initial Reactions Gemini 105

[kevin carroll]

Have had my new Gemini 105 for about two weeks now but still find myself coming back to this site!!! Was out this weekend and I had promised to post some first reactions of the Gemini 105 vs. 26X

I bought a used 2000 105 (http://www.kodakgallery.com/BrowsePhoto ... rt_order=0) and had it shipped out from Florida, expensive but still a better deal than the West Coast Gemini's that were for sale. It was pretty loaded (all electronics, diesel generator, Air Conditioning and other 'extras' it was also in very good shape and was well cared for.

She is big!!! However it is very easy to handle and I with a 14 foot beam I am able to coax it into a 15 foot slip. The centerboards and the rudders combined with the outdrive that turns gives it a lot of control. In many ways it is easy to control than my X. It motors at around 7 knots and at 3000 RPMs which is where the sweet spot seems to be it moves very good at 5.5 knots.

Interior: Wow.........tons of room, the large berth is a queen just like home!! The galley has a frig (propane) two burner propane stove with an oven. Has 60 gallons of water storage with a 6 gallon hot water heater, what a luxury to wake up in the morning and take a hot shower!!!

Sailing: Have only had it out a few times sailing but my initial reactions are it is very easy to sail. No need to bring lines aft since it is so stable and it has a roller furling with a 150 Genoa that is easy to roll out and in. She likes heavy wind!!! Points well, really don't need the centerboards down often. You do not get a sense of 'speed' that you get from a monohull the hard bimini and back enclosure shields you and the lack of heeling detracts from the sense of movement.

Anyway just wanted to post some initial reaction, at a Venture Yacht Club Raft up two weeks ago my old 26X happened to tie up to my starboard side!! Very wierd feeling seeing my old boat next to me!!!

Kevin Carroll
Previous owner 'Jump the Shark' 2001 26X
New Owner "Catastrophe" 2000 Gemini 105

[nemo]

Congrats on your new boat and thanks for the update. Before I bought a Mac I had checked out a Telstar 28 which I believe is made by the same company as the Gemini. I ended up getting turned off of it because the cockpit is so tiny for such a large craft (Mac cockpit isn't much bigger, but at least it's proportional to the rest of the boat). The Gemini looks really cool, although trailering it might be a challenge. Have fun with it -

[richandlori]

Great Report Kevin,
Glad to hear you are enjoying her! There was a Gemini 105 docked next to me a few weekends ago, and man oh man, she looked comfortable for a family of four!

Give us some photos.

Rich

[richandlori]

Great Report Kevin,
Glad to hear you are enjoying her! There was a Gemini 105 docked next to me a few weekends ago, and man oh man, she looked comfortable for a family of four!


Rich

[Newell]

What did you pay for a 2000 model? What were the shipping costs?

Newell

[RandyMoon]

That is a pretty boat Kevin. I would be curious about the sailing speeds you can attain.

[richandlori]

Well, there is a 1996 G105 losted for $109K and a New model listed for $145K in Longbeach, so you could trick out a Mac pretty good for that. But it will never have the comfort or room as a Gemini105C...that's for sure!

Rich

[kevin carroll]

I paid a hair over 100K for a 2000 that was very very nicly equipped. I find it hard to believe folks are getting asking price on the used ones listed through Yachtworld and other sites. As for the 145K new ones listed, that is pretty bare bones and does not include the shipping to the West Coast. Buy the time you factored in everything you would be at around 160K for a new one, more with extras. Shipping was expensive at about 9.5K from Florida. I also had to pay some additional charges in demasting and masting at debarkation points. But still paid 'less for more' considering prices for older West Coast models.

The decision was predicated on a vacation home vs. a larger boat, finally the wife and I justified it by asking how else can we get a 2nd west coast home on the water for under 1M ?? Now our second home is in a gated community on the water!! and we can take it wherever we want!!! Slip fees were not that bad because with a 14 foot beam we were able to get a standard 34 foot slip vs an end tie or other expensive option.

Kevin Carroll
Gemini 105
#670 Catastrophe

[vkmaynard]

We went the opposite direction for now. We chartered a 2001 Gemini 105Mc and ended up buying a 2001 26x to get our sailing fix for the next couple of years. We are multi haul people and really like the flat, high speed sailing. We hit 10 kts, no problem in the Gemini. Tons of room, a real shower, useable kitchen, etc. The 26x is like tent camping were the Gemini is like going to a mini condo. On the Gemini you just use it like your house were the 26X requires lots of work for an overnight stay.

