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Are Gemini Catamarans Good? (The Pros and Cons)

are gemini catamarans good

Are you looking for a boat that offers speed and performance in rough waters without compromising on comfort and space? If so, you may want to consider a Gemini Catamaran! Popular amongst sailors, Gemini Catamarans offer advantages and disadvantages that should be taken into account when deciding if they are the right choice for you.

In this article, we’ll explore the pros and cons of Gemini Catamarans, including performance in rough waters, comfort and space, ease of handling, and speed and performance.

Keep reading to learn more about Gemini Catamarans and decide if they are right for you!

Table of Contents

Short Answer

Gemini Catamarans are great for both sailing and living aboard.

They are well known for their good sailing performance, comfortable interior, and seaworthiness.

Gemini Catamarans are also known for their ease of maintenance and durability, making them an excellent choice for extended cruising and living aboard.

They also have a strong resale value, making them a great investment.

Overview of Gemini Catamarans

Gemini Catamarans are a type of sailboat that has become increasingly popular in the recreational and racing sailing world.

Featuring a unique two-hull design, Gemini Catamarans provide stability, speed, and comfort that is hard to find in many other vessels.

Their lightweight construction allows them to be easily handled and maneuvered, even when sailing in rough waters and high winds.

In addition, their spacious decks make them an ideal choice for both short day trips and long-term cruising.

In summary, Gemini Catamarans are an excellent choice for sailors of all levels and provide an enjoyable and reliable sailing experience.

Sailors looking to purchase a Gemini Catamaran should consider some of the advantages and disadvantages that come with owning one.

Many of the pros and cons are related to the two-hull design, which affects the vessels performance and handling.

Additionally, the construction materials used and the size of the vessel can also influence the overall experience.

To help potential buyers make an informed decision, heres a quick overview of the pros and cons associated with Gemini Catamarans.

Advantages of Gemini Catamarans

are gemini catamarans good

Gemini Catamarans are a popular choice for both recreational and racing sailors due to their outstanding qualities.

The two-hull design of Gemini Catamarans provides increased stability and maneuverability in rough waters and high winds, and their lightweight construction allows for easier handling and faster speeds.

Not only do these vessels offer increased stability and maneuverability, they also provide an unparalleled level of comfort.

With large, open decks and ample seating, Gemini Catamarans are ideal for long-term cruising and short day trips alike.

Moreover, Gemini Catamarans are incredibly fuel-efficient and require minimal maintenance, making them an economical choice for sailors.

They also feature a unique design, allowing for easy customization depending on the needs of the sailor.

This makes them suitable for a variety of sailing applications, from pleasure cruises to racing.

Finally, Gemini Catamarans are renowned for their durability, ensuring a long lifespan for the vessel.

In summary, Gemini Catamarans provide a reliable and enjoyable sailing experience, making them an excellent choice for sailors of all levels.

With their two-hull design, lightweight construction, spacious and comfortable decks, fuel-efficiency, easy maintenance, and customizability, Gemini Catamarans provide an unbeatable combination of performance and comfort.

Disadvantages of Gemini Catamarans

Despite their many advantages, Gemini Catamarans are not without their drawbacks.

For one, they are more expensive than traditional monohulls.

Additionally, their two-hull design may make them more difficult to maneuver in tight spaces, such as a marina or a harbor.

Furthermore, the lightweight construction of Gemini Catamarans can make them less durable in rough waters, and they may require more maintenance than monohulls.

Finally, their unique design may reduce their speed and range compared to monohulls.

Despite these drawbacks, Gemini Catamarans remain a popular choice for recreational and racing sailors alike, as the advantages of stability, speed, and comfort often outweigh the negatives.

Performance in Rough Waters

are gemini catamarans good

Gemini Catamarans are renowned for their stability and performance in rough waters and high winds.

Their two-hull design offers increased stability and maneuverability, allowing them to easily handle choppy seas and gusty winds.

These vessels are also lightweight, so they can quickly respond to changes in course and speed.

Additionally, the large decks and cabins provide plenty of room for passengers to move around and stay comfortable, even in turbulent waters.

The wide beam also helps keep the vessel steady and stable in rough conditions, as it disperses the force of the waves across the hulls.

All of these features make the Gemini Catamaran an excellent choice for sailing in rough waters.

Comfort and Space

When it comes to comfort and space, Gemini Catamarans really stand out.

These vessels boast spacious and comfortable decks that make them ideal for long-term cruising or short day trips.

Gemini Catamarans feature a unique two-hull design, which provides increased stability and maneuverability even in rough waters and high winds.

This two-hull design also allows for plenty of interior space, providing ample room to move around and relax.

The interior of the boat features comfortable seating, a galley, and a head, making it perfect for entertaining and relaxing after a day of sailing.

Additionally, the boat has plenty of storage space for provisions and other items you may need on your voyage.

With its spacious and comfortable interior, Gemini Catamarans are sure to provide an enjoyable and relaxed sailing experience.

Ease of Handling

are gemini catamarans good

When it comes to ease of handling, Gemini Catamarans stand out from the rest.

Their unique two-hull design not only provides increased stability and maneuverability in rough waters and high winds, but it also results in a lighter vessel that is easier to handle.

This makes them an ideal choice for those who are new to sailing, as they can be easily controlled and navigated without too much effort.

Additionally, Gemini Catamarans feature a wide beam, which gives them improved stability and balance.

This makes them less susceptible to tipping and makes them easier to handle when the waters get choppy.

The lightweight construction of the catamaran also allows for faster speeds, meaning you can reach your destination quicker and more efficiently.

All in all, Gemini Catamarans are an excellent choice for those looking for an easy-to-handle vessel that provides a reliable and enjoyable sailing experience.

Speed and Performance

Gemini Catamarans are renowned for their speed and performance on the water.

Thanks to their lightweight two-hull design, Gemini Catamarans provide superior stability in rough waters and high winds, allowing them to reach speeds of up to 20 knots.

Furthermore, their lightweight construction makes them easy to handle and maneuver, making them a great choice for short day trips and long-term cruising.

Additionally, their superior tracking and directional stability make them a great choice for racing sailors, as they can maintain a constant speed and direction on the water.

With the combination of fast speeds and superior stability, Gemini Catamarans are the perfect choice for those looking for a reliable and enjoyable sailing experience.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, Gemini Catamarans are a great choice for recreational and racing sailors alike.

Their unique two-hull design, lightweight construction, and spacious and comfortable decks make them an excellent option for those looking for a reliable, enjoyable, and fast sailing experience.

If youre considering buying a catamaran, Gemini Catamarans are definitely worth looking into.

With their impressive performance and comfort, theyre sure to provide an unforgettable experience for all levels of sailors.

James Frami

At the age of 15, he and four other friends from his neighborhood constructed their first boat. He has been sailing for almost 30 years and has a wealth of knowledge that he wants to share with others.

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are gemini catamarans good

Are Gemini Catamarans Good? A Review of Popular Models!

are gemini catamarans good

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Are you interested in Gemini Catamarans, but you aren’t sure if they are up to par? Looking for my next boat i have done some extensive research into Geminis, here’s what I found!

Gemini catamarans are great boats, depending on what you are looking for. If you want a daytime cruiser, the Freestyle 37 or the Freestyle 339 Power are great options. If you want to take longer trips, the Gemini 105Mc and the Gemini Legacy 35 are ideal due to their multiple cabin designs. 

Next, we’ll go over the new models of Gemini boats, including one older model that is still regularly sold pre-owned. We’ll also discuss each boat’s pros and cons and whether or not the boats are suitable for you and your needs. 

Types of Gemini Catamarans – Old Models

The Gemini 105Mc Design Touch was one of Gemini’s most popular models. However, it is no longer in production. While no new ones are being made, you can still buy one used. Additionally, this boat is the predecessor of the new Gemini Legacy 35, so it’s essential to understand their differences. We’ll go over this boat in detail below. 

are gemini catamarans good

Gemini 105Mc Design Touch

This cruising catamaran has been one of the best-selling single-design cats since 1980. This isn’t surprising, considering this boat’s spacious layout and sound design. Every time you sail on this boat, you’ll feel safe and sound with its practically designed platform and kick-up rudders. While this boat is no longer being produced, many boat owners seek out used versions because of its amazing style and performance.  

Perks of the 105Mc Design Touch

Hull design ensures better performance.

The hulls of this boat are slim and teardrop-shaped. This helps ensure that the drag will remain at a minimum. Additionally, the hull design allows for more leeway when you’re under sail. Even more, the hull has a kick-up centerboard which enhances the boat’s windward pointing abilities, allowing for a better sailing experience. 

Raise Rudders for Shallow Waters

Inadvertently running aground is one of boat owners’ biggest nightmares. However, with the 105Mc Design Touch, it’s unlikely you’ll ever meet this terrible fate. This catamaran has a raised rudder design, ensuring that you can smoothly cruise into waters as shallow as 2 feet (61.0 cm) without hitting the bottom. 

Low Center for Added Safety 

Most boats today have a beam that measures about 50% of the length of the ship. However, the 105Mc Design Touch is unique in that its tiny beam only measures about 40% of the boat’s length. While both beam sizes have their advantages, the shorter beam on this catamaran makes it have a low center of gravity, ensuring that it remains upright, stable, and highly safe. 

are gemini catamarans good

Reasonably Priced 

This reliable boat is as functional as it is affordable. You won’t have to spend an arm and a leg to purchase this beauty. This is especially true if you get it used, which is your only option nowadays! 

What Are the Downsides of the 105Mc Design Touch?

Many users loved this boat and feel that it was one of Gemini’s best models yet. However, it does have a couple of flaws: 

  • It only has one head . Only having one bathroom can be incredibly inconvenient, especially if you are overnighting with several people. For a boat with three cabins, it would be nice to have another head. 
  • Its soft decks require maintenance . The decks are balsa-cored, meaning water can harm them over time. That means you’ll need to maintain the deck, especially around hatches, to keep the boat in tip-top shape. 

Specifications of the 105Mc Design Touch

  • Overall Length: 34 feet (10.4 m)
  • Beam: 14 feet (4.3 m)
  • Displacement: 9,600 lb (4354.5 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 36 gallons (136.28 liters)
  • Water capacity: 60 gallons (227.13 liters)
  • Three cabins 

Is This Boat Right For Me?

The 105Mc Design Touch is a wonderful option for many people. This boat is especially great for: 

  • It’s ideal for first-time catamaran owners with its low price and safe design. 
  • Great for overnight weekend vacations with friends and family (if you can handle sharing one bathroom!) 

Types of Gemini Catamarans – New Models 

are gemini catamarans good

Gemini Freestyle 37

The Gemini Freestyle 37 has a flexible design that can accommodate your every desire. Whether you want a boat that is ideal for day-charters, family outings, or luxurious business cruises, the Freestyle has a layout for you.

Although this boat has a flexible and updated design, it still has the essence of the older Gemini 105Mc and the Legacy 35, providing you with new features you love and some of the old ones too! 

Perks of the Freestyle 37

Design is ideal for charters .

The Freestyle 37 has an incredibly flexible design, permitting you to set up your charter boat with all of the features you need. For example, you can choose to get this boat with a second head instead of the queen-sized cabin to accommodate “his and her” bathrooms, which is a must-have feature for most chartered tours. 

Additionally, you can alter the layout of the boat to accommodate your needs. Suppose you want to take out a large group of people to go snorkeling or sightseeing. In this case, you could arrange the deck with bench seats to fit as many people as possible. 

However, if you’d rather you use the catamaran to cater high-end parties or business excursions, then you could install chaise lounges, an outdoor galley, and a wraparound bar instead. So, no matter what kind of events you plan to hold on your catamaran, the Freestyle 37 has the perfect layout for you! 

Inexpensive Base Price

This boat has a low base price, permitting you to get the ship for a reasonable cost , then customize it based on your budget and needs. Additionally, it has a low cost of operation, which means you can actually make money from your charters instead of having to throw all of your hard earned cash right back into the boat. 

