Team Virgin Gladiator
 

What is the scoop on this boat. Been for sale for 8-9 months now. I have contacted the owner and gone back and forth a few times. Like the boat (looks) but think it is to bare bones still maybe for the asking price (have not seen in person). Really like the Gladiators and my wife and I are really considering one for the boating we do. Anyone know more about the boat? I know it's been spun or and flipped before but so have a lot of Gladiators. Sold our 388 Hustler so just out kicking tires but would like to have something by Spring or Tickfaw this year.

Any insight as to what to look for would be great.

Thanks,
D

Boat looks nice. I've felt the same as you , and never contacted. That thing with some scx's and blower motors or big cube NA , would be a rocket ship

I believe it was the first glad built. It replaced tres' F2 TS Gun.

I dig the boat and its sister ship (F2 TS). It is what it is. Pretty bare bones Ex race boat, with the narrow cockpit. I think the price is not too far off for what it is if it's as clean and well cared for as it appears to be. I do believe the owns or owned, the virgin MTI too.

Only other two glads that sold for near that price was the all white one that needed lots of love and chengs old glad that was stripped, had sank at one time and put back together by the dude in Texas.

Yeah, first Glad built and Tres' old boat. I know of a few that have sold under 80K, one with Stirling power a few years back that was clean. The cockpit is small in the boat and he does have the MTI also. The one that was in FL with the 500's and Whipples was listed at $75,900 and sold for less than that I think loaded up with goodies from what I hear and there is the one in Michigan now with the ZUL's that was bought for at or under 100. At 70-80K I think they are good buys but when you get to 100 that opens up the field to another level of boats I think. We have made offers on this boat (Virgin) a few times but even if he accepted we wonder if it's a boat that has too much history or is too bare bones to sell if we wanted to in the future given how long it's been for sale this time. Cheongs boat, which was that? That the one with the Smithpower motors?

Are they under powered with 500's ?? how well do the run

This boat runs 90-92. Dyno numbers on the motors I was shown were 507 and 509 I believe

I don't think that boat ever went ALL THE WAY over. It's spit out a few people(DHLAW) has a great story and it did sink to the cockpit when Bob owned it. Otherwise I have always thought it was cool. Setup as a two-man boat for awhile kept me away and now it's gotten to a good price point.

Lucky Strike Jr.(Bobby) was watching every Gladiator out there for the last year or so before he bought Hot For Teacher. I'd hit him up with a PM and see what he knows.

Good luck Dave, See you at Tickfaw.

Thanks for the info bud. I'll hit him up and see. I knew the boat was beaten on pretty good as most all race boats were but in most all the pix I was sent they look fairly decent for what it is.

See ya in the swamps!

I've seen the boat a few times this year....most recently at the SCOPE poker run. It looks real good floating on the water- some of the shots from the ad are from this event... I think the money is right on it - A Cig with great classic paint...runs 90 all day long...aluminum Myco..... Have fun with it for a year and sell it for the same amount ya paid for it...

I am missing something. The last add I saw said it was being sold without power. Has that changed or am I mistaken ?
Rick G.

The owner is /was thinking about selling as complete or parting out..... I believe its still together....

Thanks Schweeng . RG.

Big thanks to Bobby for talking with me earlier, thanks bud!

Sheweeng, when you saw it did you see it up close? You are right, classic paint, Myco etc. just wonder how race vs. pleasure it is set up in person with that short cockpit.

Its a real nice conversion but again...its a conversion. So....fit and finish is not like factory but still very acceptable. I didn't have a forensic look at it but boat looked great - I think interior is pretty new (within the last 3 yrs) and very little use in those last 3 years.
The floating pics next to the doc are pics from this September. I'd do a leak down....check the stringers and run it!

All she needs is a windshield and swim platform....
btw - you can get both of those in California pretty easy.

Thanks again Schweeng, appreciate the info. I talked to the owner again yesterday. Showed it sold, then said it wasn't. Found out it has bladder tanks and not regular tanks so not sure I'm keen on that. We'll see what all comes about. Owner has been all over the place with this boat.

what is the down side of bladder tanks..?? If you can race a boat with that type .....it should handle regular boating just fine I would think.

Bladder tanks are Harder to insure for one thing. It is considered a race boat. A boat that age is almost definitely going to require a survey. I had trouble with getting an insurance quote on a white gladiator a few years back that I was considering because of this. Maybe you guys might know a different route. I think it's a cool boat. Good luck

Bladders dont last too long either, manufacturer who made the bladders says 5-7 years, 10 years tops. I took mine out of my F2 Cigarette, they were toast. Big project.

The owner (Me) Doesn't care if the boat is sold with or without power. I've had a ton of contact with people who say they want to buy it. It was first listed in May at $100k then I dropped it to $90K. I had someone want to buy the without power and drives for $60k and never pulled the trigger. I have no problem working with buyers and selling it without power. The price is now $80k for everything The 2006 Aluminum myco is pristine https://www.flickr.com/photos/142787...57672402441096

$80,000 complete with less then 50 hours on Innovation Merc Racing 500EFI's 507HP and 509HP on their dyno.
$52,500 Less motors
$47,500 Less motors and drives.
$40,000 Less motors, drives and trailer.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/142787...57672402441096

Options!

