Gemini Dragon Boats
25 Sep, 2008 by Tyrone Dragon BoatsGemini Dragon Boats are manufactured by a Polish company called Gemini Composites. Their experience is in manufacturing boats such as Yachts, motor boats and Dragon Boats out of composite materials. As you will see the Dragon Boats they manufacture are made out of a composite plastic materials and everything is moulded together, even the seats!
Their main advantage is “toughness”, where there are no screws or fixing points at the seats or on the hull. One problem I see is if any parts get damaged, e.g. seats or the hull or the side of the boat, then basically it means that one will have to send it back to the manufacturer for repairs. It would be easier to ask the manufacturer to send parts rather than shipping a whole boat back! Gemini also says that it’s lower maintenance, because there are no “wooden” parts involved, yes and no. One, if wood is protected properly it will last for years and it’s easier and cheaper to replace. Two, wooden seats will be more comfortable to sit on compared to plastic moulded material as there is potentially more chances that plastic will expand under heat.
Well, I’ll let you all decide whether or not this is a good Dragon Boat to use!
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Scott said,
Wrote on September 25, 2008 @ 4:34 pm
I’ve paddled these boats in Vancouver – they are by far the most horrible boats ever. especially since FCRCC converted the 11 row boat into a 10 row boat. those damn poles running the length of the gunwales are absolutely horrible.
on the plus side, the boat rewards good paddling – and punishes bad paddling.
Levi said,
Wrote on September 25, 2008 @ 10:09 pm
Gemini just didn’t do their homework before rushing to production a few years ago. Buyers also didn’t care since they were dumping them on the world market cheap in 2003 and 2004. They should be able to produce a better product going forward so we’ll see.
Tyrone said,
Wrote on September 26, 2008 @ 8:52 am
Hi Scott and Levi,
I totally agree with you and this why I wrote a post on these boats because they look very cheaply made and I haven’t seen anyone purchase them here from down under. Furthermore I am surprised how they managed to sell them and clubs buy them.. just wait till they get problems!
David Robinson said,
Wrote on September 27, 2008 @ 8:09 pm
Hi,
I have read the comments re the Gemini Dragon boats, we are a cancer charity based in England, we purchased two Gemini Dragon Boats in March of this year, they are international class racing boats and I must say we are thrilled by them, and others who have used them think so too. You can see many photographs of the boats at our website. http://www.paddlersforlife.co.uk
Obviously they are a different design to the ones you are showing, but we feel that Gemini desreve a better hearing that what is being given.
Tyrone said,
Wrote on September 29, 2008 @ 10:45 am
Hi David,
Thanks for your comments on the Gemini Dragon Boats. The photos on your website look like different boats – more like the Champion and BuK boats. Though it’s very hard to see from photos without a close up of the boat’s manufacturer’s stamp on them. Has Gemini also change the way they manufacturer them because it looks like they’ve used different materials to make them.
Thanks.
Levi said,
Wrote on October 3, 2008 @ 9:36 am
I checked the Gemini web site and indeed the boat has changed allot. But I have to say that it mimics the BuK boat introduced in 2005 with the way the seats are inserted and also the way the pedestals are under the seats in the middle. I guess imitation is the highest form of flattery. The flaw I see is that the wooden pedestal pieces will spend a considerable amount of time under water if the boat is stored outside and uncovered. This spells big trouble down the road.
Tyrone said,
Wrote on October 3, 2008 @ 12:04 pm
Hi Levi,
I thought the same when I saw the pictures, as it looks like completely different materials. I am always concerned about wooden seats in Dragon Boats if they are not coated properly to make sure they are waterproof. But it’s the same with any type of wooden equipment.
All I can say is for clubs who own these boats to make sure they cover or store them in dry places when not in use.
Thanks for your feedback!
Levi said,
Wrote on October 10, 2008 @ 11:55 am
I agree that wood is a pain. The only boat I’ve seen with no wood at all is from Mexico but it is not widely for sale as far as I know and its not on the IDBF list.
Here is the web site:
http://rainforestboats.com/galeriaotherboats.htm
You have to scroll down the picture gallery and upp pops a dragon boat.
Does anyone have any experience or comments on this boat?