There are different reasons that people own a boat. Some are daysailors, some are weekenders, and others are long range cruisers.
The category that I would put the Gemini is: a daysailor/weekender, that can "if lightly loaded" be occasionally used for a serious
cruise. It is neither ideally suited to it nor designed for it. It was designed to be a pretty good boat selling at the lowest possible
price, (for a catamaran).
In general, regarding multihulls... The old designs with neither keels nor centerboards, sideslip to an unacceptable degree. (The
Wharram is perhaps the best of this group).
For windward ability, the
keel versions are better than the above, and better still are dagger or centerboards. (Dagger boards being just a bit more efficient, and centerboards making a better "cruiser", due to more forgiveness in a grounding).
In smaller boats, like < 38', A tri has several advantages over a cat. All multihulls should have enough wing clearance to drive your
inflatable right through the wing tunnel, just by ducking your
head a bit! They should also have a relatively low
cabin structure / center of gravity, AND full visibility forward when sailing.
In this size, (low 30s), this would mean a cat with a small, high clew
jib, and sitting
headroom only. They don't sell well, so some designers draw boats that pound, have tall cabins, and you can't see 40% of what is in front of you.
Our 34' tri has good wing clearance, full visibility forward, a low superstructure, AND standing
headroom. I'm just pointing out theTrimaran advantage
in this size range.
SOME smaller cats with really low wing clearance, not only pound, but if heavily loaded and driven to windward, can incur structural damage. The Gemini has low wing clearance and really poor visibility forward! They are a great deal money wise! The layout is nice, and they make good liveaboards. They also fit in a largish standard slip, as well as smaller travel
lift. THIS IS A BIG ADVANTAGE. I'm not badmouthing the type across the board, just pointing out their pros and cons.
If you want a cat of around 34 or so feet as a cruiser, there ARE a few nice designs out there, with both wing clearance and visibility forward. I have friends who went around the world in a 32'er that they extensively modified. It only had 4' 6" headroom! The best cruising cats, in this size, tend to be custom "one offs".
Of the smaller production boats, intended for cruising, You MUST have good wing clearance, and visibility forward... If the
cabin is actually taller than it should be, that is better than the lack of the other two. Some of the "custom builts" are both designed right, AND really good deals. You just have to do your homework first, and look over a lot of bad apples to find a good one.
Hope this helps, Mark
Attached, is a
round the world 32' custom cat, with sitting
head room only...