To me, 80k is a good buy. A lot of bang for the buck.

At $80k I don't know how someone could go wrong.

Parts alone used pricing.
Motors $16k each = $32k
Drives and Gimble = $5k each =$10k
2006 Myco Trailer pristine cond. = $12k
--------------------------------------------------------
$54000 in parts at a decent price not including the Hull. With over 100 calls on this boat not one person has bought a plane ticket to see it.

^^^^^ This is a true story.

Do you also own the Donzi ZRC with the 750 Sterlings? If so, how would you compare the boats in any/all aspects?
Thanks!

Both boats run very similar. The Donzi feels slower even though it's 10-15 MPH faster. The f16 canopies have great wind protection. If both boats were priced the same I'd pick the Donzi. The Cigarette gets more looks and attracks attention everywhere. It is one of the most fun boats I've had! I could never find water big enough! It is very solid! If it's just for racing I'd have to pick the Donzi. The Donzi was pretty much unbeatable in 2003 and 2004 in offshore racing.It does everything well. One of the few boats to knock Fountain down a few notches. I've also had a Fountain 42 Pokerrun and a Outerlimits 39 GTX. I love sit down V-bottoms. They are all great boats! None of these boats can be found on the west coast and Every one of them went East when they were sold. If the Cigarette doesn't sell I have thought about selling all the parts and buying some 750's and put it in P3 class. Here are pics of the MTI and Donzi
https://www.flickr.com/photos/142787...57673599493756
https://www.flickr.com/photos/142787...57675738481130

Not Sterlings.

If this boat was on the market 4 years ago at this price I would have bought it. A few things will have to be addresse I am sure. The biggest being the tanks. But at that age fuel lines,pumps etc will start to show some age. Knowing what I know know not a huge job but not a small one ether. It may have some history of a spin and sinking fixed right not a issue. Other then all the key board cowboys And the my buddy's has a boat guy's saying crap.

Add all the parts up you get a hull for under 30k with a good looking paint job. I wouldn't be scared even after the nightmare of a rebuild I'm still currently working on .

I have no issues with the tanks at this point. The boat has never had ethanal in it if that makes a difference. The boat was converted and restored in 2006. Motors, drives, all new wires and rigging. A new trailer was put under it and it was sold to a friend of mine in Montana. It has been inside next to the Team Virgin MTI for the last 10 years. Both have only seen the water a handful of times in the last 10 years.

Yes! The Keyboard Cowboys saying crap is getting old! Lot's of people kicking tires from 2000 miles away. I believe the deal is UNFUKABLE at this price.

My bad, Cobra motors. I knew that, just mistyped.
I knew the boat when new out here on the East Coast at Offshore Performance in MD, which is no longer around.

Thank you for all the feedback!! Much appreciated.

Any comments on the 42 Poker Run?

Wow, looks like a bargain! Out of my league but gorgeous

New info. The tanks were replaced! I just got off the phone with the previous owner.

Do you still have both trailers?

Deferently wouldn't Hesitate Then.

Only the one in the pictures. The MTI has 2 trailers.

That would have been a handy text to send.

That would have been a handy text to send. Reciepts? I am assuming most all the restore was done after it went under to the cockpit as I have been told it has been under? No keyboard jockey here..too much time wrapped up in this boat. Obviously others know a lot more about the boat then you or I do from past history. You said you had to move it before the end of the year. For it to still be for sale at what everyone is saying is an awesome price there has to be "something" with it that is unsaid unless it is because it is still to "raw" meaning race style and less pleasure style like a production boat, heck I don't think it even has cleats on it to tie off if I recall, manual pop hatch etc, not a typical Cigarette rig. But it was a race boat and a cool one at that.

I like it, hell I love it too. It's my screen saver, my wifes on her phone, we talk about it every night. But at $80K knowing at least one drive may need to be rebuilt, platform, fairing etc. and sales tax for Texas (which I know isn't your concern) I'm 90K (at my offer) into it to have it here...and that's if "nothing" goes wrong with it. If it is still around at the end of January we will fly out and see it. (See, up from March).

Whats going on with the extensions on the k-planes

Dave, call me anytime on this.

10-12 generations of phones ago I had 100s of pics of this thing along it's journey. It was also a lot more yellow at one point. I think the orange hues in the paint really set it off nicely now.

The Skater was FAR out of my range when I bought it but I knew it was "the one" so I paid a little extra knowing I wouldn't be shopping again soon. Sometimes you gotta say WTF. :cartman:

"Sold our 388 Hustler so just out kicking tires but would like to have something by Spring"

"We have made offers on this boat (Virgin) a few times but even if he accepted we wonder if it's a boat that has too much history or is too bare bones to sell if we wanted to in the future given how long it's been for sale"

"I'm not ready until January"

What am I missing?