Seven years on a monohull. Four years now on a catamaran. Here, I compare our Gemini catamaran to our Tayana 37 heavy monohull and describes the pros and cons of each.
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Carolyn Shearlock has lived aboard full-time for 17 years, splitting her time between a Tayana 37 monohull and a Gemini 105 catamaran. She’s cruised over 14,000 miles, from Pacific Mexico and Central America to Florida and the Bahamas, gaining firsthand experience with the joys and challenges of life on the water.
Through The Boat Galley, Carolyn has helped thousands of people explore, prepare for, and enjoy life afloat. She shares her expertise as an instructor at Cruisers University, in leading boating publications, and through her bestselling book, The Boat Galley Cookbook. She is passionate about helping others embark on their liveaboard journey—making life on the water simpler, safer, and more enjoyable.
Anonymous says
Catamaran! I need a boat with a training hull!
Mike Kommel says
How about stability at anchor. What about the comparison of the two types of boat when you are anchored. I always assumed a catamaran will roll far less than a mono hull boat. Is that correct?
Carolyn Shearlock says
Yes, although you’ll generally hear more wave noise. Always trade-offs. 🙂
Rob M. says
Hi
I’m very interested in the Gemini 105 cat, but also a high quality high performance 40 foot centerboard monohull (Hood custm Gulfstar 40). I’m intrigued by the useable space on the cat, but have heard the low bridge on the Gem is a problem in chop upwind and close reaching as well as slapping at anchor as well as some minor to less than minor quality issues on the Gem. Yes everything is a compromise.. if you could grade your switch from the Tayana to the Gem from 1 to 5, 1 being totally cat v. 5 being totally mono, where would you vote? Do you have ay instances where the mono outshines the cat and vice versa? My intended use would be at least a year, hopefully more, liveaboard cruising.
Thanks so much for input, I just came across your site, so sorry if this is a repeat topic, I’ll keep looking here as well. And thanks for posting all the info!
Carolyn Shearlock says
They are totally different boats. The Gemini is better for shallow, protected waters and has a great liveaboard layout. The Tayana was a bluewater boat, capable of being in any conditions, much more toughly built. Not a bad layout, but not as open, light and spacious.
Yes, the Gemini will slap in waves and the Tayana won’t. The Gemini will sail in lighter winds and go faster under both sail and power, but it’s going to be uncomfortable in waves, etc. long before the Tayana.
Teak on the Tayana is beautiful, but a lot more maintenance than the Gemini. Gelcoat cracking on Gemini is unsightly.
All compromises . . . it all depends on what you see yourself doing.