The Jeanneau Cap Camarat 5.5 WA 2022 vs Jeanneau Rush 1979 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 Rush 1979 measures 31,4 feet overall (1979), giving it roughly 14,3 additional feet of deck space compared to the Jeanneau Cap Camarat 5.5 WA 2022 at 17,1 feet (2022). Weight tells a clearer story for trailering families: the Jeanneau Rush 1979 tips the scales at 7 055 lbs — 5 291 lbs less than the Jeanneau Cap Camarat 5.5 WA 2022 at 1 764 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 power gap is worth calling out. Rated to 120 hp, the Jeanneau Cap Camarat 5.5 WA 2022 has a 102-hp advantage over the Jeanneau Rush 1979's 18-hp ceiling — enough to notice on acceleration and at cruising speed, particularly with a full passenger load. Fuel capacity breaks the other way: the Jeanneau Cap Camarat 5.5 WA 2022 carries 26 gallons versus 7 gallons in the Jeanneau Rush 1979. 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 Rush 1979 is rated for 9 passengers, while the Jeanneau Cap Camarat 5.5 WA 2022 caps at 5. If you're regularly pulling extended family or a group of friends onto the water, the extra seats on the Jeanneau Rush 1979 could be the deciding factor.

Displacement is where these two sailboats genuinely part ways. The Jeanneau Rush 1979 displaces 7 055 lbs — a 5 291-lb difference over the Jeanneau Cap Camarat 5.5 WA 2022 at 1 764 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 Rush 1979 draws 5,7 ft, compared to 1,6 ft for the Jeanneau Cap Camarat 5.5 WA 2022. That 4,1-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.

For auxiliary power the Jeanneau Cap Camarat 5.5 WA 2022 carries a 120-hp engine against 18 hp on the Jeanneau Rush 1979. Motoring range and ability to punch through a foul current or enter a tight marina under power will favour the more powerful installation.