their gremlins. So while this may seem a negative read, its not. Ive resounded to the fact, as most yacht owners have, that Im more than happy and willing to invest the $$ to improve the boat the best I can. And take advantage of the warranties as long as they exist.

Bilge Pumps and Switches
Lagoon provides a 2000GPM Rule pump connected to a Whale float switch and alarm into each hull's bilge. All three of these items have failed on me at one time or another. I've replaced the float switch twice, the pump once and the alarm flutters inconsistently at whim and I've had to disconnect it at times. This is mission critical equipment folks, it should be some of the most robust equipment on any boat.

Well it is now! I'm an avid reader of Attainable Adventure Cruising written up by Phyllis and John and with their wealth of knowledge and experience I continually find good ideas for improvements. It was here that I discovered a more reliable bilge pump system.

Exchanging the Rule/Whale, the bilge is installed with a Jabsco 68800 diaphragm pump connected to an UltraSafeSystems float switch and their corresponding alarm. Directly connected to the house batteries. It's been reliable up to now and while a bit expensive (circa USD750) its belt and braces.

Dingy Bash Bars fitted onto the Transoms
Someone in Phuket suggested these to me as I had a number on dings on my lower transom edges from where our dingy would hit them. These leading edges aren't exactly very robust (they crumble with the slightest impact) and I'm sure all 450 owners have the same problem. So I had two polished 316 runners fabricated up and glued them on with 5200 and, voila, watch out dingy! It adds some bling to the boat that doesn't look that bad either. Approx USD150.

Rain Deflectors
Rainwater can enter the boat via the two forward vertical salon hatches during a good downpour and often, here in the tropics at least, you want them open for the breeze to pass. Also, above the aft cockpit roof the rounded edge just lets a waterfall over the seats in a good rain; not ideal. So off to the DIY I went to pick up some home 'profiles', the ones typically used for weather stripping, shower door seals, etc. And I fastened them with double sided tape just above the windows and along the top edge of the cockpit and, voila, it deflects the rain. Cost USD10.

Dingy Lift Harness
I saw this coming and stupidly, I waited for it to happen before doing something about it! Our 52kg Highfield dingy with its 53kg Honda outboard was delivered with a flimsy webbing lifting strap with an equally weak s/s ring that connects to the davit lift rigging and frame. Sure enough, a few months in, during a 40kt howly and plenty of heaving the webbing strap blows out ... at 2am! I managed to jury rig the dingy and keep it onboard but the next day it was all redesigned and replaced with materials I had onboard. The webbers were replaced with s/s chain with s/s shackles. Further, I replaced the pulley blocks with upgraded Harkens. Note that we remove the boat and motor during long transits - boat onto the foredeck and the outboard onto its motor mount. Cost USD175.

Dingy Lift Frame
The outboard (Honda BF20) weighs in at a backbreaking 53kilos. And it's just bloody awkward with 2 persons to remove and lift to the outboard motor mount fixed to the stern of the boat. So while at PSS (shipyard), I had them fabricate a simple stainless davit frame that I mounted onto my solar support frame, added a block and tackle system, a home made lift harness and voila, its now a simple lift job. Cost USD 350.

Anchor Cleat Backing Plate
Im not sure how Lagoon missed this one. One of the improvements they made over previous models was to install enlarged reinforced backing plates on all the beam cleats where the mooring lines add load - good good. But they missed the anchor cleat, surely one of the most used cleats on the boat and one that takes a significant load, particularly when used for power setting the anchor when you don't want that large load onto your windlass. Also used for attaching mooring balls. It was a simple fix - a long flat aluminum plate, two holes drilled and fitted with Tef-Gel to the underside of the forward longitudinal beam - the existing cleat bolts were long enough. Cost USD5.

Stack Pack
The Indecense Sail's lazy bag/stack pack has got to be one of the worse types around. Who designed and built this shite? In less than 6 months, its has worn holes through from the surrounding lines, the horizontal strengthening bar has come out, it just doesn't fit around the mast properly, its Velcro fastenings don't work any longer, etc., etc. I was so peed off with it that I wrote a shit-o-gram to Indecense - no reply from the French of course. I have made a number of repairs and just holding out until it fails completely to buy another or we get to the next port with a sail fabricator. On a positive note, their sails seem to holding out quite well. Cost TBA.

Freezer Drainage
The fridge and freezer have installed drains for ridding of the water during a defrost session. But Lagoon missed installing any method to collect the water from condensation that slowly and continuously drips onto the wooden cabinet base and will eventually rot this wood out. And worse - it will drip into an opening and down into a load of wiring. As a temporary measure, until I get to a resourceful city, Ive installed a plastic liner sheet under the freezer and fridge to collect the water and allow it to drip onto the salon floor for easy mopping up. Cost USD 3. Eventually, I'll find a slim piece of hard polymer for a proper fix.

