Vitesse Yacht for Sale | 55 Lagoon Yachts Bocas Del Toro, Panama

S/V Vitesse is a Bocas Del Toro. Panama based 1989 Jeanneau Lagoon 55s Catamaran. This JTA Jeanneau Technique Advances / Lagoon 55s catamaran has had a total refit and has been customized turning it into 60 foot waterline boat by adding two extra feet in the engine room area and then three foot swim platforms / sugar scoops. This all epoxy built fiberglass cored boat was built from the Jeanneau factory using carbon reinforcements and Kevlar inlayed bottoms.

New plumbing, new wiring, new panels, new watermaker, new standing and running rigging, new sails, newer engines, new electronics, new composite interior floors and cabinets, new flooring, new protective driving station, owners suite , new carbon hardtop with side wings and glass windows, new washer and dryer. The list goes on and on with the custom work that has been done to remove weight and keep the boat balanced. This refit was done over a 10 year period to turn an x-charter boat into the perfect 2 person cruiser. Having the knowledge from owning a composite kit aircraft company for over 15 years allowed the current owners the ability to create a boat that checks almost all of the wants in a cruising vessel.

This Lagoon 55 sailing yacht, has undergone a full refit, and restored to a better than original beauty. This 3 cabin, 3 head owner’s version is a must-see.

In the late 1980’s, racing catamaran designers made the first cruising catamarans. Foremost among the designers were VPLP ( a French based naval architecture firm founded by Marc Van Peteghem and Vincent Lauriot-Prévost). Vitesse is hull number 5 restored to better than new condition over the past ten years.

Why an early model Lagoon? The answer is simple.1) Horsepower to weight. The ship is elegantly designed to provide spacious living but it retains a racing-cat’s “v-hull” shape and lightweight. Her displacement is 13 tons compared to the modern 55 foot boat which weigh in around 20 tons. 2) The difference is in the build. These boats were hand laid up using woven e-glass and EPOXY vacuum bagged in a mold. Some of the L55’s were also built using carbon reinforcements and Kevlar inlaid in the hulls below the waterline for abrasion resistance. This vessel was one of the few that has all three materials used in her build. It was also built with PVC core below the waterline so rot would not be an issue here. Building this way gave her better performance, lively acceleration and speed to safely to outrun weather and get to your destination. She has excellent sailing qualities and easy ship handling. This vessel goes over the seas instead of punching through them..

The ship’s refit was thorough, repairing items that had suffered the impacts of time and age which brings her to better new.

In 2010, Vitesse was put the on the hard. The top deck, formerly cored in balsa, in areas where attachments like deck blocks, tracks, stanchions or other hardware had been mounted, had developed rot in the core because the balsa core was not remove and replaced with thicken epoxy hard points. That takes time and material to do it right and we all know that production boats are trying to cut cost. All of the deck hardware was removed then the core and glass was removed and replaced with synthetic PVC foam core, vacuum bonded and re-glassed and faired anywhere that had any water intrusion or rot. The aft cross beam also needed to be rebuilt. The forward part of the bridge deck in front of the main bulkhead also had core rot. That complete area also had the core replaced and re-glassed with new tramp stainless hardware with backing plates so that issue would not happen again. The next issue that was addressed was the cockpit and duel outboard driving stations that had restricted views for maneuvering the boat. The driving stations were removed including the double teak floors that revealed more rotten core that needed replaced.

In 2011, we then rebuilt that entire cockpit area making new seating and we moved the driving station to the bulkhead. Vitesse now has a view of each corner of the boat for easy maneuvering. Electronic shifting was installed at the new helm with a backup plug on the port cockpit for a remote set of shifters. This allows us to be able to walk the boat while docking. Another plus is that same shifter can be placed forward thru the open hatch at the windlass locker so the captain can help anchor the boat. This is a huge plus as shouting or hand signals are not necessary to determine where the anchor rode is.

The next big change was the engine rooms. Originally, the engines were against the engine room bulkhead with the v-drives inside under the bed. That meant the engine room was completely open to the bed so heat, diesel and normal engine room stuff was not isolated from the bedroom. It also gave bad access to the shaft seal because it was directly under the bulkhead where the engine was against. We decided to spend the time correcting these issues. It required two foot extensions for the hulls in that area. They were constructed using the same build materials except the core was PVC. The hulls were cutoff close to engine room bulkhead in the solid glass area. The new panels were installed and then the fun was to reshape the rest of the engine room to fit the new panels. While this was being done we also added sugar scoop type platforms into the end of the hulls. It took 3 months per side to make the parts, cut off and install the platforms and then reshape and reinstall back to the factory specs. Carbon reinforcements were also used in this area. The original engine mount beds were just stringers with steel plates for the engine to sit on. The stringers were left but shelves were added so you could lay or sit beside the engine. The engine rooms were then filled and finished with all epoxies materials and then Awlgrip paint was applied New rudder shaft logs with new bearings replaced the aluminum tubes factory logs that were in bad shape.

For a total of 18 months, we worked full time on the hard to fix hull and deck rot issues, remove all hardware, mast, boom, bow beam, compression beam and their fittings, change anchor brackets to the bottom side, build 7′ bow sprit for Code-0, remove front windows and make those areas ready for hatches. We cut the hulls and finished the 5 foot extensions. We filled and finished the hulls and them painted her with Awlgrip fighting lady yellow. We also Awlgripped all of the aluminum parts including the mast and beams. A Coppercoat bottom job was applied in Aug. 2011. The boat was then craned into the water and towed home to continue the work with no engines, no fuel tanks, no rudders and so on.

