Gemini 105M

Description

The Gemini 105M (1996–2010), the most prolific model from Performance Cruising Inc., stands as the definitive evolution of Tony Smith’s vision for a trailerable, marina-friendly cruising catamaran, with over 1,200 hulls built—making it one of the best-selling multihulls in U.S. history. Measuring 33 feet 6 inches LOA with a 14-foot beam, it retains the narrow profile for standard slips and easy trailering (tongue weight ~1,200 lbs. with a single-axle trailer), while displacing just 8,000 lbs. fully loaded. Its shallow draft—18 inches with centerboards and rudders up, 5 feet 6 inches down—enables gunkholing in skinny waters, and the fractional sloop rig (420 sq ft upwind, optional screecher for 600+ sq ft) delivers lively performance in 8–15 knots, with reported speeds of 7–9 knots reaching and 5–6 knots close-hauled in moderate conditions. Construction shifted to vacuum-bagged vinylester resin over Divinycell foam core (eliminating the osmotic blistering that plagued early Geminis), with solid fiberglass below the waterline and watertight collision bulkheads fore and aft. The innovative Silhouette leg-drive system lifts a single 30–50 hp outboard (typically Honda or Yamaha) into a well between the hulls, preserving prop efficiency while allowing full retraction for beaching or trailering. Below, 6'2" headroom, a U-shaped galley with two-burner stove and 4 cu ft fridge, a nav station, and three private double cabins (forward port, aft starboard, and convertible saloon) sleep six comfortably, with an enclosed head and shower. Praised for coastal reliability (many have crossed the Atlantic or circumnavigated via the Thorny Path), the 105M excels in ICW transit, Bahamas hopping, and weekend getaways, though its light displacement and low bridge deck clearance demand respect in heavy seas. Production resumed briefly under Hunter Marine (2010–2012) as the 105Mc (with composite mini-keels replacing centerboards) and continues under Catalina Yachts (2014–present) with upgrades like lithium batteries, solar arches, and carbon-reinforced crossbeams—ensuring the Gemini 105M remains the gold standard for affordable, go-anywhere multihull cruising.