Even better, this boat allows you to easily change the furniture and outboard, ensuring that the boat always looks new and fresh without having to switch boats completely! 

Has a “Green” Version for Environmentalists 

One of this boat’s most significant advantages is that it accommodates an electric engine and solar panels, which are more environmentally friendly than diesel-run engines. Even if you aren’t an environmentalist, going green can save you money by lowering your operation cost. So, by selecting the green option, you’ll be protecting the environment and your wallet. It sounds like a win-win to me! 

are gemini catamarans good

What Are the Downsides of the Freestyle 37?

While this boat is an excellent option for a lot of people, it isn’t for everyone. Let’s take a look at the disadvantages of this catamaran below: 

  • Not ideal for overnight trips with more than two people. This catamaran is an incredible sunset or daytime cruiser due to its open deck plan. However, it only has one cabin that can accommodate two people, so if you’re looking for something you, your friends, and family can take a weekend getaway trip on, this isn’t the boat for you. 
  • Open design is not ideal for rough open waters. The open design of this boat is excellent for casual cruises around the bay. However, if you plan to take a trip across any serious body of water, this cat offers little protection. 

Specifications of the Freestyle 37

  • Overall Length: 38 feet (11.6 feet) 
  • Beam: 14 feet (4.3 m) 
  • Displacement: 7500 lbs (3401.9 kg)
  • Fuel capacity: 56 gallons (211.98 liters)
  • One queen cabin (optional)
  • One or two heads

This fun catamaran is an excellent choice for many sailors. We’ll go over this boats primary uses below so you can determine whether or not it’s the right choice for you: 

  • Ideal for daytime cruises. 
  • Great if you want to use it as a charter boat for sightseeing or events. 
  • Perfect if you want an open platform that gives you the ability to “freestyle.” 
  • It’s an excellent party boat with an open deck plan and seating area in the bow. 

Gemini Freestyle 339 Power

If you love to go fast, the innovative Freestyle 339 Power catamaran will give you the extra “oomph” you’ve been searching for. This boat has the original Freestyle’s stability and expansiveness but with a power-packed motor to quickly get you to your destination. If you are looking for a spacious, reliable, and speedy day cruiser, the Freestyle 339 Power is the ideal choice for you. 

Perks of the Freestyle 339

Dual engines for a faster ride .

This new Freestyle design is faster than ever before. It is powered by two Suzuki DF90A motors that allow for a typical cruising speed of 15 knots or a maximum speed of 22.5 knots, even when you have seven people aboard! This speedy ride will let you get where you want to go in no time. 

Incredibly Stable Design 

Unlike the previous model, the new Freestyle 339 has stability keels positioned behind the hulls, allowing her to draw only 18 inches (45.7 cm). Even more, the bows of this boat were revamped to include extensions. This permits the cat to lift up when its power increases. These features also enhance the boat’s stability, making her steadier than ever before. 

However, don’t just take our word for it! The Catamaran Company posted a review of the Freestyle 339 on YouTube. They were astounded by how smooth the ride was even when the boat faced choppy waves, an outward current, and wake from a passing ship. To check out this review for yourself, click the link below:

Versatile and Roomy 

The Freestyle 339’s helm is positioned in the front and center of the boat, giving you more space in your cockpit than in the previous model. This will provide you with plenty of room so you can invite all of your friends and loved ones on board your vessel for a day of boating fun. 

Additionally, the front of the vessel has two large bench seats where you and all of your friends can relax and enjoy the view. It also has an easy pop-out coffee table where you can enjoy a morning cup of jo or rest your drinks in the evening time. 

What Are the Downsides of the Freestyle 339?

Below, we’ll go over some of the potential downsides of the Freestyle 339: 

  • It’s entirely motor-powered . If you love traditional catamarans with both sails and motors, this may not be the boat for you. The freestyle 339 is solely a power cat, with no sailing option available. 
  • Not ideal for long trips . This catamaran only has one cabin and one head, making it great for daytime cruises but not ideal for more extended vacations unless just two people are traveling. Additionally, the boat doesn’t have a real shower. Instead, you have to use the extendable sink in the head to rinse off. This is fine for short trips but unideal for longer excursions. 

Specifications of the Freestyle 339 

  • Overall length: 41 feet (12.5 m) 
  • Hull beam: 14 feet (4.3 m) 
  • Displacement: 10,000 lbs (4535.9 kg) when loaded 
  • One optional cabin 
  • Twin Suzuki 90 HP Outboards (larger 115 Suzuki engines available)

This boat is perfect for some uses but not so ideal for others. We’ll go over the ideal functions of this boat so you can determine whether or not it’s the right choice for you: 

  • Perfect for daytime cruising. 
  • Ideal if you enjoy the look of a catamaran but the power of a motorboat. 
  • It’s a great “party boat” due to the open and customizable design. 

are gemini catamarans good

Gemini Legacy 35

This family-friendly cruising catamaran is stylish yet affordable. It is also effortless to maneuver, permitting you to sit back, relax, and enjoy the ride. With its 34 inch (86.4 cm) draft, it’ll be easy for you to pull this boat close to your favorite beaches. 

Perks of the Legacy 35 

Provides a stable sailing experience .

The Legacy 35 provides a level ride with little to no heeling. The steering and twin rudders are smooth and easily adjustable as you move across the water. 

Affordable Price 

The Legacy 35 is approximately the same price as a mid-sized monohull, yet it has an interior space that is larger than that of most 40 foot (12.2 m) monohulls, making it a great bargain. So, if you want catamaran space for monohull costs, the Legacy 35 is a perfect choice.  

are gemini catamarans good

Reasonably Sized Beam 

This small 14 foot (4.3 m) beam makes the boat easy to move anywhere in the country. No special accommodations are required. Similarly, hauling the boat out of the water is a breeze since all you’ll need is a standard travel lift. Even better, you can keep this cat in a standard-sized slip, saving you time and money looking for a larger one. 

Different Layout Options Depending on Your Needs 

This boat traditionally comes with three cabins and one head. The head is located in the aft hull, and the owner’s cabin is located in the front, fitted with a queen-sized bed. However, if this layout doesn’t suit your fancy, you also have the option of getting a boat with two cabins and two heads. This layout would have a queen bed in the front of the ship and a double bed in the back. 

are gemini catamarans good

What Are the Downsides of the Legacy 35?

  • Some users think it’s too heavy . Some Gemini boaters felt the Legacy 35 gained too much weight compared to its predecessor, the 105Mc Design Touch. They didn’t like how the added weight caused the boat to drag. 
  • The boat needs another winch at the helm station . According to sailor Mark Pillsbury , the Legacy 35 would be better if it had another winch at the helm station, making tacks easier. 

Specifications of the Legacy 35  

  • Overall Length: 35 feet (11.0 m)
  • Displacement: 9,800 lbs (4445.2 kg)
  • Up to three cabins 
  • Up to two heads 

The Legacy 35 is roomy and affordable, making it an excellent option for many boaters. Let’s discuss exactly what this boat is best for below: 

  • It’s ideal for weekend trips due to its multi-cabin design. 
  • It’s an affordable option for first-time catamaran owners. 

Are Gemini Catamarans Right For You?

Gemini catamarans are safe, stable, and reasonably priced, making them ideal for beginners. 

The Gemini Freestyle 37 and Freestyle 339 Power are highly versatile, making them perfect for families, charter boats, or luxurious cruises. Users love these boats’ versatility and stability.

The Gemini 105Mc Design Touch and Legacy 35 are also great day cruisers. However, their additional cabins make them ideal for longer excursions as well. These boats are safe, easy to maneuver, and stable, making them perfect for family vacations. 

While these are great boats, they aren’t for everyone. If you’re in the market for a luxury catamaran with all of the bells and whistles, then Gemini cats likely won’t satisfy your needs. Similarly, these boats tend to be better for shorter sails than long-term sabbaticals. So, if you plan to sail around the world in your catamaran, you may want to choose a different brand. 

Final Thoughts 

Gemini catamarans are safe, stable, and reasonably priced, making them great all-around boats. Their freestyle line is ideal for day cruises or to be used as “party boats” due to their customizable design. Their Design Touch and Legacy boats can be used as cruisers or for extended vacations, depending on your needs. All around, these are fabulous boats worth looking into! 

Owner of CatamaranFreedom.com. A minimalist that has lived in a caravan in Sweden, 35ft Monohull in the Bahamas, and right now in his self-built Van. He just started the next adventure, to circumnavigate the world on a Catamaran!

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are gemini catamarans good

Our Gemini Catamaran

Published on May 18, 2015 ; last updated on June 20, 2020 by Carolyn Shearlock

We went from a monohull (Tayana 37 to a catamaran (Gemini). Here's our thoughts on the cat.

We’ve had a number of questions on how we like our Gemini catamaran or how was it to go from our previous boat — a monohull Tayana 37 — to it. Here’s our listing of the pros and cons.

In a nutshell, we LOVE our Gemini catamaran for what we are now doing — two people living aboard full-time, coastal cruising in the Florida Keys and going to the Bahamas for several months at a time. But I’m not going to say it’s the perfect boat for everyone.

Okay, with that out of the way, there are a few things that we need to say:

  • The Tayana 37 is a true blue water boat. The Gemini is a coastal cruiser. They are very, very different boats and designed for different purposes.
  • Because of that, it’s almost impossible to truly compare them.

When we bought the Tayana ( Que Tal ), we didn’t know if we’d cross the Pacific, but thought we might (we didn’t). We wanted a boat that left the possibility open. The Tayana did well for us in the Sea of Cortez and down the coast to El Salvador, but the reality is that the Gemini would have been great, too. Probably better.

Things that we particularly like about the Gemini ( Barefoot Gal is a 105M):

  • The living arrangement. It’s just a good layout for us, with a large “living room” (settee and table). The whole boat is much lighter and brighter, too. We also like the fact that the cockpit opens right into the living area, without going up and down stairs all the time. It’s also easier to get into and out of the queen berth (side entry) as opposed to the V-berth on the Tayana.
  • Huge cockpit. It’s great for entertaining or even just the two of us, with room to actually walk around. The Tayana 37 has what’s referred to as an “offshore” cockpit, meaning it’s very small so that if a wave breaks into the cockpit it won’t sink the boat. But that means that it’s a very tight fit for four people. The Gemini is a much better layout for having people over. When we bought Que Tal , we underestimated how much we’d use the cockpit for things other than just steering the boat.
  • Maneuverability. The Gemini is so much easier to handle in close quarters, it’s not even funny. The drive leg makes it like having an outboard, in that you steer it as well as the rudders. The Gemini is also technically 3 feet shorter than the Tayana (34 feet vs. 37) but with the Tayana’s bowsprit, it’s more like 8 or 9 feet shorter in reality. The lighter weight of the Gemini also makes it much more responsive. And any full keel boat such as the Tayana, in the words of another Tayana owner, “backs like a drunken elephant.” In other words, you don’t have a clue where it will go. Less freeboard on the Gemini also makes it easier to pick up a mooring ball both as it’s easier for the person at the helm to see it and much easier for the person at the bow to pick it up. The stress level on the Gemini as we approach a fixed object (dock, bridge, lock or even a mooring ball) is so much less than on the Tayana. The ease of getting underway/returning resulted in us going for a lot of short (1 – 2 hour) daysails. We had no idea how much this one factor would contribute to our enjoyment of the boat — and we’ve both always loved boating!
  • Ease of sail handling. The Gemini’s sails are considerably smaller than the Tayana’s and the boom is much lower to the coach house roof. It is so much easier to raise/roll out the sails and stow them again, and the spinnaker is also a much more manageable size and has a larger wind range. We never wonder if it’s worth the effort to set the sails, even for a short trip. We’re not getting any younger, either (Dave is 77 and I’m 55): easier sail handling and a smaller anchor mean we’ll be able to cruise longer.
  • Speed. Despite being smaller, the Gemini is considerably faster under sail and power. Our one-day range is considerably expanded. We can sail a lot more both as we move at a reasonable speed even in light winds (the drive leg pivots up out of the water easily to decrease drag) and we can afford several hours of light-air sailing and still make our intended anchorage since we typically motor at 6 knots versus 4.5 knots on the Tayana. Believe it or not, the Gemini sails slightly closer to the wind than our Tayana.
  • Shallow draft. Draft was never a big issue in the Sea of Cortez or along the coast of Mexico and Central America. But it is in Florida and the Bahamas. Our Tayana theoretically drew 6 feet but loaded for cruising it was probably closer to 6½ feet. The Gemini draws about 2½ feet with the centerboards up but the drive leg and rudders down. We can go lots of places that many other boats, including a lot of catamarans, can’t. And we like to explore off the beaten path. A related factor is that our bridge clearance is just 45 feet, also giving us the freedom to go places some others can’t . . . and we have a lot less stress going under those 54 and 55 foot spans!