From mid 2011 – 2016, we purchased new and lightly used Lewmar Ocean hatches to replace and up-size the hatches that were installed by the factory. All of the hatches were removed and molds for the hatch deck rings were made to fit the new hatches. New parts were made and installed and hard points for the screws were added so no water could get into the core. Ten new portlights were also installed on the outside of the hulls. Five of the older port lights were re-used in the inboard sections of the forward hulls for more ventilation. New acrylic was installed to make them like new.

We purchased used Yanmar 4JH4-HTE 110hp engines which had only 600 hours on them in 2014. We took them down to the block and installed new bearings and seals, rings and did valve jobs on the heads, cleaned and reassembled them and then test ran them until the engine rooms were finished.

In 2016 the carbon and corecell hardtop was made along with the carbon side wings and front windshield with opening glass windows. The raised driving helm was built with an instrument panel for the electronics and hydraulic steering station. Electronic shifting was added and installed when both engines were done. The main fuel tanks were removed and composite tanks were made and replaced under the aft berth floors. The wiring was pulled and replace with new 220 / 110 volt AC panels and 24 / 12 volt DC panels. The plumbing was also removed and replaced for hot and cold water, bilge pumps, fresh water pumps and high water systems with alarms. The rudders were pulled and remade. In 2017 we had Vitesse back together enough that we spent 3 weeks in the Bahamas.

From 2017 to present, the interior was completely removed so most of the living areas were changed using PVC cored panels that I built. We opened the fresh water tanks and cleaned them. We then replaced the plywood tops of the tanks with composite. The floors were also replaced with composite. We purchased and installed stainless stanchions and gates from Hylas. New 1.25” 316 stainless corners and bow pulpits were custom made and installed. The side coach roof windows were removed and replaced with hurricane glass windows. We added a new solar system. New Lewmar 70 hatches were installed in the front of the coach roof which replaced the fixed windows from the factory. The teak toe rails were also in bad shape and were removed and remade out of composite materials and painted with Teak Awlgrip paint.

In 2020, the topside was faired, and painted with Snow white Awlgrip and Matterhorn white non-skid.

The Genset and Watermaker were installed in 2021.

(Starboard Hull) Aft guest berth. It was left using the same layout updating the liners, adding new veneer, led lights, 24 volt electric head / bidet with 24 volt LectraSan holding tanks that are Coast Guard approved, glass counter tops, new fixtures, new sliding acrylic mirrors, new flooring and a latex end load queen bed. Moving forward, major changes we made in the redesign of this interior. Making the galley longer with overhead cabinets and making a more open overhead area for more light from the coach roof windows. We removed the forward doorway using part of the dressing room from the forward berth to make this happen. We took out the bed and then built a large pantry for storage. I also sew. The pantry also has folding tops that make a sewing table for my sewing machine stored it that area. The room in front of the berth was the work room that only had access from a deck hatch. By removing the bed where the pantry is, a new door was was added for the workroom access. All new galley was installed with a Isotherm freezer and fridge, a portable refrigerator/ freezer in a pull out drawer, Blomberg gas oven / stove, lightweight glass tile counter tops and huge double sink area. The head in the galley area is our ocean going head. No holding tank, with new larger toilet with hand pump, new liners and mirrors.

(Port Hull) The owners berth is aft. It was left using the same layout updating the liners, adding new veneer, led lights, electric head / bidet with 24 volt LectraSan, glass counter tops, new fixtures, new sliding acrylic mirrors, new flooring and a latex end load queen bed. The chart room was also left in the same shape were the updated control electrical panels are located. Moving forward, the twin bunk berth was converted to one overhead bunk with a 220 volt Blomberg separate washer and vent-less heat pump dryer. Next to it is a Isotherm freezer for overflow or place to move the food to defrost the other units in the galley. The access for the washer and dryer is behind the cabinets so if the units need to be replaced in the future the access is easy. Further forward, was 2 more heads that were removed and replaced for a large walk in shower. Glass tile floors and counter top with curved bench seat and great storage using white Formica. The crew berth again had only access from the deck hatch in that area. By removing the wall from the 2 heads, that is now access from the shower room. It is now the sail and rope locker / storage.

(The Saloon) was completely taken out and rebuilt. We used real leather furniture on the port side and 2 massage chairs for lounging and seating on the starboard side. There is a Isotherm ice maker with a flat screen tv also on the port side. A beverage refrigerator was also added that has not been hooked up in the middle of the saloon for easy access. The house batteries and 2 inverter chargers are behind the sofas.

(The cockpit) can be completely closed in with Strataglass snap on window covers or inside screens. The back of the cockpit has a complete drape for rain protection. A single drop leaf teak table was refinished using epoxy finish. New seat cushions with Sunbrella material are in place. The helm chair is the focal point of the boat. A Recaro chair from a mega-yacht. Once you sit in it, you will not want to leave. The electronics are Raymarine from 2009 and 2016. Most of the electronics were installed to make the 8 day trip home from Tortola in 2009. Some have been now been replaces with newer unites and we have a NEMA 2000 system. The autopilot has been upgraded to a newer version. There is great storage in the cockpit in the floors and under the seats with two rigid frigid coolers built in to the seats. Blue led overhead lights with 2 center tri-color lights.

(Tender storage) A fiberglass / carbon fiber Targa bar was built and installed to lift the tender. Hinged aluminum chocks are in place to set the tender on for storage. The two electric sheet winches are used to pickup and lower the tender. We can do this in less than 2 minutes ether way. The tender can easily be tied down to the cleats for big wave traveling. The tender is a 12 foot Rigidboat with a Euro driving station bolted to the side of the boat. Yamaha 25 HP 2 stroke for lighter weight. It came with a cooler bench seat. Bimini for sun protection.