Gemini 105MC vs Jeanneau sun odyssey 43 DS

[la reverie]

I am a sailer-wannabe and I am considering getting a sailboat and bringing it to Thailand. I cannot sail at this point, so the boat purchase is 1-2 year away. I hope only 1 year though

Anyway, I am thinking about using around 100k usd, a little bit more for the Jeanneau option. Before I would sail it to Thailand, from United States, if I choose a Gemini, I would sail in the Caribbean to get enough experience for water sailing">blue water sailing. Is 3-5 months enough?

So the boats I find most appealing are:
1. Gemini 105MC
2. Jeanneau sun odyssey 43 DS

These are very different boats of course one being a mono and one a catamaran, so maybe someone here can help me with which one would be best for my use which would be sailing it to Thailand and sailing around on 2-4 days trips here mostly, but also living in the boat for comfortably for 1-2 months at a time. Also the resale value in Thailand is important in the decision process. There are some Jeanneau boats here, but no Gemini, not for sale anyway.

Also other boat options would be great, but the boat can not be older than 2001.

Benefits of the Gemini:
1. Cheaper
2. Cheaper to dock
3. Maintenance fee is lower?
4. More stable at anchor

Disadvantages:
1. Pounding when sailing.

Benefits of the Jeanneau:
1. Faster
2. It looks better.
3. More space and better design for relaxing at the deck

Disadvantages of the Jeanneau:
1. Many of the have been used as charter boats.
2. The best priced ones seem to be in Croatia and Greece.(probably because they are charter boats). and I dont want to sail past Somalia
3. More expensive

[Doodles]

Couple quick questions:

1.Where in Thailand?
2.Do you plan to sell it immediately or use it personally for a while?
3.Why not buy something closer?

Oh, and no 3-5 months is not enough experience to take off across the Pacific in either boat.

[vjmehra]

Surely a multi will cost more in a marina than a mono?

[Doodles]

Originally Posted by vjmehra

Surely a multi will cost more in a marina than a mono?

Gemini's will fit usually in a normal slip. It's one of their selling/marketing features.

[Factor]

Taking a multi to Thailand from the US/Carribean is like taking coals to Newcastle. There are some great multis there already. There are some great designers and builders there or close by. No disrespect to either boat, but I dont really think either boat is made for the tropics.

[goboatingnow]

La revere , could I suggest you do more sailing before offering comparisons. What you have put forward are not real comparisons.

As to 33 foot cat with a 14 foot beam fitting into a slip designed by say 35 foot boats, good luck with that.

[Factor]

For around the Jeanneau money you could buy Summersalt, a pecsott that was owned and build by Mark Pescott. Great boat, run rings around the Jeanneau and gem, sails beautifully just an all round good boat. And its already in Thailand

[Cotemar]

Jeanneau sun odyssey 43 DS is an ocean rated boat, so no worries their.
Gemini 105mc would be a painful ocean crossing


Buy a boat in Thailand would be my first vote
Jeanneau would get my 2nd vote

[SunKing]

Originally Posted by Cotemar

Gemini 105mc would be a painful ocean crossing

Why??? Or did you mean a 43 foot boat would be more comfortable than a 34 foot one in bigger seas and simply word it wrong??? Seriously, i have never once experienced pain sailing my gemini. I have had to bear off slightly to reduce the pounding (yes they do pound more than bigger cats) and for more comfort in bigger seas but i doubt it was more uncomfortable than any other 34 foot boat, cat or mono.

la reverie.
Gemini was build as a coastal cruiser comfortable for two people. However there have been some who have done ocean crossings in them. With your proposed 3 to 5 months experience it would probably be wiser to hire a delivery captain with you as crew to take you to Thailand. The Slapdash | No Fixed Address a young couple who went round the world in a Gemini.

[Cotemar]

Originally Posted by SunKing

Why???

Gemini was build as a coastal cruiser comfortable for two people. However there have been some who have done ocean crossings in them. With your proposed 3 to 5 months experience it would probably be wiser to hire a delivery captain with you as crew to take you to Thailand. The Slapdash | No Fixed Address a young couple who went round the world in a Gemini.

I think you answered your own question.

Gemini 105MC is a wonderfull cat at a good price, but is only a coastal cruiser. It does not have a CE rating for offshore use. It will sink if holed, because is does not have large floatation foam filled crash boxes like a CE rated boat. Gemini is one of the best boats for shallow water.
At anchor in a protected harbor all is good, but if the wind is blowing 20 knots+ you start to hear the slapping under the hull which drives me crazy.

The new Gemini 35 has addressed most of these issues, but the OB is not talking about a new boat.

[Ranaylor]

For an idea of what sailing a Gemini take a look at the sailing blog at www.theslapdash.com. They took five years to circumnavigate in their's.

Pretty cool story too.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by Cotemar

I think you answered your own question.

Gemini 105MC is a wonderfull cat at a good price, but is only a coastal cruiser. It does not have a CE rating for offshore use. It will sink if holed, because is does not have large floatation foam filled crash boxes like a CE rated boat. Gemini is one of the best boats for shallow water.
At anchor in a protected harbor all is good, but if the wind is blowing 20 knots+ you start to hear the slapping under the hull which drives me crazy.

The new Gemini 35 has addressed most of these issues, but the OB is not talking about a new boat.

CE category A boats do not have " foam filled crash boxes" specific boats may have them , and I don't believe any Jeanneau has them. However I've sailed many models of Jeaneauu and the DS range is an exceeding good sea boat. I would take that we'll before the smaller Cat.

Most people seriously mis understand the RCD ratings and what they really mean.

[la reverie]

Originally Posted by Doodles

Couple quick questions:

1.Where in Thailand?
2.Do you plan to sell it immediately or use it personally for a while?
3.Why not buy something closer?

Oh, and no 3-5 months is not enough experience to take off across the Pacific in either boat.

1. Now in Bangkok, but in Phuket when I get the boat.
2. I plan to keep it for many years first.
3. I would buy something closer if they were not all overpriced and used as charter boat.

How many sailing days do you think I need before I should consider blue water sailing?

Which boat do you think gain most in value by register it here in Thailand?

[la reverie]

Originally Posted by Factor

Taking a multi to Thailand from the US/Carribean is like taking coals to Newcastle. There are some great multis there already. There are some great designers and builders there or close by. No disrespect to either boat, but I dont really think either boat is made for the tropics.

"Taking a multi to Thailand from the US/Carribean is like taking coals to Newcastle." Why?

Which brands are these great catamarans?

I have seen many Jeanneau boats docked in Pattaya, so they must be okay boats to use here.

[ohdrinkboy]

I've chartered the Jeanneau 43DS and really like it. I also love the Geminis. I'd buy which boat suits how you will be using it from your home port.

If I lived in FL and hopped over to the Bahamas frequently. The Gem would win hands down because of skinny water.

However, if I sailed somewhere with deep water I'd go Jeanneau.

In any case, my advice is worth what you paid for it.