Bottom line is that for what we’re doing , the Gemini catamaran is just plain a fun boat. But I want to emphasize the “for what we’re doing.” Should we decide that we want to go to the Virgin Islands, we won’t have the option of going offshore — we’ll have to island hop down (yes, I know a few Geminis have gone offshore but I’ve also read their accounts).

To keep the speed and maneuverability that we like, we have to watch how much we load on board — and that means that we can’t carry as many provisions. The guest arrangements are great if one person comes, bad for more (what’s billed as a double berth is 4″ narrower than a double bed). The galley arrangement isn’t quite as good, but it’s not at all unworkable. Finally, the motion of a catamaran is different than a monohull. Not necessarily bad but it does take some getting used to if sailing in chop.

The holding tank is small at 18 gallons. After a year of cruising, we switched to a composting head ( read more about our reasons here ).

Our Gemini is an “M,” built in 1999 towards the end of the “M” series and has many features of an “MC” such as composite centerboards instead of plywood. The MC has many features that we’d like but the available ones at the time of our purchase were out of our budget.

The current model is the “Legacy” and it is totally redesigned with the interior layout changed slightly and, most importantly to us, skegs instead of centerboards. While the skegs are lower maintenance and require no effort while underway (versus having the lower a centerboard if sailing above a beam reach), we like the improved windward performance that the centerboards bring over a skeg.

Everything is a tradeoff. We are extremely glad that we decided on a Gemini as we absolutely love it. Some of the things that we love about it — such as the speed — are fairly typical of catamarans as opposed to monohulls, while other items are more specific to having a small catamaran or even to the Gemini (maneuverability).

I’ve been asked a few times if we intend to get a larger boat now that we’re going to be living aboard full time. You’ve probably already guessed that our answer is no — the Gemini catamaran is big enough for our needs and its small size leads to many of the things that we like about her. Within reason, smaller is just easier . . . and costs less too!

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are gemini catamarans good

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Lori Steinbrunner says

May 18, 2015 at 11:26 am

Couldn’t’t agree more. We also love our Gem.

Janet Lettrich says

May 18, 2015 at 11:56 am

This was a very informative comparison. Thank you!

The Boat Galley says

May 18, 2015 at 12:04 pm

Some of the differences we expected, such as the living arrangement and the large cockpit. But we didn’t realize how much easier she’d be to “move” — whether by motor or sail. And that’s turned out to be a big part of why we love her!

May 18, 2015 at 1:00 pm

I have only ever sailed monohulls. I am looking to live aboard in the next few years. I was considering a boat like your former one for the same reasons – like leaving the possibility of ocean crossing open. Still open to all possibilities, which is why your post gave me a lot to consider. Thanks again.

Mark Sierakowski says

May 18, 2015 at 1:11 pm

Rik Dove, food for thought, if you aren’t going around the world.

Jennifer Kelly Majoros says

May 18, 2015 at 1:30 pm

We wouldn’t trade our Gem either. Love it!

Connie Watkins Weaver says

May 18, 2015 at 1:37 pm

Thanks for the accounting! Very helpful!

Mary Facker says

May 18, 2015 at 2:06 pm

How much of a factor were tramps when you picked the Gemini? I love everything about it, except for I have this dream of laying out on the trampolines, and I’m not sure I can give it up. How much do you think you’d use them if you had them?

Carolyn Shearlock says

May 18, 2015 at 4:18 pm

We’ve been on some cats with tramps (friends’ boats) and didn’t use them as much as we’d envisioned. So we didn’t really consider them (or the lack of them) in picking the Gemini. I don’t think (I may be mis-remembering) I’ve seen any of the small cats with them — they just need the space for living quarters and storage. Probably the biggest thing is that since it’s solid up from, there is more wave slap when you’re beating. We don’t find it too annoying, but some people hate it.

Bob Kimble says

March 25, 2016 at 8:13 am

I too had wanted tramps when I bought my Gem, but the hard foredeck turned out to be a blessing in disguise. It was the perfect place for morning sun salutes.

Rik Dove says

May 18, 2015 at 9:10 pm

True. And I agree with the thought. Problem is… Dikenga and I have been through so much. She is family. I could never bring myself to sell my Tayana

May 19, 2015 at 7:57 am

Sounds like a perfect boat for the Keys. We had a 30′ Iroquois for 14 years with a trampoline and while the kids loved it, it made the boat wetter going into heavy seas. I’m thinking too, now that I’m older, it wouldn’t be as stable a platform for foredeck work. We moved up to an Island Packet catamaran 8 years ago with a solid foredeck. It’s very dry( has a pod to break waves) but there is slap at anchor if there’s a heavy chop( no fun on any boat, either). What’s nice about the Gemini and Island Packet is they usually fit into a conventional slip, being 14 and 15 foot beam, respectively. The cockpit is another “room” for us. Thanks for your thoughts on your model. We sailed a Legacy last summer as a demo, but could never afford a newer one.

Mark Krajcar says

May 27, 2019 at 10:56 am

I looked at the Gem’s and ruled them out for several reasons. I did find 2 of the IpY Packet Cat 35’s for sale and a friend and I each bought one of them. I’m getting ready to head off this year, circumnavigation and would love to connect with you. Perhaps Carolyn can assist us if you’re interested.

I emailed re the name of a product you’d recommended and I couldn’t remember. You got back to me in a day! I was very surprised and happy. Thank you so much.

Judy Richterman says

May 19, 2015 at 8:56 am

What a good comparison! We’ve been living aboard our Cal 39 in the Leewards since November 2014, and I have enjoyed the luxury of space and light when I visited friends with large catamarans. It didn’t occur to me that we could find a catamaran with maneuverability and a size that would be comfortable for gunk holing in the Chesapeake and the Florida Bay. My husband got very excited by your article. You’ve planted a seed for our next stage of cruising a few years down the road.

Tim Sheahan says

May 19, 2015 at 2:16 pm

Do you have problems with stress cracks,..a friend has one and has cracks along all his shrouds and basically all around the deck, everywhere anything is bolted thru.

May 19, 2015 at 6:43 pm

The gelcoat is a problem area on the Gems. Ours is chalky and has a lot of crazing. The company swears that it’s not structural and that is how it seems on all that we’ve seen and owners we’ve talked to — not pretty but not structural.

May 19, 2015 at 7:58 pm

Right, we’re doing his this fall, just curious if it was universal.

David Ditacchio says

May 19, 2015 at 6:07 pm

After owning our Gemini 105M for 15 years, we are putting it up for sale. It has been a great boat to own and we have had many great trips with it. We will miss it and all the great Gemini sailors that we have met over the past 15 years.

Happy/sad time.

Gregory Allen says

October 26, 2015 at 12:57 am

I have been hearing about the gemini so much that for the last year I have been researching every thing about this cat and the more I read the more I am looking forward to purchasing my own. I’m in love with it and have not even chartered one yet.

December 1, 2015 at 11:30 am

We bought our Gemini 105M from PCI in 2000. It’s been a great boat and we have had 16 years of great sailing. Health issues and age are catching up with us so we are putting our boat up for sale. We are spending this winter in Cocoa Village, FL.

December 1, 2015 at 3:53 pm

Glad to hear of your many fun years aboard! It must be a tough decision to sell her . . .

April 6, 2017 at 7:37 pm

Did you end up selling it ? Looking for a 105M Joe

December 15, 2015 at 9:41 pm

I’m looking at getting a Gemini legacy 35 for a live aboard and possibly some blue water sailing. What would be the pros and cons of this type of sailing occasionally. I have 2 children that will with me so accommodations should be just right.

March 24, 2016 at 6:14 pm

Those of you who are considering a Gemini:

Have a look at the Canadian-made “Tomcat.” We looked at one at Miami Boat Show and were very impressed. Very like the Gems, yet to us, better thought out. If we were in the Gem market we’d seriously consider them.

March 24, 2016 at 6:39 pm

We saw them 2 years ago and were also impressed. However there are almost none available used, and the backlog for new ones is several years long. Or at least it was then.

Jennifer Good Spires says

March 24, 2016 at 11:05 pm

I sure love mine. I can hardly wait for spring!

Dan N Jaye says

March 24, 2016 at 11:13 pm

Interesting, Carolyn; we’re not looking to trade boats any time soon but you make good points.

Michael McIntosh says

March 25, 2016 at 1:18 am

How many degrees off the wind will she sail?

March 25, 2016 at 12:00 pm

50-ish, depending on sea state. Smooth water, closer than that.

March 25, 2016 at 1:26 am

Love our Gem, nearly 5 years and counting…

Kimberly Fain Ward says

March 25, 2016 at 7:14 pm

We love ours, too! Paula L Mueller, did you see this?

Paula L Mueller says

March 26, 2016 at 2:22 am

I had read it before and just read the whole thing again ?

March 26, 2016 at 2:25 am

Courtney Cali T says

March 26, 2016 at 10:43 am

James Tex Kilburn says

March 26, 2016 at 10:46 pm

I’m currently refitting a Gemini 3000. We’re very pleased with her performance as a Costal Cruiser and plan on upgrading to a 105 in a few years!

werner thomas says

June 9, 2016 at 9:48 am

hi great comments evaluating your cat. The small cats do it for me too, I now have a Catalac 10m after my first cat a Wharram Tiki 30! The centerboard set up ibdeed better upwind sailing but so much weaker in gunkholing! It is amazing how these under 35 foot cats have such large living areas. I would not howecer use a Gemini where I am cruising with my Catalac because no chandlers, no technical backup. My Catalac can take quite a knock which leseer strong cars wpuldnt survive. Imagine hitting an old bridge head thats completely dubmerged and nowhere indicated on charts but in major river gere in Mozambique. Great blog keep it up, I admire those bloggers that entertain/inform us so well.

Dan Rupli says

June 17, 2016 at 5:03 pm

I love the whole idea of the Gemini 35, but will always want to go around the world at least one time. Is there no compromise between catamaran comfort and Tayana blue water capabilities?

June 17, 2016 at 7:51 pm

There are definitely boats that are in between . . . some of the 40-foot cats and some of the lighter monohulls. No boat can be everything, though, so you have to decide what’s important for you.

June 20, 2016 at 1:42 pm

Thanks for this insightful article. I am one of many investigating/considering the Gemini – I’m curious whether you found yourself sitting on the combing when handling the wheel? I had not realized the other advantages you pointed out regarding visibility/convenience in handling.

June 20, 2016 at 3:34 pm

We rarely hand steer — only when doing close quarters work. The rest of the time we let the autopilot do it’s thing. But yes, we usually sit up on the “upper level” on the side of the cockpit.

mikeoore says

August 14, 2016 at 9:53 am

Great article. We are close to a boat purchase and liked both the gemini cats and my lifelong favorite, the Tayana 37. Being so different, and generally for different purposes, it was hard to make a choice. Your story helprf. Thanks

August 14, 2016 at 10:17 am

We really like both, but they are very different boats and best suited for different types of cruising. Glad you found the comparison useful!

Brian Kepner says

July 21, 2017 at 6:54 pm

Hope Gemini sends you some swag for this article.. I might consider one if I ever see one up here in the PNW. Cats are very uncommon up here.

