Anyone have an underbow pics of Gladiators?
 

I know its just bulkheads, but I'm wondering what kind of space is under there?



Thought about this tonight; I love the Gladiators and if we ever decided to go bigger than 30ft, it'd be very high on the list (years from now). Just wondering if its at all possible to make a berth work in there. Don't need much, just about the same room as my 24 Supers bed for the occasional overnight (yeah, I know there is just the small hatch to get in there, but looks big enough for my skinny ass). I just have no idea how the bulkheads are laid out under the deck.

If you are gonna put a bed up there and throw off the balance of the boat then why not just buy a purpose built gun with a real cabin?

You might be able to but I dought it. I owned a Gladiator and they are great boats but the front is more for storeage

A blow up mattress isn't going to throw the balance off, but yeah I agree why not get a pleaseure boat?

My reasoning is, an all out pleasure boat is more weight and more weight= more power needed to run em fast. Also prefer bare bones boats.. and full staggared for ease of maint. We just need a place to sleep onboard (not a fancy place to sleep).

I figured from the looks of things on the outside, it would be possible to build a platform and have a couple of vinyl coushions making a bed for overnights every once in a while.

I too would like to see the pics of this.

It sounds like you're trying to save money from getting a hotel room. Where do you boat that doesn't have a cheap hotel to rent a room from? I've been on most of the major poker runs, & have never seem one that didn't have places to stay of all price ranges. It's really stretching to be considering putting a raft in a Gladiator, instead of getting a room at the Holiday Inn?

just wondering... they dont even have a place for a porta-potti??.

But, but...some boaters actually go out on the water and spend the weekend on their boats, enjoy being out on the water at night and just want a place to crash on occasion....and some(most) of the places I boat ain't got no stick'n Holiday Inns!! :-) Heck some are surrounded by nothing but State/National Park land and you are lucky to find fuel.

Boating for me is taking my boat to many different locations, offshore and inshore, and trust me, the most scenic boating places I have ever seen do not have hotels on, or even near them.

Back to the thread topic "Anyone have an underbow pics of Gladiator?"....or I guess we can change it to... "Let's Debate whether the Glad underbow is usable for the adventurous to make a place to sleep if needed/wanted"...LOL

There has to be a lot of space in that bow...surely someone has taken a pic of it??? Pretty sure we are all big boys and can figure out what will work for US...or not.....ONCE we see it. :-)

Cheers,

Dave

Dave hit the nail on the head...

Sure we could sleep in a cheap ass motel, but we'd much rather spend the night onboard my boat anchored in a quite cove either alone, or with a few friends rafted up. For us, thats part of the fun of boating.

It could possibly be done. Two thin facing seats could be put in the area you crawl into and you could possibly put a piece of plywood up front to create a foundation for a blow up mattress. I don't know how much that would mess up the CG. One thing about adding weight to the bow is it causes porpoise. Not exactly a good thing;)

And remember, that hatch to get down there is miserably small and the head room is nill. I've crawl down a Glad hatch a few times to get fenders. There's NOT much room down there. But then again, I assume it would be no smaller than some smaller boat cabins. My old 24' Outlaw had a tiny entrance and minimum head room....Didn't stop me from sleeping down there, mixing drinks and of course doing other things though!!

Thanks Tank!!!

Actually, it looks really good for what I had in mind... right now, we sleep in my 24 Super- which is probably quite a bit smaller than your old 24 Outlaw's berth.

Thanks Tank!!!!!!

Heck, I have seen families of 10 live in smaller places then that.

Would be no problem for my meager overnighting needs... definitely bigger than a pup tent.

Thanks again,

Dave

:drink::drink:

Wouldn't you want another hatch or exit in case of fire? Seems like a good idea since there are good deals on Gladiators. Couple of Bomars on the deck?

i was uncomfortable the one time i overnighted in the cafe, no way i would think about crawling down in a gladiator to sleep. motel6 has much better accomidations.

Dang, sorry, but that is just amazing to hear. I guess everyone has their own levels of required comforts..

