The Jeanneau Cap Camarat 5.1 CC 2015 vs Jeanneau Sun Fast 42 1996 comparison sits squarely in the category of decisions where specs alone won't tell the whole story — intended use, storage, and long-term ownership costs all factor in.
Size is the most obvious dividing line here. The Jeanneau Sun Fast 42 1996 measures 41,8 feet overall (1996), giving it roughly 25,7 additional feet of deck space compared to the Jeanneau Cap Camarat 5.1 CC 2015 at 16,1 feet (2015). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Jeanneau Sun Fast 42 1996 tips the scales at 18 960 lbs — 17 747 lbs less than the Jeanneau Cap Camarat 5.1 CC 2015 at 1 213 lbs. That difference is meaningful if you're working within a half-ton or three-quarter-ton truck's tow rating, especially once you factor in a motor, gear, and fuel.
The Jeanneau Cap Camarat 5.1 CC 2015 carries a rated maximum of 80 hp. Engine data for the Jeanneau Sun Fast 42 1996 wasn't available in our records — check the manufacturer's spec sheet before sizing a motor.Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Jeanneau Sun Fast 42 1996 carries 40 gallons versus 13 gallons in the Jeanneau Cap Camarat 5.1 CC 2015. On a lake day that's negligible, but for coastal cruising or long reservoir runs the extra range matters.
For family outings this is probably the sharpest distinction between the two. The Jeanneau Sun Fast 42 1996 is rated for 12 passengers, while the Jeanneau Cap Camarat 5.1 CC 2015 caps at 4. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Jeanneau Sun Fast 42 1996 could be the deciding factor.
Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Jeanneau Sun Fast 42 1996 displaces 18 960 lbs — a 17 747-lb difference over the Jeanneau Cap Camarat 5.1 CC 2015 at 1 213 lbs. That gap separates two entirely different categories of sailing: the heavier boat is built for offshore passage-making and load-carrying, while the lighter hull rewards performance sailing and easier handling in lighter air.
Draft is a practical consideration that many buyers underestimate until they're already at the marina. The Jeanneau Cap Camarat 5.1 CC 2015 draws 12,0 ft, compared to 7,6 ft for the Jeanneau Sun Fast 42 1996. That 4,4-foot difference affects which anchorages you can access, which haul-out facilities will take you, and how carefully you need to read the tide tables in shallower cruising grounds.
The Jeanneau Cap Camarat 5.1 CC 2015 has a documented auxiliary engine of 80 hp.
Bottom line: The Jeanneau Sun Fast 42 1996 is the offshore and bluewater choice — at 18 960 lbs displacement and 42 ft it has the load capacity, range, and seakeeping for extended passages. The Jeanneau Cap Camarat 5.1 CC 2015 at 1 213 lbs is the more nimble, accessible option — easier to single-hand and better suited to coastal and inland sailing.