Charles Dalesch says

July 21, 2017 at 10:21 pm

Scott Taber time to get a cat

Diane Mercaldo says

July 21, 2017 at 10:38 pm

Nice to have the added living space that is lighter and brighter. Bridge heights, OH YOU’RE SO LUCKY,I’m jealous and depth is no longer a factor, CONGRATULATIONS, enjoy and safe sailing!

Paul English says

July 21, 2017 at 9:13 pm

I’m still struggling with the whole “blue water” distinction – and I realize it is not necessarily razor sharp.

What features did your mono have that made it blue water, that the Gemini doesn’t?

Does the Gemini itself preclude blue water from your perspective – like you wouldn’t consider an Atlantic or Pacific crossing with it? Or would you consider it with (presumably pretty expensive) modifications?

And a more general question – do you think you would have been ultimately “equally open” to blue water sailing by purchasing a non-blue-water boat to start with, then simply traded up when you were ready and certain that you were going to cross an ocean?

July 22, 2017 at 7:11 am

It has a lot to do with build strength. The Tayana has a much thicker and heavier hull that would be much harder to hole. The deck to hull joint is also much “beefier.” Chainplates are attached with more bolts and are themselves larger. Winches were oversized. Water and diesel tanks were much larger. It’s also a heavy displacement boat and comfortable (well, relatively!) in large seas. It’s also things like the size of cleats, having secure places to clip in on deck and a protected cockpit.

I know of one Gemini that circumnavigated (Slap-Dash) and while they beefed it up before they went, they did major repair in most of the big cities they hit along the way.

The designer of the Gemini took one across the Atlantic — again, with modifications.

The thing about crossing an ocean is that you don’t know what weather you’ll encounter and your boat has to be okay to handle large seas. Now, we could island-hop through the Caribbean, where we’d have numerous open water passages — but most just about 100 miles long. That’s a single day. You can get a pretty good weather forecast for the next 24 hours so even “unexpected” conditions aren’t going to have the huge seas that would be a problem.

So, while others may have crossed oceans in a Gemini, I wouldn’t.

As to your more general question. I think when we began cruising (2002), there weren’t the blogs and Facebook that showed people cruising on a smaller scale. Most information came from circumnavigators — or at least ocean-crossers — in books and Cruising World. So our initial thoughts were that we’d be like all those folks . . . and wanted that type of boat.

July 22, 2017 at 2:53 am

July 22, 2017 at 4:00 am

Totally agree! We love our Gem too!

Steve Barnes says

July 22, 2017 at 4:01 am

What’s your hull number? We are a 1999 M #651 and have wooden boards. In good shape now, but was a pain restoring them after barnacles got through the paint and water rotted several spots.

July 22, 2017 at 10:34 am

We’re 655, just 4 after you.

July 22, 2017 at 12:49 pm

Consider yourself lucky!

Thom Hounsell says

July 22, 2017 at 10:53 am

Nice analysis. Thanks!

Pam Carr Jackson says

July 22, 2017 at 2:39 pm

Doug Jackson and I had an Island Packet then bought a sailing catamaran (a Lagoon). Agree with everything stated regarding the benefits of a cat vs monohull!

July 22, 2017 at 5:08 pm

Love our 2004 Gemini 105Mc, s/v Ally Cat! She took us from MA to Grenada and back and now we are LOVING exploring all the skinny water aournd us in Buzzards Bay!! Found the most beautiful spot on Nantucket a couple weeks ago…anxious to see where we ‘discover’ when we go out again for a couple weeks in August 🙂

Lorraine Steyn says

July 22, 2017 at 9:26 pm

I just hate the motion of a catamaran, that jerky motion in chop. Spoiled the sailing for me, despite the pleasures of more space for a live-aboard life

Steve Olson says

July 24, 2017 at 3:28 am

Oh man, I’ll never go Cat. I’d much rather have the T37!!

Smith Angie says

May 15, 2018 at 2:47 am

Thanks for sharing this information.It’s very usefull for me

George Poole says

August 18, 2018 at 9:02 am

This is an Excellent review – Thank you so much for the information.

All the best to you

Frank and Cindy says

August 22, 2018 at 9:35 pm

All these years later and this post is still drawing comments! Thanks for sharing your thoughts on the Gemini! We love our 105mc #816. S/V Mavis. I’ve been reading your stuff for years when owning a Gemini was just a dream! Fair winds and keep posting!

Thomas Pierquet says

September 18, 2018 at 11:03 pm

I am wondering what the boat speed is cruising at 2000,2500,and 2800 rpm respectively. I heard someone claim 8kts at 2800rpm. Is this possible? Or is that a stretch? I presently have a Beneteau 311 (cruises at 6kts@2800rpm) and have been considering a Gemini 105MC for more room. My wife would like to have a bigger cabin and more boat speed on the way home if no wind.. Also, how valuable is the option of the Screecher sail to the performance of these boats?

September 19, 2018 at 8:45 am

I’d say that’s a stretch. We can motor a little over 6 knots in very smooth water. Looking back on our logs, 5.8 is more common at 2800 — but remember that we are loaded for cruising/full-time living aboard, probably much more so than you would be if you still have a land-based home. We don’t have a screecher, so I can’t answer that — I know it would be fun on certain points of sail, but can’t talk to how it actually performs. I think we’d use it on the furler more than we use our asymmetrical spinnaker.

September 19, 2018 at 9:18 am

Thank you for your very timely reply. It’s always good to hear from an owner to get accurate information. I have been reading everything I can about the Gemini. I have decided that I want a 105mc to get the latest version with the centerboards. I would welcome all and any comments directly from owners of any of the performance positive or negatives. I enjoy my Beneteau 311 but need a main cabin bed with more room and more space for my grandkids to come along. Thanks again

October 2, 2018 at 1:14 pm

Great review of the boat. We are also considering a Gemini 105M along with a Prout Snowgoose. Can you comment on wave slap when at anchor on a typical night. I have been a power boater for years, have done a lot of anchoring out overnight and have never liked the chine slap at anchor if the wind is up.

October 4, 2018 at 9:04 pm

It all depends on the amount of wind and waves. Most nights, in a calm anchorage, it’s not noticeable. But if there are waves, you’ll hear them on the hull and you’ll hear some wave slap on the bridge deck.

JoAnna Mitchell says

January 25, 2020 at 10:21 am

Hi Carolyn, Thanks for this informative post! My husband and I are considering stepping up from our Hunter 30T to a Gemini 105MC. I have noticed in the listings that many have had the IO replaced with a standard outboard engine. What are your thoughts and what have you heard from other Gemini owners? Thanks for this page as well. We have used it a lot in preparation for our cruising future. JoAnna

January 25, 2020 at 12:35 pm

I know that many have made the switch but I think that more are still with the diesel. We did not want a gas engine as we simply didn’t want to carry that much gasoline on trips as it is MUCH more explosive than diesel fuel. However, they’re typically lighter weight and easy to have repaired or replaced should that be necessary.

Janet Smoot says

April 4, 2020 at 4:03 pm

We have owned our 2000 Gemini 105M for 8 years. We love it! We had a 25′ Catalina swing keel before that. Live the space..Plenty of sleeping for 4 people.The kitchen works great. Bought closed cell cushions for outside cockpit so very comfortable. Sail msilnly Potomac River and Chesapeake. But once we retire plan on longer trips. Works well for small grandchildren too. Can’t say enough good things about this cat. Never thought we could afford one. Gemini has now priced themselves out of the average sailor though. Thanks for the inciteful review.

Holly Henry says

October 8, 2020 at 11:03 am

Thank you for your website and information. We are looking at a 2000 Gemini 105M…it’s so difficult to find an MC. What does the MC have different that you would like? Thank you again for all of your information.

October 8, 2020 at 11:18 am

We have a 1999 105M.

Major changes in the MC:

  • Mast is 1 foot taller and boom one foot longer, so mainsail is larger. Also bigger roach with the masthead crane.
  • MC has an optional screacher.
  • Seating at table is squared off, making it easier to nap on settees and huge difference in how easy the seats are to remove when you need to re-upholster.
  • Table drops down to create a large bed for guests.
  • Laminate centerboards instead of wood. Our 1999 M has the laminate boards, so it’s very likely the 2000 model does.
  • Built-in air conditioning (this isn’t something we cared about, but it’s a big deal for many people)
  • MC is 900+ pounds lighter, so it sails and motors faster with the same load.

October 8, 2020 at 7:08 pm

Thank you so much. Gemini’s are getting harder to find now that we are looking. Your website and info are invaluable to this part-time cruiser.

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Gemini 105 Mc - A Traditional Catamaran Design for New Times

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10.5m long, beautiful accommodation, all this from a builder with recognised experience: here is the Gemini 105 Mc, a cat which is as comfortable taking you on a weekend trip, as on a sabbatical break...

The Gemini 105 Mc is a sailing cottage. Like a land cottage, it is cozy, comfortable, and sound. For multihull sailors, this 10.5 m (35 ft) catamaran gives great value in a modestly sized catamaran with a modest price to match. It is very clearly a boat design aimed at the owner, one who may want a boat for weekend and vacation cruising, or for a sailing couple on that extended cruise, the dream of a life time. For either, the Gemini is a successful design with three decades of experience in its pedigree.

Test Gemini 105 MC

The Gemini is an out-of-the-ordinary boat: in thirty years, more than 1,000 examples have been built.

The Deck Layout

The Gemini 105 Mc has a hard deck fore and aft. The bows extend about a foot beyond the fore hard deck. A foresail traveler and other sail controls occupy the space ahead of the forestay. A fiberglass deck extension forms a bowsprit that holds the anchor and is an attachment point for the forestay that holds a furling genoa. The foredeck is stepped. The step up creates space over the master berth that spans the bridge deck, and the salon. The cockpit contributes significantly to the living area on the boat. Few other catamarans of any size do so much ...

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are gemini catamarans good

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Gemini Catamaran Models Guide

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Arguably one of the United States most popular cruising catamarans, Gemini Catamarans offer a range of domestic-built sailing and motor cruising vessels. Designed for affordability, compact design, ease of use without compromising on comfort and liveability.

The Gemini models deliver an almost unbeatable level of accommodation in relation to their size, with far more private cabin space, specious heads, and elegant dining/living space roomy enough to entertain in.

The Gemini range is a versatile craft to suit a wide customer base from serious liveaboard sailors to coastal weekend cruisers.

History of Gemini Design

The original Gemini hull shape and design was patterned in 1969 by Ken Shaw, with the Gemini 31. Over the years that followed there were serval variations to the original design in the LOA and styling but the Gemini image largely remained the same with both the Gemini 3000 and the Gemini 3200 model.

It was in 1996 when Tony Smith took ownership of the design under his company, Performance Cruising, that he redesigned the hull shape and introduced the much-loved Gemini 105 design.

For over 17 years Tony Smith retained the classic design of the Gemini 105 model, splashing over 1200 hulls from humble beginnings at his facility in Annapolis, Maryland.

At thirty-three feet long and with a beam of just fourteen feet the Gemini 105 was large enough to liveaboard but great value for money whilst also having the flexibility with retractable daggerboards for upwind sailing and gunkholing in the shallows, and due to its compact size, could snuggly fit within a conventional boat slip.

It ticked all the boxes for so many Americans looking for an entry-level catamaran without compromising on comfort.

Flowing a partnership with Hunter Marine and a generous buyout from The Catamaran Company, Gemini was able to live on under the direction of the Smith’s daughter Laura Smith Hershfeld who is now building variations of the classic 105.

We see the Legacy 35 sailing vessel as a fresh take on the proven favourite as well as Gemini’s very own power catamaran range with the Freestyle 339 and customizable Freestyle 37 model.

Gemini Models

Gemini 105mc.

Gemini 105Mc

The original and the classic Gemini 105-sailing design was originally conceptualised in 1996 and only later changed to the 105MC in 2004 with some notable differences being the extended cockpit cover to allow a full enclosure and a slightly taller mast.

