Gemini 31/3000 Sailboats for Sale

Ken Shaw/Tony Smith·1981 – 1990·~153 hulls·Performance Cruising Inc.
Approximate drawing

Hover a measurement to read its value

Hull Type
Catamaran · centerboard
Rig
Masthead Sloop
LOA
30.5' · 9.3 m
Disp.
6,520 lbs · 2,957 kg
First year
1981

The Gemini 31/3000 holds a distinct place in American multihull history as the first production cruising catamaran ever built in the United States. Conceived by Tony Smith of Performance Cruising in Maryland after a 1981 fire destroyed the molds for the Telstar 26 folding trimaran, the design drew directly on Ken Shaw’s 1969 Aristocat lines. The original Gemini 31—named the Phoenix—appeared in 1981, and after 28 hulls were launched it was rebranded with minor changes as the Gemini 3000; 153 boats in total were built through 1990, when the 3000 gave way to the Gemini 3200.

Market snapshot

Median asking · 12 mo
$29,500
Asking price · 9 listings
Recent listings · 90 d
4
9 tracked · 12 mo
3-month price trend
-8.8%
vs. 12-mo median
Countries with listings
1
United States (100.0%)

Recent Listings

6 for sale · showing 10 newest

Gemini 31/3000 Buyer's Guide

Shopping the used Gemini 31/3000 means considering a 153-boat production run built between 1981 and 1990 by Performance Cruising, a narrow 14-foot-beam catamaran conceived from Ken Shaw’s 1969 Aristocat lines. These are coastal cruisers first, with retracting centerboards and a transom-mounted outboard, and the brokerage pool reflects both private and ex-charter histories.

Layouts on the Used Market

Owner three-cabin arrangements are the more common on the used market, but both layout types remain available, and ex-charter examples are common. The typical plan places a queen-size berth forward between the hulls, with aft double cabins in each hull and a raised saloon that converts to another berth; a full solid bridgedeck eases anchor work and adds stowage. Headroom runs about six feet, and the cockpit is roomy enough to walk around with bulkhead wheel steering.

Equipment and Common Upgrades

Power comes from a single long-shaft outboard on the transom that turns with the rudders and lifts to sail; production boats left the factory with a 35 hp Mercury as standard and 40 hp as an option, yet a good number now cruise with just 25 hp anchor. Because those alternators make little electricity, most boats use propane refrigerators and water heaters, with fridges also running on 110-volt at the dock. A frequent owner upgrade is solar, and a bimini is sometimes seen—both speak to managing limited DC capacity and cockpit shade rather than changing the boat’s character.

What to Inspect

Flexing in older hulls often leads to crazing and spider cracking in the exterior gelcoat, and more severe stress cracking may indicate delamination that should be carefully checked anchor. Practical Sailor's survey found that a fifth of older-model owners reported some blistering anchor, so hull bottoms deserve a close look. Early boats had leaky Plexiglas windows—later switched to Lexan—and Practical Sailor advises you should also examine steering cables for corrosion and confirm deck hardware is not undersized anchor.

Availability and Buyer's Takeaway

Used Gemini 31/3000 catamarans are found on the used market in the United States. A short checklist for the walk-through:

  • Confirm centerboard trunks are molded-in with a clean two-inch slot
  • Inspect gelcoat for crazing and test suspected stress cracks for delamination
  • Check windows for leaks; verify Lexan rather than aged Plexiglas
  • Exercise steering to reveal cable corrosion; assess deck hardware size
  • Verify outboard lift and rudder-turn function; note actual horsepower

Where they're listed

Gemini 31/3000 listings appear across 1 country. United States has the most listings with 9.

Median ask by country
USD
Share of listings
Count · past 12 months

Country view

9 listings · 1 country
CountryMedian askListings · 12 moActive · 90 dShare
United States$29,50094100.0%

Comparable models

Similar length, displacement, and era. Open a row to compare that model's market page.

Similar boats to compare

5 similar designs
ModelLOAMedian askListings · 12 moActive · 90 d
Performance Catamarans 105 MC33.5'$ 89,7508214
Hunter Marine 3131.33'$ 22,5006910
Seawind 100032.81'$ 119,000314
Performance 31/3000You are here$ 29,50094
Gib'Sea 33-132.45'$ 45,11970

Frequently asked questions

01How much does a used Gemini 31/3000 cost?+
The median asking price for a used Gemini 31/3000 over the past 12 months is $29,500. Prices vary by condition, year, equipment, and location.
02How many Gemini 31/3000 sailboats are for sale?+
4 Gemini 31/3000 listings have gone live in the last 90 days, and 9 have been tracked across the past 12 months.
03Are Gemini 31/3000 prices going up or down?+
The median asking price for the Gemini 31/3000 is down 8.8% over the last 3 months compared with the 12-month median.
04Where are Gemini 31/3000 sailboats for sale?+
The top markets for used Gemini 31/3000 listings over the past 12 months are United States (100.0%).
05What should I look at instead of a Gemini 31/3000?+
Comparable models include Performance Catamarans 105 MC, Hunter Marine 31, Seawind 1000. Use the comparison table above to check pricing and availability.