GEMINI

The Company's development

Facing the southern Atlantic Ocean from the home port of Cape Town, South Africa, Gemini Inflatables were first  created in 1979 under the toughest conditions. Today the GEMINI range is regarded as the most innovative range of bespoke Inflatables and RIBs. GEMINI manufacture to the highest standards and now set the standards within the industry. In a few years GEMINI has sold many boats in over 35 different countries worldwide. Still there is no appreciable second-hand market for Gemini RIBs.

The GEMINI development and design team has extraordinary experience to call on with each member of the GEMINI development team having a defense force background drawn from the UK Forces, South African Military and the Australian Navy. This equates to a combined forty-two years of manufacturing knowledge and experience. The result of this expert knowledge is the confidence displayed by our commercial and Military clients in their bespoke GEMINI boats.

Bespoke products ahead of the field

Through constant research and development GEMINI is able to update continuously and produce new and innovative bespoke products ahead of the field. The very latest design technology is used to create the best-bespoke boat for each individual client. At every stage of a boat's development, a GEMINI specialist will involve the client right through from concept of build to specific on board requirements. .

Special Methods and Materials

Each GEMINI RIB is built with the client's ergonomic usage in mind and every boat achieves perfect hydrodynamic efficiency. GEMINI has achieved this by paying particular attention to weight distribution and the careful positioning of gear and equipment on board, which alleviates stress points and achieves the most accurate centre of gravity possible. The hulls they build are of the truest form of a monocoque unit  the hydrodynamic efficiency of the monohedron shaped hull softens each ride and delivers teams anywhere in complete comfort and safety in even the most difficult conditions. This design makes each GEMINI easy to steer with lateral resistance fore and aft when properly trimmed.

Using special materials and glues, Gemini developed a unique bonding system that has been thoroughly proven over the last twenty or so years. This system has ensured maximum durability of all Gemini Inflatables and hence no second hand market. Another important factor in the build of all Gemini boats is the application of the Archimedes Principle. Gemini's spray rails are convex instead of concave. This means that Archimedes Principle kicks in, which states that if an object is wholly or partially immersed in a liquid, the upthrust it receives is equal to that of the water displaced. By putting more of the boat in the water earlier, it gets more up-thrust to lift it out. Lightweight materials are used in the build of each Gemini Inflatable and RIB to increase buoyancy, along with other subtle build differences such as extra cross-longitudinal sections to ensure maximum strength and durability

Approvals and Accreditation's

Gemini Inflatables will be ISO 9001 certificated early in 2004. For all Commercial and Military operators the ISO 9001 certification will give peace of mind that a quality assured product will be delivered by Gemini Inflatables every time. Four of their boats have full SOLAS certification including: (SAMSA Certified)

Gemini create RIBs and Inflatables for every application
Gemini bespoke Inflatables and RIBs are used for a multitude of applications. Gemini has RIBs in service all over the world by Military, Commercial, Defense and Rescue Services. These include The Namibian Police, NSW Police, UK Police Forces, DERA, petroleum companies, Royal Australian Navy and Army, sail training support companies, the United Nations.  They have built many RIBs for commercial sectors as well, including for harbor support, offshore rescue duties and as water taxis. The boats see regular service all over the world. Again through its unique position of being able to supply a boat to fit every application suited to a RIB, Gemini also produce a range of safety boats. Oil freighters, ferries and ships over 20 meters in length are required to carry one or more SOLAS lifeboats. Gemini already has thousands of safety boats in service on board ships such as these.

Inflatables boats built by Gemini range in size from 3m to 5.3m and can be used for many purposes. They can be air-delivered, i.e., dropped out of an aero plane.  They are inflated and folded in half because the two middle chambers are empty. After the Inflatable goes into the water, a swimmer who followed the boat out of the plane comes up and uses a high-pressure cylinder to inflate the middle chambers. These Inflatable boats are particularly appropriate for defense use because they are cost-effective and have long-life qualities. The tube colors can be designed to cope with any environment and are produced in grey in the UK, DPM jungle has yellows, grey and white in Norway, so it makes them look like rippling waves from the air. All of the tubes are made out of Hypalon 1670 DTEX (military specification fabric).International After-sales Service

Gemini Inflatables has gone to great lengths to ensure the very best after sales, storage and back--up service is available . They are in a position to offer support back up service from South Africa, Australia, Singapore, United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. "Gemini Inflatables are justifiably proud of their track record to date and will always be at the forefront of innovation and design. By choosing a Gemini Inflatable or RIB, Military, Defense and Commercial Operators can be confident they are getting the boat best suited to their needs, the best workmanship and materials and the best back-up after service available in the industry today".