It was in 2011 that Gemini offered the limited-edition design Touch Models whose upgrades included cherry veneer finishes, Corian countertops and ducted air conditioning.

Since its inception, the 105 model remains one of the most popular sailing catamarans, with a proven and much-loved design. Expect spacious accommodation, in relation to its size, with a light and airy saloon and cockpit, a 3-cabin layout and a large wet head.

The c-shaped settee in the saloon converts into an additional large bed for extra guests and with a propane-powered fridge offering ample food storage, this small vessel provides an excellent platform to entertain and host all your friends.

Built for safety rather than speed the Gemini 105 won’t break any records but still can achieve 40-50% of wind speed and the ability to point at about 50 degrees (apparent) to wind. Utilising the centerboards and sailplane contribute to its ability to sail closer to wind than most production catamarans out there.

And given the centerboards are lifting and the rudders are a kick-up design you can sail through as little as 2’ of water. Fitted with either outboards or Westerbeke 30b3 diesel engines, both options are fitted with great accessibility for servicing and maintenance.

The 105 design is no longer in production and has been replaced with the new Gemini Legacy 35, but there is still a large number of pre-owned Gemini 105 on the used boating market around the world.

Specifications

*Specifications provided from:

https://www.geminicatamarans.com/Gemini-Models/Gemini105Mc-Specifications.html

Designer Tony Smith suggests that this model is the ideal ‘couple’s catamaran’, perfect for those new to the boating world or a coastal cruiser on a monohull budget.

This was the design that has built the Gemini brand name into one of America’s most popular domestic-built catamarans.

For those in the market for pre-owned vessels, this model is well worth considering, especially since it still fosters an active and supportive owner’s association as well as a local builder who is willing to provide support to all Gemini owners.

Gemini Legacy 35

Gemini Freestyle 37

Based on the original Gemini 105 design, the Legacy 35 takes a fresh look at a proven family-friendly performance cruising catamaran.

Still retaining a 34-inch draft, allowing for shallow water anchoring, a 14-foot beam for easy haul out and compact size only 2 feet longer than original the flexibility that this vessel offers is admirable.

It is argued that this 35 model offers more interior than most 40 foot monohulls, still offering the iconic Gemini design down below. The large C-shaped lounge area in the saloon with a table facing aft, a spacious galley amidships on the starboard hull, with cabins and double berths fore and aft.

The port side accommodates the owner’s stateroom with an aft head, a navigation station amidships and a spacious cabin forward for the mast, there really is plenty of room for the whole family below the decks here.

Similar to that of the Gemini 105 the Legacy 35 handles easily, tracking straight with its shallow keels and together with a square-top mainsail and optional Selden sprit you can enjoy speedy sailing atop this stable platform, with virtually no heeling.

This design has also included an upgrade to the engine specs to include two 15 horsepower shaft drive Yanmar diesels, allowing for a much higher and efficient motoring speed.

*Specifications and features provided from:

https://www.geminicatamarans.com/Gemini-Models/GeminiLegacy35-Specifications.html

There is no doubt Gemini’s new Legacy 35 model has been well received by the wider American sailing customer base, receiving raving reviews from its cruising community. Gemini still retains its place in the market based on its core values of comfort, sailing ability and excellent value with this popular new sailing design.

Gemini Freestyle 37

Gemini Freestyle 37

The Gemini Freestyle 37 is a completely new concept for Gemini and also in boat design, fully customizable for a world where flexibility is key.

Each Freestyle model can be tailored to suit a variety of sailing ambitions, whether it be as a basic sailing family catamaran, a day charter boat or even luxury cruising vessel complete with chaise lounge, outdoor galley and wraparound bar.

Still based on the classic Gemini 105 hulls this vessel can be purchased at a very low base price and customised to suit any family. The basic base price offers a similar style to an open picnic-style boat with deck furniture available as modular or built-in sections from the factory, either at initial purchase or as a retrofit.

There is also an option for a full-size hardtop canopy that can be used as a sun deck or platform for solar panels. The added platform for solar allows for a new ‘green’ version of the design, developed to include electric engines and ample solar power for appliances.

Deck / Hull / Cockpit*

  • Anchor Roller
  • Anchor Well w/ Space for Rode and Chain
  • Blister Prevent Technology Hull
  • Bow Pulpit, Stainless Steel with Bow Seats
  • Hull, FRP / Balsa Sandwich and Naidacore© Above Waterline, Solid FRP Bottom
  • Hull, Structural Grid Reinforcement
  • Lifelines, Double w/ Stainless Steel Stanchions
  • Four Mooring Cleats, Stainless Steel
  • Non-Skid Deck
  • Rub rail, Full Wrap w/ Stainless Steel Insert
  • Rudder w/ Stainless Steel Shaft
  • Stainless Steel Telescoping Swim Ladder
  • Through-Bolted Hull / Deck Join
  • Through-Hull Fittings, All Marelon Below the Waterline
  • Cockpit Traveler Arch, Stainless Steel w/ Mainsheet
  • Full, Overhead Canvas Canopy
  • Two Storage Lockers

Storage Cabinets

  • Under-Counter Storage
  • Sink, Single Stainless Steel
  • Optional Refrigerator
  • Optional Corian® Countertop
  • Optional Fresh Water System, Pressurized, Hot and Cold

Forward Cabin

  • Overhead Cabin Lighting
  • 1 Deck Hatch, Opening
  • Electrical Outlets, AC/DC
  • Hanging Locker
  • Queen Size Mattress, Foam
  • Storage Shelving

Forward Head

  • Sink with pull out shower faucet
  • Optional Separate Shower
  • Vanity Unit with Mirror
  • Optional Corian Countertop
  • Shower Curtain
  • Teak Shower Grate in Floor
  • Shower Sump Pump
  • GFI Receptacle
  • Optional Water Heater

Forward Cockpit

Gemini Freestyle 37

  • Seating for up to Six
  • Floor Drain
  • Optional Cockpit Cushions
  • Optional Cockpit Table
  • Internal Halyards led to Helm Station
  • Jib Furling System
  • Jib, 100% Furling with Sun Cover
  • Mainsail, Full Roach
  • Mainsheet Purchase System
  • Mast with Diamond Rig and Fractional Sail Plan
  • Reefing System, Dual Line Led Aft
  • Rigging Line Stoppers and Organizers
  • One Winch Handles
  • Winches, (2) Rigging, 2-speed Self Tailing

Systems / Electronics

  • 12-Volt DC Electrical System w/ Breaker Panel
  • Electrical Outlets, AC & DC
  • Optional Alternator, 60-Amp with Dual Diesel

Inboard Option

  • 2 – Group 24 batteries
  • 1 X 2 Blade Props
  • Battery Box, Port
  • Battery Box, Starboard
  • Optional Battery Charger, 40-Amp
  • Bilge Pump, Electric, Automatic
  • Engine Panel, Deluxe w/ Alarms and Hour Meter
  • Gauges, Tank for Fuel, Water
  • Fresh Water System, Pressurized Cold
  • Navigation Light Package
  • Shore Power System, 120 Volt
  • Emergency Tiller

https://www.geminicatamarans.com/Gemini-Models/GeminiFreestyle37-Specifications.html

The Gemini Freestyle 37 not only offers the trusted design features of the original Gemini hulls but opens up the possibilities to a far wider audience of sailors with its flexibility in custom-built versions.

Gemini Freestyle 399 Power

Gemini Freestyle 399 Power

Taking the streamlined design features that step further, Gemini now has their very first ultimate day-powerboat catamaran. Taking all the innovations of customizability from the Freestyle 37 and evolving this to suit the motorboat market.

Unlike the other models, this design incorporates a centre consul design powdered by twin Suzuki DF90A outboards with a cruising speed of 15 knots and 22.5 knots at full throttle. This helm station is positioned front and centre makes the cockpit an ever-larger entertaining space.

Similar to the Freestyle 37 this model is fully customizable to suit almost any purpose with basic day use versions, charter and full luxury fit-out options available.

Gemini Freestyle 399

Forward Head(s)

https://www.geminicatamarans.com/Gemini-Models/GeminiFreestyle399-Specifications.html

This design takes everything great from the earlier sailing models to put a new spin on the motor cruising catamaran, offering the same affordability, comfort and cruising capability that Gemini is so well known for.

Frequently Asked Questions

Answer : Gemini Catamarans are manufactured at the Hunter Marine plant in Florida.

Answer : The Gemini is designed as a coastal cruiser and therefore are designed for a different purpose. It has been reported that some owners of the sailing models have crossed open ocean passages such as the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

Answer : The Gemini range is a moderately priced modestly constructed catamaran. Their standout features include excellent value, outstanding accommodations and solid sailing performance. There is an active and supportive owners’ association as well informative support from the local US-based build facility. Highlights include: Narrow beam offering ease when hauling out. These vessels fit into a standard slip, lowering the cost of ownership and reducing haul-out fees. Shallow draft combined with kick-up centerboards and rudders as well as outboards that can raise up. This allows the vessel to be anchored in as little as 2’ of water. Great sense of liveability . Despite its size, Gemini catamarans offer larger living spaces than most other comparable-sized boats on the market, combined with a minimum of 6’ of headroom inside and up to 6’7 of headroom in the cockpit. Better than average speed. With regards to their sailing vessel’s range they won’t necessarily bet speed records but for a vessel of her size achieves a noteworthy 40-50% of wind speed and the ability to point at about 50 degrees (apparent) to the wind. Outstanding engine accessibility . Careful consideration has been made with all models for access in and around the engine wells, for both the diesel and outboard fit-outs making it far easier to complete maintenance and servicing.

For more reading:

  • Best Boat Accessories: Top 2022 Recommendations
  • Motor Boat Types Explained: How to Find the Right One for You
  • Best 6HP Outboard Motors That Will Make You Ready to Go

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Gemini 3000 Review: A Budget Boat with an Offshore attitude

  • Post author By Capt Chris German
  • Post date August 18, 2020

are gemini catamarans good

Gemini Catamarans have gotten a reputation among sailors as a cheaper cruiser with a gift for sailing to wind. But it has been my experience that no catamaran goes to wind well and to compare cats on their windward performance is like picking a gold medal winner in the 50 yard dash from a field of sloths. Gemini is no different than any other cat I have sailed, but what they lack in performance and style, they make up for in affordability and modability.

My first mate, Matt entered into the world of Catamarans when he found a used Gemini 30 in an estate sale in Connecticut. I joined him for the 12 hour drive from North Carolina to offer my expert opinion and eye for deals and when we came upon this one what a deal it was. The gentleman who owned it had passed and there was a storage unit full of extras and a yard bill that the family didn’t want to pay. In late October and November yard bills come due for winter storage and great many deals can be had when the yard starts putting thumb screws on the owners to pay up.

are gemini catamarans good

Matt scored this boat for a budget price of $8500 and that left plenty over to refinish the boat when he got it trucked back to North Carolina. Digging in, he found a great many sins in the boat where quality corners were cut and cost cutting combined with weight control, left a decided flimsy boat that as Matt says, “ is perfect to sail from Maryland to the Carribean and that’s about it.”

are gemini catamarans good

Built in 1985, Matt’s boat was laid in Mayo, Maryland at the Gemini plant. Designed by British Boat Builder Tony Smith, it was the second generation of the vessel with four designs total made from the same mold, the 3100, 3000, 3200 and 3400- but with different designs. This one proved to be no match for ages as the years were hard on this girl. Matt found lots of rot and mold that needed to be cut away where water intrusion compromised the soft goods like head liner and wall coverings. Bulkheads and deck joints were peeling away where glass was improperly laid up and wood coring rotted away. The wood cored top side had a few soft spots that gave the boat a flimsy feel and he found a ton of opportunity to stiffen up seams and joints with some judicious use of mat fiberglass. Once the loose joints were resecured he went to town with paint and gave the boat a whole new fresh feel and clean smell, even if it had lost all the charm that the builders intended.