Hatch Seals
The forward hatches are exposed to wind and spray. It was a sloppy job when Lagoon installed the rubber seals around the hatch doors to prevent the ingress of water and we've had to remove H2O from these lockers after a good passage. So, I jumped in, did a light test and re-seated the seals with a bit of epoxy glue. Cost USD2.

Generator Extractor Fans
Lagoon installed the genset's extractor fan onto the forward bulkhead that is shared with the salon. So when the genset was running you'd hear this loud disturbing reverberating sound all through the salon which just nearly puts you on the brink of madness. So, I removed these fans (there is a 2nd one for the washer/dryer) and built in a floating frame with plenty of anti-vibrating foam and, voila, its deadened. Cost USD25.

I've since read that these fans on the new models of the 450 have been relocated. Good Good.

Lets give Lagoon credit here - that they listen to their customers and make quality improvements - well done!

Raymarine
Contrary to some opinions, I have not been hit by lightening. Me thinks that some of RM's inventory are good quality products however there are some, or aspects of, that are simply overly complicated and/or under-designed. Most everything here has failed at some time in its short life onboard my boat and we've managed to fix it or live with it.

Briefly....

• E125s: works fine today ... except I cant get the detailed charts to read on the repeater and Raymarine cant sus it out for me either (?). I have twin E125's and they are now up to version 13 for the software - mmmm - this product has only been on the market for 2.5yrs.
• Autopilot/SPX30: works fine. I had a knocking issue with the L&S hydraulic system but that was fixed with a bleeding.
• P70 wind instruments: cut out occasionally, sometimes from low voltage but sometimes not. Lost all wind/depth instruments for 3 days once.
• AIS650: intermittent receiving and advised by RM experts to reboot the system to get it reactivated. Really...reboot the system....is this under-design?
• Joystick remote: doesn't work and have to re-boot.
• Smart remote: doesn't work and have to re-boot.
• Radome HD: works fine.
• VHF: works fine.

I'd be curious to know if there was an underlying reason for Lagoon to switch to B&G this year?

Misaligned Salon Door
This one is a bit worrying. I've reported earlier on this but in summary, during a passage and particularly large swells, the flexing of the boat has, IMHO, put a permanent deformity into the sliding salon door frame and am now unable to properly lock the door. Further, it will swing open/shut during large swells and I have to keep it closed with a shock cord - hardly convenient for crew. After a lot of reviewing, adjustments, discussions, we (Lagoon, agent and I) are still working this through. I hope to report a favorable solution shortly.

What We Do Like
Lets be fair. Here are a nr of things that do work well:

• The 450's handles well in moderate to strong seas i.e. 4-5m swells, up to 50kts wind. This is as much as I've experienced with this boat and I've felt well secure with her abilities.
•We like the flybridge. Sure we are warm weather cruisers and this is a warm weather boat and the overall management and view from the boat from up here is great. Some people complain of hidden areas during berthing...well Ive never hit anything - its slow and easy going and having a crew member at the right place. I also do all my sailing from up here, thick and thin, and not from the remote salon as I've read some do.
• Its spacious, modern design and with an IMAX view.
• Plenty of storage space in this owners version.
• The owners suite - well laid out.
• Easy to handle singlehanded - all lines, sheets and electric winches at an arms length for management of sails. Too easy!
• Yanmar diesels and their SD60 saildrives - no issues and plenty space to work around them.
• Cummins-Onan generator, installed with a NRV; always works.
• Mess: stove, oven, fridge, freezer - all work well.
• Watermaker: Dessalator DUO100 12/220V has worked like a champ. We run it up on average every 2nd day and have a full spares kit and plenty of filters.
• Electric toilets and their convenient use, especially for folks not use to the manual type. No problems yet but I know they're coming so backed up with plenty spares.
• Access to systems. There are a few tight places for Mr Articulate but generally I can get to where I need to be.
• Our gennaker. Used for light winds but this 105m2 baby moves us along nicely.
• Solar: Fills our house batteries daily while at anchor even on marginally cloudy days.
• Highfield OM350 with Honda BF20: Aside from putting in ethanol based petrol in it once (Thailand -urrgh), its been running like a champ. Strong engine.
• Bauer Jr dive compressor: another champ with near zero maintenance needed. Installed behind the starboard engine.

So there you have it. My views on this boat Ive affectionally called Emerald Sea. This is live, so I'll update as my life onboard goes on.