Gemini 505 vs 550

yallis · 17 October 2011, 11:33

Hi,

Currently have a gemini 505 and am thinking of upgrading to a 550 because my PVC tubes are coming apart at the seams. I am thinking of retubing with hypalon or upgrading.
Ive measured the internal dimensions and they are identitical.
There is a difference at the transom hence the extra 500mm and max hp in 550 is higher than a 505.
But in terms of ride and seahandling characteristics is there any difference. Ive heard the tubes are set lower in a 550 hence more stability at rest?

Does anyone else know what the differences are?

ROCKSTARS · 21 October 2011, 08:36

hi there, how do you find your 505 gemini at rest, i own a 550, love the boat but it is a little tippie at rest, this is the second 550 that i have owned, will try to post some pics for you if i can.

ROCKSTARS · 21 October 2011, 08:44

hi there, how do you find your 505 gemini at rest, i own a 550, love the boat but it is a little tippie at rest, this is the second 550 that i have owned, will try to post some pics for you if i can.

yallis · 21 October 2011, 12:19

yeah it is a little tippy but i dont have much to compare with in terms of RIBs. its my first RIB. as you can see the tubes are in contact with the water at rest on some of those pics. are yours?. i understand that the tubes have been set a little higher in the 505s in comparison with the 550s and that tends to make the 505s a little tippier at rest from what ive heard

ive never been out in a 550. i have measure them out and the internal dimensions are the same. the difference is at the transom where the outboard is set back a little and the tubes are obviously longer

what year model is yours. looks pretty new. mine is 2002. i wonder if there have been many changes to the hull in that time?

ROCKSTARS · 21 October 2011, 19:39

hi there, yes this boat is brand new, my other one was a 2003 model, the tubes are a lot bigger on the 550, over the years gemini have refined their boats, ie the finish on this one is miles better than my 03 model, the transom is differant in this one as are the consoles etc, you will notice a huge improvement in the ride of the 550 compared to your 505. hope this is of some help, cheers bryan.

MustRib · 22 October 2011, 06:00

wow - a Gemini thread - this is a rare event on here....

ROCKSTARS · 22 October 2011, 07:50

hi all you gemini owners how about posting a few pics of your rigs for us to look at, gotta say i just love my boat and are looking forward to this summer,

ROCKSTARS · 22 October 2011, 07:57

question what sort of clothing do you guys wear for your winter boating, are you happy with it, if money was,nt a problem what would be your ideal winter clothing, i are looking at a full overall set at the moment, mustang brand, look forward to your comments,

MustRib · 22 October 2011, 13:20

dry suit - Musto BR1 over the dry suit - recently acquired Gecko helmet - gloves - look like a red michelin man!
Sea up where I am tends to get a bit nippy in winter, but its the wind that gets ya. I think there are pic posts of my Gemini on here.
Would always contribute to a "Show us your Gemini" thread in the gallery!

MustRib · 22 October 2011, 13:31

hey - just noticed your comment about your tubes...
The seams on the original tubes on my boat let go.
Was strange because the adhesive sort of just gave up the will to live.
So they looked like they were airtight when they had air in them!
When it got cold and the air pressure dropped, they would lose loads of air because the seams were not being pressed against each other, sort of like tacky glue instead of set glue.
Replaced them with Hypalon tubes and all good now.
Yes the boat is a little "tippee" as you called it at rest. I had a Searider before and that certainly wasn't due to the flooding hull.
The other thing I noticed is how much spray the Gemini throws up compared to the Searider, although I do like the better seakeeping of the hull

(waits for deluge of searider owner comments), and the lay up on my boat seems extremely substantial all round. I can barely flex the hull on my boat when its sat on the trailer, I could always get flex in the searider hull when I pressed on it.

yallis · 28 October 2011, 13:22

which model searider did you previously own?
why the difference in sea handling do u think?

MustRib · 31 October 2011, 12:46

'twas an SR4.
so on a normal 550 the difference would be 1.3 metres of length,
but my Gemini was factory built short for a specific purpose and is 51cm shorter than a standard 550. So the difference in length was 80 cm, and I think any difference in length will help the sea keeping - certainly the ride across short chop is better. The tubes are bigger on the Gemini, you feel more like your sitting in the boat rather than on the boat with the Avon.
I think the Avon was a softer ride at slower speeds.