The 3000 has a decidedly light feel to the boat and gives a sailor pause before taking it out in any heavy breeze, but Matt enjoyed overnighting on the vessel while cruising the inshore waters of the Neuse River down to Beaufort. The boat was heavy enough to handle some of the more intense Ocean breezes, but light enough and shallow enough to gunk hole in the swamps and hiding holes of East Carolina.

For storage and liveability this boat came in dead even because it’s original design lacked a certain quality with the rotten headliner and failing bulkhead joints and time had taken its toll. After gutting the thing, he made it his own complete with wine-filled Marty Moose Mugs and Jimmy Buffett tunes blaring at 2 am on the dock. What it lacks in polish, it makes up with Matt’s unique style and by focusing on the functionality of the boat he made a seaworthy vessel that serves him well. He found convenience in the 9.9 honda outboard at first that pushed the boat just fine while saving on gas. He tells me, were he to do it all over again he might scrap the fiberglass cockpit cover but I personally like the cover as it gave great protection to the helm and created a warm place to ring in the New Year last winter when I last visited.

There were no major frills on this boat and the sail plan was entirely average with a genoa jib and standard main. It made great time downind on a reach but labored to go windward higher than 60 degrees like most cats. It’s deck design and talent for downwind sailing, made for a very comfy sail with minimal hobby horsing And the low profile cabin top made traversing the hard shell trampoline that spans the hulls to douse the main quite easy. While she won’t win any races, she’s a good cruiser downwind and comfy enough for even a young family who is looking to head out together on a budget.

Gemini built a ton of these ladies in the 80’s when the dollar was strong and the boats were flimsy. But 30 years later the headliner was shot and the decor distinctly dated. Matt enjoyed tearing it all out down to bare fiberglass and eventually chose to scrap the standard Honda for an equally old but more reliable four stroke Envinrude. And he was just out this past month in 30 knots of breeze where he says waves were crashing over the bow and the boat was flexing like an accordion. He said it was so bad even the dog got scared, but he made it back in time for work and credits Gemini for building a boat that won’t take you to Fiji, but is enough to help you keep your sanity while you socially isolate.

are gemini catamarans good

All told, the Gemini 3000 is plentiful on the used US market with 500 hulls made in Maryland from 1980 to 1996. A new boat will run you considerably more than a used model which can be found for as low $3500 for the truly ambitious DIYers. But if you’re into the new ones, you will be forced to spend a ton more money and buy five more feet because they discontinued the 30 late last century. The Gemini 30 however is “great weekender plus” says Matt and for the money, you won’t find a better entry level catamaran for the newly inaugurated sailor looking for a used vessel. Thanks for reading and do well, have fun and sail far.

  • Tags Catamaran Interviews , Catamaran Reviews

Capt Chris German

By Capt Chris German

Capt Chris German has taught sailing for more than 25 years with NauticED and US Sailing. He has delivered boats from Maine to Florida and taught thousands of students from beginner to 100 ton Captains to coaching Olympic Hopefuls.

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Best Cruising Catamarans

  • By Cruising World Editors
  • Updated: July 1, 2021

Cruising catamarans have been around for decades, but early models—often plywood and fiberglass vessels built by their owners from plans and kits, kept the boats on the fringes of mainstream sailing. That all changed, though, as big roomy cats were discovered by sailors who went off to charter in the Caribbean, where the multihulls proved their worth as comfortable liveaboard and party boats.

Today’s bluewater catamarans roam the globe, carrying families to exotic destinations across the Pacific and beyond. Just as with their monohull cousins, there is no best catamaran. Instead there is a wide variety of designs, ranging from small catamarans that offer the ease of maintenance a couple might enjoy to performance catamarans capable of easily knocking off 250-mile days. Today, the best catamaran brands offer a range of size models and layouts that can be optimized for an owner sailing with family and friends, or for the charter market, where there’s a demand for four, five and even six cabins worth of accommodations.

The most prolific catamaran manufacturers are in France and South Africa where yards include both large-run production builders and niche companies building fewer than 10 boats a year.

The best cruising catamarans offer good load-carrying ability and respectable performance. As with any sailboat , a modern catamaran’s design is a result of compromises. Daggerboards or keels? Galley up or galley down? Spacious owner’s cabin or extra bunks? There are lots of options to choose from—and that’s what makes looking at these sailboats fun!

Here, then is an eclectic A to Z list of some of the best catamarans that have helped shaped the evolution of how we live and sail on two hulls.

Antares 44i

Now built in Argentina as a full-fledged, bluewater catamaran and cruiser that can be safely operated by a shorthanded couple or family crew, the Antares 44i features a fully covered cockpit with a quartet of big, standard solar panels recessed within the hardtop, one example of a yacht capable of long-range passagemaking.

Atlantic 42

Almost 30 years ago, yacht designer Chris White revolutionized catamaran design with the first in his series of Atlantic cats, the primary feature of which was the innovative mid-ship sailing cockpit forward of the main cabin. The smallest in the Atlantic line, the 42 remains White’s most popular design ever.

Fountaine-Pajot has built so many outstanding cruising catamarans that it’s difficult to narrow down any single boat, but we’ve always been fans of the good-looking, well-thought-out Bahia 46. At 46 feet, the boat is large enough for offshore forays and has plenty of volume; with its simple but powerful sail plan, it’s also an excellent performer.

Beginning around 1996, the French builder Catana was one of the first companies to manufacture fully found cruising cats for private ownership, and this Christophe Barreau design, which enjoyed a nearly 10-year production run from 1997-2006, was emblematic of this first generation of safe, fun, long-legged offshore voyagers.

Click here to see more cats from Catana.

When it comes to speed, light boats are fast ones. And if you wish to save weight, that means exotic modern materials like carbon. Catana now infuses the laminates of their entire production line with carbon fiber, and for this list, we’ve chosen the Catana 50 Carbon, one of the zippiest cats now crossing oceans.

Click here to read about a couple’s charter aboard a Catana 50.

Gemini 105M

Pioneering catamaran sailor, builder and designer Tony Smith launched the first of his 33-foot Gemini 105M’s (10.5 meters = 33′) in 1993, and soon after found a ready and willing stream of sailors enamored of the boat’s compact size, affordable price tag, and such innovations as the nifty lifting rudder and transom steps.

Click here to read about the Gemini Legacy 35.

Built between 2000-2005, the Gunboat 62 firmly established the Gunboat brand: go-anywhere cats that applied race-boat technology to a world-cruising platform. Hull no. 1, Tribe, was built for company founder Peter Johnstone, who then spent a year-and-a-half cruising with his family, smiling all the way.

French builder Henri Wauquiez is best known for his long career building monohulls, but the Kronos 45 cat, which he launched in 1992, was ahead of her time. Classic lines, the aft “targa bar” over the cockpit, the louvered coach roof windows, even the distinctive stripes on her hull: the Kronos 45 remains timeless.

No roundup of cruising cats would be complete without several Lagoon entries, and the best of that impressive bunch might well be the Lagoon 380. Originally launched in 1999, and revered for its combination of quality, volume and performance, with over 740 boats built the 380 is still going strong.

Launched five years after the breakthrough 380, the Lagoon 440 was an evolutionary design that featured a raised flybridge helm station, a unique “gullwing” configuration below the bridge deck, expanded windows in the hull and much more. With 400 boats built in a 6-year production run, the 440 was an unqualified success.

How big can a production cat, still operable by a short-handed crew, really be? The builders at Lagoon discovered that 62-feet hit a sweet spot in the marketplace, and have sold over 70 boats since its introduction in 2010. The centerpiece of this design is the sensational steering station atop the flybridge, with expansive views of the sea and sky.

Click here to see more cats from Lagoon.

With an unmatched pedigree – designed by premier multihull naval architects Gino Morelli and Pete Melvin, built by the prestigious Robertson & Caine boatyard in South Africa, and commissioned by chartering giant The Moorings – the Leopard 40 was, perhaps unsurprisingly, Cruising World ’s Import Boat of the Year in 2005.

Louisiane 37

Based on the famous French racing cat Charente-Maritime, the Louisiane 37, designed by Joubert/Nivelt and launched by builder Fountaine-Pajot in 1983, was a light, fast liveaboard cruiser with full accommodations that represented a radical departure from the hefty British cats that preceded it.

Maine Cat 30

One of the more versatile and clever cats ever created, the central feature of the cool Maine Cat 30 is the open bridge deck/living room sandwiched between the hulls and canopied by a rigid, permanent hard top (the comfortable accommodations/ staterooms are stationed in the hulls). Ideal for a winter in the Bahamas but with the ability to sail offshore, it’s a boat for all seasons and reasons.

Built in Florida and beloved by the owners of the over 120 boats built during the company’s existence from 1993 to 2009, the Manta Catamarans range included 38-, 40- and 44-foot cats. For this exercise, however, we’re heralding the original Manta 42, which won the Best Value Overall prize in CW’s 2001 Boat of the Year contest.

Moorings 4800/Leopard 48

Another Leopard/Moorings collaboration built by the wizards at Robertson & Caine (though this boat was designed by fellow South African Alex Simonis), the Leopard 48 was another CW Boat of the Year winner with all the contemporary bells and whistles: forward cockpit, flybridge helm station and solid hardtop dodger, just to name a few.

Click here to read more about the Leopard 48, and click here to see more images.

Nautitech 441

The Best Multihull Under 45 Feet: So said the CW judging panel in the 2013 Boat of the Year competition, regarding the Nautitech 441. But what makes this versatile platform so intriguing are the different helm set-ups. The 441 employs a single wheel, to starboard, ideal for solo sailors, while the 442 has a pair of helm stations aft.

Click here to see more Nautitech Catamarans.

Outremer 5X

A state-of-the-art all-oceans cat that exemplifies how far multihull design has come, the 59-foot Outremer 5X was a winner on both sides of the Atlantic, taking top honors in the European Boat of the Year competition in 2013, and following up as the Best Full-Size Multihull in CW ’s contest a year later.

Click here to see more cats from Outremer.

St. Francis 50

The flagship of the proud St. Francis line – built in South Africa since 1990 to designs by local legends Lavranos Marine Design – the St. Francis 50 is another “luxury cat” that shares much in common with an earlier 48-foot sister-ship, but packs even more payload into its roomier lines.

Click here to read more about the St. Francis 50

Seawind 1000

Founded by Aussie surfer and sailor Richard Ward in 1982, the 33-foot Seawind 1000 is easily the most popular cruising cat ever built in Australia (the company has since moved its manufacturing and management operations to Vietnam). Roomy and airy, these cats dot the coastline of eastern Oz.

Seawind 1160

If the Seawind 1000 was a minimalist approach to cruising cats, the 38-foot Seawind 1160 is the flip side of the coin, a full-fledged long-range voyager. Among the reasons it was named CW ’s Most Innovative boat for 2007 is the unique “tri-folding” door that stashes overhead to open up the saloon and cockpit into a spacious living area.

Click here to read more about the Seawind 1160.

Sunsail 384

Every sailboat is a compromise, and in the case of the Sunsail 384 (also sold privately as the Leopard 38) that’s a good thing, because designers Morrelli & Melvin and builder Robertson and Caine got the balance just right with this relatively small catamaran. With four cabins, the 384 can carry the same size bareboat charter crowd as her larger siblings, but does so with a decided bounce in her step. Named CW’s Import Boat of the Year in 2010, you can gauge the success of the design by the grins on the crew as they barrel down Sir Francis Drake channel in the British Virgin Islands.

Victoria 67

The French design office of Berret Racoupeau drafted the lines of Fountaine-Pajot’s new flagship, introduced in 2013, a magnificent world-girdling voyaging catamaran. Like other giant cats launched in recent years, the boat features a sensational upper deck with all sail controls, helm and lounging stations.

Click here to see more images of the Victoria 67.

Wharram Tanaroa

No list of influential multihulls would be complete without the work of James Wharram, and while Tangaroa wasn’t a production cat by any means, it showcases the British designer’s respect for ancient Polynesian craft. Wharram sailed this 23-foot-6-inch “double-hulled canoe” across the Atlantic in the 1950s, and sold countless plans for similar boats for decades afterwards.