That said, we did make out first trip last weekend on the east coast from the ICW near Beaufort, NC across an angry Neuse River/Pamlico Sound to Oriental, NC during a small craft advisory (35 mph gusting winds 3-4' seas). Oops, we forgot to check the weather. My wife and two boys (13 & 11) spent two nights in the boat with relative comfort. The Bugbusters screens and Garmin 276c worked great. Lots of cheap fun over all. The last third of the trip back was NOT fun in following seas. The boat nearly rolled when we were broad-sided by a rather large wave that hit at a different angle than the previous waves. Changed course, furled the Genoa and motored with the waves then against them for the last third of the distance to get back. The locals thought we were nuts to sail in a Noreaster in the sound. We couldnt agree more.

We were in the same conditions with the Gemini in the Chesapeake with much less grief. The 26X preformed well overall. I had lots of confidence in the boat crashing into the waves but was not sure how to best handle the following 4' seas. Very solid boat and you can take the kids wake boarding also.

Victor

[James V]

I was looking at a Gemini 105. I did like the space, however there is some draw backs.
There is about 18" of free space under the main cabin to the water. The noise of the waves slapping the bottom can be to much for some.
The boat flexes when it crosses waves. On this boat, it does put stress cracks in it.
Cat's have a problem with real heavy seas, however, I do not want to be in a boat that small (or a Mac26) in heavy seas.
The differance in price - $ 100,000.00 for your boat vers $ 45000.00 for a new Mac26M fully loaded. That is 550 days in a $100.00 per night hotel room or 2750 $ 20.00 meals. or 55000 $ 1.00 beers.
There is also the monthly slip and 2 year haul out.

If I was making 2 to 3 times as much, I would really think about buying a Gemini 105MC. I hope that you enjoy it!

[kevin carroll]

James, really only using as a coastal cruiser. Although these boats have gone across the Atlantic and other trans ocean passages quite easily. Tony writes about his Atlantic passage and 25 + foot rollers in Gale force winds!! The low center of gravity and lack of keel make this particular Cat a very safe vessel. IMOP (and others) it can handle waves some monohulls would have difficulty with. Without a keel it would slide down larger waves.

To be honest, I will most likely never find out as the furthest I would probably venture from San Diego is Catalina or maybe an Ensenada cruise!! As for the waves slapping, in heavy seas, yes it could get noisy with the waves slapping the bridge deck, however most of our sleeping is done in protected harbors so it will not be an issue.

I would agree with the versatiliy of the X, especially for the price!! My purchasing the Gemini was not the result of disliking my 26X but rather the desire to get into something a little bigger.

[nemo]

$45K for a fully loaded '05 Mac?! How do you spend that much? I paid about $34K for what I think is a fully loaded boat through BWY. What would one spend another $10K on? Sails?

[richandlori]

Nemo,
I was going to ask the exact same question. I have about $36K into my 2004M after a year of ownership and thank goodness am running out of thing to buy and do to it! If I had $45K to budget for a boat, I might have ended up with something different than a Mac.

I Agree totally with your logic Kevin. Any house with an ocean view in Ca, let alone being able to walk to the water will set you back AT LEAST 1Mill, so for a bit more than 100K, you basically have a beach house that can double as a boat. That goes to explain why there are a lot of large boats in the harbors around Ca that never leave the harbor.

Kevin, what are you paying/month to keep the boat in the water in San Diego?

Rich

[Frank C]

. . . after a year of ownership and thank goodness am running out of thing to buy and do to it!

Nothing left to buy? CAN'T be

After five years, my boat still whispers hints of new bangles she'd like to wear, and I simply cannot say no to her! I AM trying to limit my WM visits to once a month though, and that helps a little!

I DO like the Gemini for the terrific accomodations, but her sister-Tri also catches my attention. Visiting Mom next week in Annapolis, so if time permits I may try arm-twisting Tony into a ride on the Telstar 28 - though the interior is much more Mac-like, the performance is supposedly astounding ... not tellin' my Mac where I'll be!

[richandlori]

Ok...ok...

I have been using that line on the admiral so much lately, that I forgot who I was talking too and that you guys here would NEVER believe it!

Stern Rail seats
AM/FM/CD/MP3/XM radio with speakers
Stern Shower
LCD tv/monitor
pump out head mod
Spiniker


ok, now I feel better.

Rich