Question about my new Gemini 34 Cat

[SaintAug]

Hi

I am a novice with a question for some exp sailors.

i just bought a 34" Gemini. It's alot more $$$ than i wanted to spend but i bought it anyway and hope its as great of a boat for sailing with little kids as i have heard.

I negotiated a deal with the owner to knock $11,000 off the price if he kept the new 4 KW Panda Fischer Diesel Generator.

Boat has 27H westerbeke diesel engine and batts.

Im having second thoughts as to the widom of my decsion and wondering if I am being penny wise and pound foolish.

Owner says it is a $20,000 install ($15k generator / $5k labor) and I wiill need it to power the AC. I never really thought i would need AC on a sailboat. I just figured the breeze would keep the summer heat at bay. He says a gas powered honda just wont suffice to power the flat screen tv, nav system, AC unit.

My wife seems to think my kids (7f,3f and 1f) will enjoy more???

Im really way over budget but i could afford it if its really that important.

i dont intend to go island hopping too often. likley stay close to shore for a year or two????

Do i really need this??? do i need AC in sailing Florida? do I need a super lux generator to really get the most out of sailing???

please tell me your opinion asap!!!!!!!!

Thanks from Saint Aug FLA

[xsboats]

You will not need air conditioning while sailing. For less than the cost of a generator, you can outfit your boat with solar panels, a wind generator, and an inverter to take care of your battery charging and 110 volt electrical needs.

[SaintAug]

I realize I wont need it while under sail what i am curious about is how important it is to have it while at anchor?

[HARDWORK]

By all means keep the genset! If you have lived in Florida for at least one summer you know that you will need the air-conditioning to be comfortable. It is already installed, and you will have to PAY to get another installed if you have it removed. Keep your wife happy and you will be too!

[sailh34]

You could always spend $1k on a Honda EU2000 portable generator to power the air conditioning when you need it as they are pretty quiet generators. Be careful where you put with so you don't have carbon monoxide issues, but it could be a more economical solution. I think lots of folks use the EU2000 generator on their boats for part time generator use.

[AirbusDriver]

The initial cost of the boat should not deplete your funds. You will have many reoccuring expenses that come up and will need to be budgeted for. Slip fees, monthy bottom cleaning service, insurance... the list goes on. My family and I used our catamaran one summer before SWMBO (she who must be obyed) insisted on A/C. Being the cheap pilot that I am I bought a Cruise air hatch unit and a new honda eu2000i. It works for me.

[sailingdog]

If you are at anchor or on a mooring, then you may not need the generator. If you are going to be keeping the boat on a dock, then you probably will. The reason I say this is that if the boat is able to swing head to wind, the wind will supply much of the cooling that you might need. It can't do this if it is sitting at a dock. One investment that would recommend is a boom tent and covers for the fixed ports. This cuts the amount of light and the "greenhouse" effect of the cabin.

[seadaddler]

Don't do it keep it for what you are paying is cheap,I paid $15,000 for my Panda on my 2007 H-36 knowing I was moving to Florida.
It is so hot in Florida most sailboaters don't sail in July,August,Sept. and the rest of the time for AC,you will want it for your family to watch TV,Hot Water ,Microwave AC and most importantly charging the batteries.
I don't have kids just me and wife and friends and me and wife used it up in NY before moving to Florida and it is the best thing we ever added.
It's great for when anchoring out with family and if in Florida you will need AC,keep it don't make the mistake taking it out and your wife will love having it and kids can watch TV at night at anchor.
Nick

[2Gringos]

That sure sounds like a lot of weight on a Gemini.

[pdqaltair]

I live in Virginia and could go either way. I have AC I use at the dock, and it really pleases the wife. Nuff said.

I have a PDQ 32, the weight tolerance is similar; however, the Gemini rides VERY close to the water and you have not moved your cruising stuff on yet. You may find it brings the bridge to close to the water. I would check with other Gemini owners who have them. Try the Gemini Yahoo group.

If you decide against, I have found a big room fan (24-30" set on low works like a ceiling fan, is very quiet, uses very little juice, and is a summer must. I would never have tried it, but the PO left one in a locker. I tried it while watching a movie with the family, all buttoned up during a hot summer thunderstorm, and was hooked.

And you didn't make a mistake buying the boat; if not now, when? I have had many irreplaceable memories with my daughter on both the PDQ and our prior boat, a Stiletto 27. We have been all over the Chesapeake Bay, around the Delmarva a few times, and 2 countless small beaches. Some of the stories are on my blog, below.

If you don't have a tender get something, anything. Kids have a blast with something they can paddle around, even if they are too small to use the engine. Now that my duaghter is old enough, she considers the tender her "car", something that is hers to go in, as she won't be driving a car for... well, too soon now that I think about it.