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A gem in new england, tradewinds debuts 59-foot twe6 smart electric yacht, sailboat preview: dufour 44, good bread for good health, center of effort, the halfway point: sailing to bermuda.

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Gemini 31/3000

Long america's only production cruising multihull, this boat has many fans..

Tony Smith sure knows how to make the most of a good thing. The British multihull lover has gotten more mileage out of one design than any boatbuilder we know. And why not? With more than 200 Geminis built to date, and interest building, why switch?

Gemini 31/3000 sailboat

In 1972 Smith designed and developed the 26-foot folding trimaran Telstar in England. He brought the molds to the U.S. and built 350 of them before a devestating fire destroyed the molds in 1981. Desperate to resurrect his business, he grabbed some old catamaran molds he had—the Aristocat—changed the name and that same year launched the first Gemini 31.

Three years and 27 boats later, he retooled to produce the Gemini 3000, which is essentially the same boat, but longer. Today, yet another incarnation of that first design—the Gemini 3200—continues to sell well.

Several years ago, Smith planned to introduce a larger 37-foot version, but the cost was much higher and despite building one boat, he changed his mind. The multihull business in this country has been slow to take off. And as even the established monohull builders like Pearson and C & C have found out, there ain’t much room for error. Instead, Smith has refined the Gemini much like the Volkswagen Beetle. By listening to owners’ comments, and by incorporating his own evolving ideas, the boat has changed a good deal, though one would be hard pressed to distinguish, at a glance, between a 1984 Gemini and a 1992 model.

The funny thing about the Gemini is that it’s an old design. Ken Shaw drew the lines in 1969. There’s nothing particularly contemporary about it. However, by painting the cabin sides black (Euro styling), adding a swept-back fiberglass “pilothouse” and gradually adding length to the full-bodied hulls, the Gemini has always looked like she belonged with her contemporaries, whether that was the 1980s or 1990s.

The most important thing to remember when evaluating this design is that the Gemini is essentially used as a 30-foot live-aboard, cruising catamaran. While faster than most monohulls of equal length, it has no pretense of being a racer. How could it be with such a spacious interior? Further, many of Smith’s customers are older folks who are tired of heeling, don’t have $200,000 to spend, and don’t plan to circumnavigate. In fact, most Geminis we’ve seen are happily puttering up and down the Intracoastal Waterway along the Eastern Seaboard and Gulf Coast. It’s perfect for that.

Summing up the design gets a little dicey when offshore work is discussed. The Gemini’s liabilities here are several. Because of the substantial accommodations built on the bridge, which necessitates lowering it for headroom, and the solid bridge forward (as opposed to netting), it’s a bit heavy. Smith says that if loaded for extended cruising, there is not a lot of clearance between the bottom of the bridge and the surface of the water, and it will pound going to weather in choppy seas. Sailed light, the Gemini will do quite nicely and be much more comfortable.

The performance of full bridgedeck cats, such as the Gemini, also suffer a bit from the extra weight and windage. Smith, a racer at heart, admits that if he had his druthers he’d build an open bridge forward, but for his cruising clientele, the full bridge makes more sense.

Nevertheless, Geminis have, according to Smith, crossed the Atlantic, cruised the South Pacific and Caribbean.

Having spent a week cruising the Chesapeake Bay aboard a Gemini 31, we found the boat extremely comfortable and fun to sail. With a large queen-size stateroom forward and double staterooms aft in each hull, there’s room for Mom and Dad, Junior and Sis, each in their own private cabins.

Gemini 31/3000

Speed reaching and sailing upwind was about 50 percent faster than what we could do in our 33-foot Pearson Vanguard. We hit double digits just once. But sailing in moderate winds we’d make eight and nine knots when our Pearson would do five and six. Three or four knots may not seem like a lot, but for sailboats on an all-day passage, the difference cuts hours off sailing time.

Best of all, it’s level sailing. This makes for very restful cruising.

Punching to windward in a chop, we did buck a bit, and the quicker motion of a multi takes some getting used to. All in all, we came away impressed with its space and performance.

Construction

The key to high-performance multihull construction is lightness and strength. The rapid evolution of composite building techniques now makes possible the use of lightweight core materials, specialized fibers such as Kevlar, and strong resins that in combination yield a panel that is much lighter and stiffer than solid fiberglass or fiberglass with just “traditional” core materials such as end-grain balsa and PVC foam. Vacuum bagging helps assure uniform bonding of all the “parts.” Naturally, such construction is costly.

Construction of the Gemini, which is marketed as a comfortable, low-priced cruising catamaran rather than a spartan high-tech racing machine, is quite conventional. The hull is built of solid fiberglass—mat and woven roving. The deck is cored with balsa for stiffness. The new Gemini 3200 incorporates a layer of vinylester resin as a blister barrier. Twenty percent of the owners of older models responding to our survey reported “some” blistering—a below average incidence.

The centerboard trunks were laid up separately in the early boats, but Smith said it was difficult getting good tolerances for the centerboards to fit right. Now the trunks are part of the hull mold and the slot is a guaranteed two inches and the polyurethane-coated plywood centerboards 1-7/8″.

Obviously, to keep weight light, a multihull builder isn’t going to use any unnecessary laminations. Consequently, many multihulls feel flimsy compared to monohulls. One Gemini owner said, “The strength is a little lower than I would have liked, but it helps hold the cost down.” And, we might, add, the weight that is so important to multihull performance. The rock steady feel of thick decks is somewhat at odds with the requirements of multihull design and construction.

A frequent complaint of Gemini owners is gelcoat flaws. “Gelcoat has many voids,” wrote one owner. “Some gelcoat yellowing and crazing,” said another. The interior woodwork is acceptable to some owners, and not to others. “Woodwork finish is inept,” said one owner. “Finish work is my biggest complaint,” said the owner of a 1985 model.

Smith admits that leaky windows were a problem in early boats. The design has since been changed, including the use of Lexan in place of Plexiglas, and a new system to bed the large panels allows for thicker beads of sealant to absorb the expansion and contraction of the windows.

Most owners, however, seemed to feel that these are minor problems they’re willing to live with. They rate construction lower than other attributes of the boat, but overall still are satisfied with their choice of the Gemini. We’d like to see a bit more glass in the Gemini, or the use of a core for stiffness and strength, though we acknowledge it would increase the price.

Performance

Besides accomodation space and low heel angles, speed is a major factor in choosing a multihull. Only one owner expressed disappointment in his Gemini’s maximum speed attainable. True, it won’t hit those 15- to 20-knot speeds possible in more performance-oriented cats and tris. Nearly all owners, however, remarked on the Gemini’s good light-air performance. And, as we found during our week’s cruise of the Chesapeake Bay, the boat is definitely faster than a cruising monohull of equivalent size.

A key to performance in any multihull is keeping weight down. Unfortunately, many owners overload their boats and this has a direct effect on speed and pointing ability. It’s a problem with no easy answers for live-aboards and long-term cruisers: Either buy a boat with longer hulls and hence greater payload capacity, or live with sub-par performance.

A significant feature of the Gemini is its centerboards, which improve pointing and tacking considerably. Many production catamarans today have fin keels on each hull. The thought here is that the problems inherent with centerboards (broken pennants, jammed boards in the trunk) are eliminated, while acceptable upwind sailing characteristics are retained. This may be true, but there seems no denying that centerboards improve overall performance. Further, the fins add to wetted surface, which increases drag and adversely affect maneuverability.

It is interesting that author Bernard Perret wrote in the October 1990 issue of Cruising World regarding his search for a cruising cat: “We focused in on exactly what we wanted: two sideboards to help us tack more efficiently against the wind and to maintain a shallow draft…”

Having ourselves sailed on production cats without centerboards that were dogs to windward (close reaching was virtually impossible, leaving motorsailing the only option), we consider daggerboards or centerboards an important criteria in selecting a catamaran. Perret said he tacks his French-built 36-foot Naviplane through 115 degrees true, but that’s nothing to write home about. We’re sure he could do better if he wasn’t loaded down with cruising gear for five. Under optimal conditions, Smith says the Gemini can tack through 80 degrees. Burdened with bicycles, computers, three anchors, a library, and food for six months, that number is sure to increase.

A number of owners noted the boat’s lack of directional stability (because there’s not a lot of boat underwater). But they also acknowledged that it is very easy to steer, and that with the lee board down, it balances nicely.

The wide sheeting angle of the early boats made the genoa inefficient upwind. Smith says this has been improved, by means of lengthening the track, in the Gemini 3200.

Gemini 31/3000

Under power, the Gemini performs well. The outboard turns with the rudders for assistance in close quarters—most multihulls need it. And it retracts for sailing. The arrangement has been modified several times over the years.

The current Gemini 3200 comes equipped with a 40-hp. Tohatsu. Some 31 owners felt more power was needed. The results of our recent Reader Survey didn’t rate Tohatsus very highly, but Smith says a 25-inch shaft is very important for maximum performance.

The Mercury 35, standard on Gemini 31s and 3000s, is no longer made. The Tohatsu, he said, is the only engine in that power range available with a 25-inch shaft. In any case, motoring the Gemini at decent speeds, and in comfort, is certainly possible, though punching into head seas isn’t its cup of tea—multis are too light and their motors often too weak to grind out the miles like a heavy, diesel-powered monohull.

Twin Yanmar and Volvo diesels were available, but at such an increase in cost, few buyers would consider them. We’d take the outboard for cost savings, clean interiors, and ease of repair and maintenance. So what if it’s a little noisier? You’ll motor less with a catamaran than your old monohull anyway.

Accommodations

There are numerous appeals to the cruising cat—the large foredeck, large cockpit and the possibility of three or more private sleeping cabins. The Gemini has all three.

The full bridge means there is no netting between the hulls as seen on many cats. This adds weight, but does help deflect waves. From a particularly hedonistic point of view, the netting is best for lying on face down, watching the water fly by. On the other hand, footing is precarious. The full bridge makes anchor handling easier and provides for possibly a little extra stowage space.

The Gemini’s cockpit is large enough to walk around in, with good footing and stowage. Bulkhead wheel steering is convenient whether standing under the so-called pilothouse (added after hull #10), or sitting either on the bench seat or coaming top.

There is not standing headroom in the saloon forward of the 6′ 2″ pilothouse, but this isn’t a major item. Several interior plans have been offered over the years. The one we chartered had a 64″ x 75″ double berth forward in the starboard sector. The view from the bunk looking through the forward windows is stunning! The head with shower was in the port bow and aft, in each hull, was a quarter cabin. The 48″ x 75″ bunks in these weren’t quite as wide as a couple might like, but tolerable, and certainly more than big enough for kids. The nav station was amidships to port and the galley in the starboard hull, with 6′ 3″ headroom. Headroom forward is 6′ 0″ .

An interesting dilemma of outboard-powered boats is the question of generating power for live-aboard conveniences. Outboard engines aren’t able to generate the amps necessary to run a lot of hungry electrical appliances. To combat the problem, Smith has elected to use RV-type propane/12-volt/110-volt refrigerators. These are well suited to multihulls because they work most efficiently when level. LPG, of course, will be the usual energy source for these units, though at the dock shorepower works well. We sailed with a Dometic three-way refrigerator for several years and found them too poorly insulated for 12-volt service.

An instantaneous gas-fired water heater services the Gemini’s shower, which again eliminates the need for electricity.

About the only appliances that must then be accounted for are cabin lights, fans, stereo and pumps. This can be handled by several good quality batteries, though some owners note the need for alternate energy sources. Solar panels, in our experience, can help a great deal, but several fairly large ones will be needed. They are difficult to place where shadows won’t limit performance, and where they aren’t likely to be stepped on. Plus, their life expectancy is depressingly brief—several years in our experience. A better bet, for many cruisers, will be a pole-mounted wind generator capable of producing, say, six to seven amps in 15 to 18 knots of wind.

