I really cant think of a reason other than racing why you would have to or want to make a high speed turn in a stepped hull unless you are making an evasive manuever. My Glad runs straight and hard at 90 mph and is as stable as any V bottom I have ever been in. If we are going to make a turn we back it down under 50 mph and keep the nose high and make a wide sweeping turn. Ive never heard of a Gladiator flipping over or spinning out while driving straight

I would like to see the video of the glad. flipping. Anybody else.....

The first Gladiators built have a different bottom than the later ones. From what I remember, the first Glads were basically a cut down TopGun bottom. Once the experiment was over, Cig got serious and had the Glad bottoms redesigned, I believe by Michael Peters. Also, I think in late 03, Cig lowered the X-dimension as well. There definetly have been some changes.

Exactly!!!!! Stepped or not, I've never had the itch to make a high speed turn in a boat. As far as I know, excluding race boats, any T/S Cigs (both TG's and Gladiators) that have spun out, have been the result of a driver doing something that they shouldn't have been doing.

hey dan! honestly, don't let this talk worry you. go ride in one and make your own opinion. good luck!

chad

I wouldnt hesitate to own one either. They are great boats with unreal lines. You just have to be aware that it will spin and roll with little warning in high speed turns. Drive like an ass and you will take a swim, drive like a normal person and you will enjoy your boat for years.

chad, good to here from you,hope all is well with you and wife, thanks for the advice along with every one else on this board, you guys a a wealth of information, hopefully in the next few weeks ill be a gladiator owner, ill let you know.

Very nice!! You will love the Gladiator. We were getting ours ready all day today, such a great boat!!

You are right on the money. I guess classic " hey watch this"!

Bigdanc, it's not just Gladiators. Step hulls in general don't take kindly to being wrenched over hard in a curve or trimming down hard in a curve. If you don't think they will spin, there are some great pictures somewhere on the board of an '04 Top Gun that an inexperienced driver put in the woods at the '06 Tickfaw 200. Believe me, they WILL spin out with the wrong input from the driver. I'm with the other guys. Unless you are making an evasive maneuver there's no reason to turn a pleasure boat at that rate of speed. BTW, used to race outboards down here. Love the Allisons, STVs and old Hydrostreams.:evilb: Those were fun CHEAPER days!:D