Seriously, no intentions meant at an insult or anything, I am just flabbergasted at the statement.

Hell, I have spend days living and working on an 87 Formula 242 almost every week during the summer and was happier than a pig in xxxx....

Of course, growing up camping in just a sleeping bag (no tents) out in the wilderness with the occasional skunk climbing in to sleep with me(truth) maybe puts things in a different expectation level.

Funny, the last time I stayed at a big fancy Hotel...I couldn't sleep and had to go out and sleep in the bed of my dually...OK, that's for sure a BS story......but I have thought about it before.

It is weird to hear stuff like that though, the day I brought my CIG 24 home, I slept out in the open on the lake on the rear bench seat.....no covers or nothing....feel asleep looking at the stars....slept like a baby and loved every minute. Can't wait to do it again, and again..

Doesn't get any better than sleeping out on the water at night!!

FWIW, I would only sleep in the bow of a Glad if it was raining hard...... Outside on that long deck would be perfect for my sleeping needs and my first choice!!

Fracking Hotel rooms when boating??...really??? What's this world coming to!! LOL

:evilb:

Dave

Back at cha...:drink:

BTW, now that I looked at those pics on my laptop (instead of my phone)...heck, this could be a 2 room suite!

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/a...pics-20254.jpg

BTW, I wouldn't use plywood, King Starboard XL (the light weight version) would work just fine!

Dave

I think Bustedbrick and Bdiggity are stating there is a small safety concern with only one very small exit, not a matter of concern about comfort and luxury. In the case of fire, or if another boat were to T bone you during the evening, in the dark, it would be nearly impossible to find that tiny exit timely. However, if it is something you are comfortable with I'd go for it. Glads are cool boats, a blast to drive. Good luck in your search/transformation.

Understand that 100%, thanks!

Dave

WOW http://smiliesftw.com/x/bowrofl.gif

Since you're clueless about the boat being discussed, maybe you could make up some more BS about the way you boat? Do you catch sharks barehanded & cook them on your valve covers too? http://smiliesftw.com/x/smiley-rofl.gif

Thanks for your contribution, very much appreciated.

Cheers,

Dave

Come on Nick.... buy a Y2K put some power in it... sleep on it when you want & smoke all the Cigarettes you come across....LOL

But, but ...wouldn't he have to leave that comfy Hotel Room to do that??

Personally I prefer to wake up after sleeping on the water, pull into an empty slip, hop out and take some nice 7 am pics while it is still quiet and peaceful .......

http://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-K1...27-12_725m.jpg

http://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-CP...26-24_678m.jpg

http://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-It...01_578-800.jpg

.....of course, that is IF I actually used my boat that way instead of BSing that I did...LOL

Dave

Nice little Cig. Hey man, whatever floats your boat. We don't all get to run around spending our parents oil money. It actually makes some sense - a makeshift cabin that isn't going to fall apart every 10 years. I like to stay on the water too if I can......I actually prefer to camp out some nights on the water.......and my family has a lakehouse. Any weight that is added in the bow can be easily offset by making more weight in the back. Every thread will have its naysayers.......

Agree 100% about whatever floats anyone's boat, just as it should be.

Still would like to have your Apache...beautiful boat...hell, I could sleep in that sucker for weeks at a time and be perfectly happy!

BTW, it's no longer in the Classifieds..did you sell it, or change your mind??

Cheers,

Dave

LOL, little jealous?