The Gemini 31 is a comfortable coastal cruiser that benefits from its builder’s undying devotion. The quality of workmanship isn’t what you’ll find in more expensive monohulls or multihulls, but this is also one of the few cruising multihulls that’s affordable to buyers in the $50,000 to $80,000 range—used or new.

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There's good news if you want to run Gemini on your old phone

Published on April 24, 2024

Google Gemini logo on smartphone stock photo (5)

  • Google’s Gemini app now supports Android 10 devices or later.
  • The company’s chatbot app previously required Android 12 or newer.
  • This means people with much older Android devices can use Gemini too.

Google’s Gemini assistant has been available (as Bard or otherwise) for just over a year now, using generative AI capabilities for a variety of tasks. The Android app has been restricted to more recent devices, but it looks like older phones can now get in on the action.

The Gemini app was restricted to devices running Android 12 or higher, but AssembleDebug pointed out to Android Authority that the app now supports Android 10 devices or higher. More specifically, he noticed that the most recent version of the app uploaded to APKMirror now lists “Android 10+” as the minimum version.

Google Gemini APKMirror AssembleDebug

We also noticed that Google recently updated the Gemini app’s Play Store listing to confirm that it now requires Android 10 and up (see below). An archived version of this page from April 18 still mentioned Android 12 as the minimum requirement.

Gemini play store Android 10 listing

It’s worth noting that Google’s Gemini support page still lists Android 12 as the minimum requirement too, but we’re guessing this will be updated soon. This is, nevertheless, good news for people who have older Android phones as it’s one more reason to hold on to their devices.

We’ve asked Google about the Gemini app’s more relaxed system requirements and will update the article if/when the company gets back to us.

Gemini

Gemini Horoscope for April 24, 2024

The scope of your good fortune will likely reveal itself to you today, and you may be surprised to discover that the blessings you have enjoyed are neither universal nor even common.

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The scope of your good fortune will likely reveal itself to you today, and you may be surprised to discover that the blessings you have enjoyed are neither universal nor even common. Consequently, you will likely spend a great deal of the day reflecting upon the abundance you have taken for granted for so long. The gratitude you come to feel can inspire you to look even more deeply into your existence in order to unearth those blessings that seemed to add nothing of value to your experience. You may find today that past events you judged to be little more than painful footnotes actually had a hand in helping you attain the level of prosperity you enjoy in the present.

The more we appreciate the blessings that have allowed us to prosper and grow, the more we learn to recognize those blessings in disguise that touch our lives unexpectedly. Good fortune is often misinterpreted as chance, and our understanding of what constitutes a true blessing enables us to look past the easy explanation of luck to the providence beyond. We come to realize that the abundance we enjoy is part of a larger pattern made up of both triumphs and trials, each of which have taught us something about ourselves. Life's challenges do not dismay us as we understand that good fortune can take many forms, many of which are not easily distinguished. You will feel truly grateful for your abundance today because you have refined your ability to see the blessings in your life.

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COMMENTS

  1. Are Gemini Catamarans Good? (The Pros and Cons)

    In summary, Gemini Catamarans are an excellent choice for sailors of all levels and provide an enjoyable and reliable sailing experience. Sailors looking to purchase a Gemini Catamaran should consider some of the advantages and disadvantages that come with owning one. Many of the pros and cons are related to the two-hull design, which affects ...

  2. Are Gemini Catamarans Good? A Review of Popular Models!

    Gemini catamarans are safe, stable, and reasonably priced, making them great all-around boats. Their freestyle line is ideal for day cruises or to be used as "party boats" due to their customizable design. Their Design Touch and Legacy boats can be used as cruisers or for extended vacations, depending on your needs.

  3. Gemini 105 Review

    Gemini 105 M. The Gemini 105s were designed to be affordable, compact, relatively easy vessels for sailors new to catamarans. In the performance - comfort — cost trifecta, there is a definite favor towards cost, which can equate to quality issues. However, Gemini owners swear by their performance and aspects of comfort.

  4. Gemini 105Mc

    In 1993, the company launched the Gemini 3400, the first catamaran with a lifting underhung rudder system. It was eventually modified and reintroduced as the 105M, and the 105Mc is the most recent upgrade. ... The head compartment on the Mc is big, bright, and well-ventilated. A good touch is a siphon arrangement that allows fresh water to be ...

  5. Our Gemini Catamaran

    The Gemini is also technically 3 feet shorter than the Tayana (34 feet vs. 37) but with the Tayana's bowsprit, it's more like 8 or 9 feet shorter in reality. The lighter weight of the Gemini also makes it much more responsive. And any full keel boat such as the Tayana, in the words of another Tayana owner, "backs like a drunken elephant.".

  6. Gemini Legacy 35 Catamaran Sailboat Review

    The sure-footed, upgraded Gemini Legacy 35 catamaran is a fresh take on a proven favorite. Gemini 35 sailing in Biscayne Bay, Miami FL. Gemini. In 1995, multihull sailor, designer, and boatbuilder Tony Smith made a splash with the launch of his Gemini 105M. Thirty-three feet long and with a beam of just 14 feet, the Gemini was large enough for ...

  7. Gemini Catamarans

    The Gemini offers this plus a good size galley and cockpit large enough to accommodate all your guests without feeling crowded. If accommodations are the number one attraction of cruising catamarans, then speed and performance must be number two.

  8. Gemini Legacy 35: Sailing Catamaran, Reborn

    The modifications were many and substantial, so the new Gemini Legacy 35 is almost like a completely new boat. Sailing catamarans like the Gemini can offer more space than a monohull, along with a surprisingly shallow draft. Approximately two feet longer than the 105M, the Legacy still carries roughly the same profile; you can spot this Gemini ...

  9. Gemini Legacy 35

    The Gemini catamaran has been one of the quiet achievers of American boatbuilding, selling solidly through various incarnations that always showcased the twin attractions of affordability and versatility. The latest of these is the Legacy 35, which embodies the most significant changes in the 33-year history of Gemini catamarans.

  10. Boat Review by Multihulls World of: Catamaran Gemini 105 Mc

    The Gemini 105 Mc is a sailing cottage. Like a land cottage, it is cozy, comfortable, and sound. For multihull sailors, this 10.5 m (35 ft) catamaran gives great value in a modestly sized catamaran with a modest price to match. It is very clearly a boat design aimed at the owner, one who may want a boat for weekend and vacation cruising, or for ...

  11. Gemini 105 MC Review and Owner Interview

    Gemini 105 MC "Kid Cat". As we continue in our series about Gemini catamarans, Melissa interviews Eric from the Gemini Owners Group who owns a Gemini 105 MC called S/V Kid Cat and sails out of Montreal and is planning to go out the St Lawrence in the summer and to the Bahamas maybe next winter. He weighs in with a different perspective on the ...

  12. PDF Gemini Legacy 35 Catamaran Sailboat Review

    that's now called Gemini Catamarans—anticipates that the newly launched Legacy 35 will enjoy a similar reception. I boarded the brand-new model on a blustery Chesapeake Bay morning following the U. S. Sailboat Show in Annapolis last fall. It was a heck of a day for a sail and a good morning to be on a dry, sure-footed cat that took the gusts ...

  13. Gemini Catamaran Models Guide

    Question: Are Gemini Catamarans Good? Answer: The Gemini range is a moderately priced modestly constructed catamaran. Their standout features include excellent value, outstanding accommodations and solid sailing performance. There is an active and supportive owners' association as well informative support from the local US-based build facility.

  14. Gemini Catamarans || Gemini 105Mc Design Touch Overview

    Overview. Specifications. Gemini 105Mc Design Touch - The World's Best-Selling Single-Design Cruising Catamaran since 1980. For over 27 years and over 1000 deliveries, the Gemini 105Mc still remains one of the most proven and popular catamarans ever built. Her sailing performance is legendary yet still manages to surprise unsuspecting newcomers.

  15. Gemini 3000 Review: A Budget Boat with an Offshore attitude

    All told, the Gemini 3000 is plentiful on the used US market with 500 hulls made in Maryland from 1980 to 1996. A new boat will run you considerably more than a used model which can be found for as low $3500 for the truly ambitious DIYers. But if you're into the new ones, you will be forced to spend a ton more money and buy five more feet ...

  16. Best Cruising Catamarans, Sailing Catamaran Brands

    The best cruising catamarans offer good load-carrying ability and respectable performance. ... Gemini 105M Courtesy of Gemini Catamarans. Pioneering catamaran sailor, builder and designer Tony Smith launched the first of his 33-foot Gemini 105M's (10.5 meters = 33′) in 1993, and soon after found a ready and willing stream of sailors ...

  17. Gemini Catamarans || Gemini Legacy 35 Overview

    GEMINI LEGACY 35. Made in America since 1981, the Gemini Legacy has proven to be the most family-friendly performance cruising catamaran in the world, and the reasons are obvious; A 34 inch draft that allows the boat to be pulled up right next to a beach or anchored inu0003 small, protected coves. A 14 foot beam, which means the boat can be ...

  18. Gemini 31/3000

    Sailboats 21-30ft; Gemini 31/3000 Long America's only production cruising multihull, this boat has many fans. By. Darrell Nicholson - ... Nearly all owners, however, remarked on the Gemini's good light-air performance. And, as we found during our week's cruise of the Chesapeake Bay, the boat is definitely faster than a cruising monohull of ...

  19. Gemini boats for sale

    Gemini. Gemini is a yacht manufacturer that currently has 19 yachts for sale on YachtWorld, including 4 new vessels and 15 used yachts, listed by experienced yacht brokers and boat dealerships mainly in the following countries: United States, United Kingdom, Antigua and Barbuda, Dominican Republic and France. The selection of models featured on ...

  20. Gemini Catamarans || Gemini Freestyle 37 Overview

    Gemini Freestyle 37. The Gemini Freestyle 37 is a completely new concept in boat design and customization. In a world where flexibility is key, this new design provides the platform on which to build your sailing dreams - tailored however you see fit. Your Gemini Freestyle 37 can be outfitted as a basic family sailing catamaran, a day-charter ...

  21. Gemini boats for sale

    Gemini boats for sale on Boat Trader are listed for a variety of prices, valued from $20,000 on the lower-end all the way up to $139,000 for the most advanced boats. ... established boat brand, used Gemini boats in good condition often make great candidates for boat repowering projects. What is the best Gemini model? 105M, 105Mc, 105 MC and ...

  22. There's good news if you want to run Gemini on your old phone

    Google's Gemini app now supports Android 10 devices or later. The company's chatbot app previously required Android 12 or newer. This means people with much older Android devices can use ...

  23. What is generative AI like ChatGPT and Google Gemini good for?

    The gigantic and costly industry Silicon Valley is building around generative AI is still struggling to explain the technology's utility.. Why it matters: AI chatbots and image generators are making headlines and fortunes, but a year and a half into their revolution, it remains tough to say exactly why we should all start using them. The most common rationale is a kind of circular reasoning ...

  24. Gemini Catamarans Home

    Gemini Legacy 35 Made in America since 1981, the Gemini Legacy has proven to be the most family-friendly performance cruising catamaran in the world. ... We are reimagining the design brilliance of the Freestyle 37 as a power catamaran. View Boat Details. Gemini Freestyle 37 The Gemini Freestyle 37 is a completely new concept in boat design and ...

  25. Gemini Horoscope for April 24, 2024

    Gemini Horoscope for April 24, 2024. The scope of your good fortune will likely reveal itself to you today, and you may be surprised to discover that the blessings you have enjoyed are neither universal nor even common. ... Good fortune is often misinterpreted as chance, and our understanding of what constitutes a true blessing enables us to ...

  26. Gemini Catamarans Home || www.geminicatamarans.com

    7Stay connected with Gemini Catamarans by subscribing to our newsletter. You'll receive important news, updates, and special offers right to your Inbox. Subscribe. Gemini Models . Gemini Freestyle 399 Power . Gemini Freestyle 37 . Gemini Legacy 35 . Gemini 105Mc Design Touch. Latest News. More News.