April 2026

Episode 5: Essential Upgrades for Blue Water Cruising on a Lagoon Seventy 7 Catamaran (Part 1)

Episode 5 of Sail Odyssey takes you behind the scenes as we begin the massive process of transforming Odyssey, our Lagoon Seventy 7, into the ultimate blue water cruising yacht. While the boat was already in excellent condition when we purchased her, we quickly discovered that preparing a vessel for long-range cruising was going to be quite involved.

After organizing a project list containing well over 100 items, we temporarily relocated to Fort Lauderdale, the Yachting Capital of the World, to oversee months of repairs, upgrades, and customization. From historic cold snaps and unexpected challenges to managing dozens of contractors and vendors, the reality of yacht ownership quickly sets in.

In this first installment of our Odyssey upgrade series, we tackle some of the most important projects on the boat, including the complete removal of the hull wrap and extensive gelcoat repairs, electrical upgrades, bilge pump system redesign, replacement trampolines, tender lift servicing, and water system improvements.

Working alongside the talented team at Just Catamarans and several specialized marine vendors, our goal is to make Odyssey one of the finest Lagoon Seventy 7s in the world.

If you're shopping for a boat, already own one, or dream of setting off on your own blue water cruising adventure, this episode offers a real-world look at the planning, costs, challenges, and decisions involved in preparing a large cruising yacht for life at sea.

Watch Now

What happens in this episode

Now that Odyssey officially belongs to them, Eric and Megan turn their attention to preparing the Lagoon 77 for the way they plan to cruise. What begins with the marine survey quickly grows into a spreadsheet of more than 100 repairs and upgrades, prompting them to temporarily relocate to Fort Lauderdale so they can oversee the months-long refit firsthand.

One of the first major projects is removing Odyssey’s black hull wrap, a job that proves far more involved than expected. Beneath it, the team finds areas requiring gelcoat repair, while other projects range from converting key electrical outlets and updating USB connections to replacing the forward trampolines. The goal isn’t simply cosmetic: Eric and Megan want Odyssey updated for their needs while preserving a factory-quality finish.

Safety and self-sufficiency are also major priorities. They completely rethink the unreliable bilge-pump alarm system, service the massive tender lift, and begin upgrading Odyssey’s water systems with future redundancy in mind. From critical safety equipment down to adding more ice-making capacity, the refit reflects their philosophy of addressing problems proactively and preparing Odyssey for serious bluewater cruising.

Quick takeaways

The Refit Begins — More than 100 projects launch an extensive, months-long transformation of Odyssey.
Built Around Their Lifestyle — Electrical, comfort, and usability upgrades tailor the Lagoon 77 to how they’ll actually live and cruise.
Safety Comes First — Critical systems like bilge pumps, alarms, and the tender lift receive major preventative upgrades.
Preparing for Bluewater Cruising — Water redundancy, serviceability, and self-sufficiency guide the work as Odyssey gets ready for extended adventures.