So you use your parents lakehouse, but take shots at others that have been fortunate to have their OWN nice things? Nice mix of hypocrisy & jealousy you've got brewing there :rolleyes:

Can a cabin be done, yes.
Should it be done, is the real question.
I have a 38 Donzi comp. It is roughly the same as a gladiator under the deck. I bought the boat because I didn't care for a cabin. I overnighted many times on my previous boat (29 Kryptonite) and determined I would rather pay for a hotel room. (I don't like camping either!) I am by no means an oil baron, just know what I like. Also, I never have to worry about getting the mildew smell out of my cabin, keeping it dry, or replacing interior parts that got damaged running hard. That is the appeal of the sit down, no cabin V bottom.
As for your original post,
First off, you may want to think about something with a little more headroom. I mounted a porta-potti in mine and you have to leave the hatch up to use it even sitting down!
Second, crawling in and out of a hatch may be ok for you but most girls I know wouldn't want to climb through a hatch and into a coffin like space to sleep.
Finally, look at all the R&D put in the boat to make it well balanced and set up right. Adding extra weight up front and changing it could drastically change the handling aspects of the boat.

Again just friendly advice, sort of on topic.:drink:

Nope, no hypocrisy or jealousy here. I don't get to spend my family's money and wouldn't bash anyone for staying at their parents lakehouse. I have to work for everything I have and I'm very happy with what I have. I certainly don't see a need to put down others for not having the same luxurys. Lighten up a little BLEE; its obviously not your best day.:kiss: Your original post was inapropriate.

You think thats small, I've seen a pull out porta potty put into the cabin of a 21 cigarette. It slide out when you pulled out the "hatch window" and placed it on the deck. :lolhit:

I have a deal pending, but taking way too long to close on it. Should be gone in two weeks. If not, I'm re-listing it.

Hi Tom,

Thanks for all the tips, makes sense... a least on the Wife/GF part I have no worries! I am lucky, my Wife is a Hottie that is a ruff and tumble kind of girl who loves fast boats, fast ATVs, and fast cars!

http://www.928gt.com/images/400ex/CIMG2538c.JPG

Getting my 120lb GSD in and out of the Glad hatch (without scratching anything) could definitely pose some challenges...

http://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-1x...0SharkSled.JPG

BTW, got any pitchurs of the inside of the Donzi ZR's Bow...we have beat the Glad subject to death and need some fresh meat to chew on... :-)

:worthless_without_p

Cheers,

Dave

Hell, I am in the middle of putting a Disco in my 24, the bar, DJ booth and Dance floor is almost finished!

Of course I have to leave room for a Stripper Pole...with a name like Lap Dancer it is a must have!!! Plus, my wife demanded it!

:lolhit:

Dave

Best of luck if you really want to sell it... it truly is a darn nice boat and would be hard to replace!!

Dave

Thats a definite possibility Gary.. I'm not really sure we'll ever go bigger than 30ft at this point.

If I do decide to go bigger than 30ft, a gladiator would be on the top of the list... espically since I've seen the berth can be done.

Also, if the gf won't sleep in there, she can sleep somwhere else, or stay at home. I'm sure that I can find a lake gf that don't mind it. We anchor in dead end coves, or stay at a marina when we overnight. I'm not worried about getting hit while sleeping. Fire? Yeah, but if the onboard auto extinguisher can't handle it, chances are we're toast anyways.

I really appreciate the pictures. Makes it easier to see, rather than just thinking it can be done.

Big fan of the Y2K but you'll be busy smoking my 30' Cigarette!:party-smiley-004::coolcowboy:

Carry on! Great thread:drink:

I dunno about that....:grinser010:

You might be surprised.....

When your ready Jason knows of a Y2K available here in Ohio. By the By i'd sleep anywhere i could fit. Alot of guys here haven't been stuck at Kelly's or south bass for days on end, with a nor easter blowin when the rooms are 250 and 3 hundo a night, without availability! That 12 miles from Kelly's can take 3hours of i wish i had stayed tied to the dock in my unfinished cabin. For the love of god winter is setting in!

Wow Kurt, it sounds like they're saying they're building 100+mph Y2K's now, that will smoke your superiorly laid out Mystique? :picard1:

Unfortunately, you can't debate the topic like the old days, or someone will get jealous & cry while insinuating you're an ass-hole that just brags about having something nice, even though the veterans of OSO know you MUCH better than that, & have had to deal with the recent wave of little OSO insecurity groups occasionally ourselves http://smiliesftw.com/x/gtfoslap.gif