Re: Gladiator
 

You all know i've been beating doors for a used 525 stag. gladiator so I would like to hear this as well.

Re: Gladiator
 

Mine is hull #40. The hatch issues you list have been rectified.:D:D:

Re: Gladiator
 

IMO, the reason the Gladiators have such "sexy lines" is because the proportions of the boat are so fantastic. Deck length is slightly greater than 50% of the total boat length. Reminiscent of the Glory days of offshore boats.

There is a push for bigger cockpits and integral swim platforms which shorten the length of the deck in proportion to the entire boat. The one that kills me is when the windshield is 8 feet in front of front bolsters just so you can stand up while in the head. Ruins the proportions.

Very few long deck boats still being made. Even the all white Scarab pictured in this thread has that great look.

PS I was wrong about the hatch, I thought we were discussing the engine hatch and of course I only caught it after I posted it was rectified.

Re: Gladiator
 

Sweet lines :cool:

Re: Gladiator
 

bump for the analysis

Re: Gladiator
 

yes, we've waited, nobody bit, so let's hear what the perceived differences are between staggered and side by side gladiator. Somehow, I think it will defy conventional wisdom.

Re: Gladiator
 

The advantage of the staggered set up in that it keeps the majority of the weight low in the boat and close to the center line which helps with balance. Also, having the drives closer to the center provides for better hookup in rough water. The negatives are that the boat will not be as friendly around the docks due to less leverage. Of course the big advantage is that you can access the engines very easily to do maintenance, etc. I could go on and on....... As far as the ride in recreational conditions I think the difference is negligible.

Re: Gladiator
 

Thanks d-hlaw

As a staggered boat owner I was aware of the pros/cons as you explained them. I was more referring to BG1's post that led me to believe he was going to say something a little different with regard to a Gladiator specifically.

Re: Gladiator
 

What engine hatch fix has been made?

Re: Gladiator
 

i spend alot of time in a gladiator and the only complaint i have is that in rought seas your back takes a beating due to the sit down config and living here at the Jersey Shore and spnding the majority of time in the Atlantic Ocean i would personally opt for the GUN !!!

Re: Gladiator
 

and the hulls are not the same on the gladiator as well as the gun...steps on the gladiator are approx 24" further back then the steps on the gun

Re: Gladiator
 

and the gladiator i spend the time in is an 02 with side by side 575 sc's with a best ever WOT speed of 97.1

Re: Gladiator
 

The Gladiator bottom is a Topgun bottom.It is the same hull,just cut down,thus the shorter length.

Re: Gladiator
 

Neill told me the same thing.

I thought they were saying the engine hatch support rail allowed wter to fall inside all the time. I mistakenly thought that there were differences there.

Bret, Long time no hear, Survive all the weather? Office getting back to normal? Any news from adjuster by chance? Boat is back in my shop all is well, repairs done magnificently, all bills paid.

Re: Gladiator
 

MIke,
call my cell phone.

Re: Gladiator
 

they are not the same bottoms...steps are further back on the gladiator. it is even stated in i think powerboat mag from 2002.

Re: Gladiator
 

pull a 2002 gladiator and an 02 top gun side by side and measure them...unsure about new ones but i know for a fact in 2002 they were different

Re: Gladiator
 

Okay. Enough suspense. In most cases everyone would agree that a staggered setup is usually faster, better balanced, etc. for a number of reasons. That being said - this is not always the case and the Gladiator is one of the exceptions.

I have run side by side with a friend of mine in his Gladiator on multiple occasions. He has a staggered '03. We have run in smooth lake water, rough lake water behind 70 other boats in a Poker Run, smooth ocean water, rough ocean water, quartering seas, etc. Basically, in about 90% of the conditions anyone would experience. In EVERY case towards the top end (80+) - his boat would start to chine walk considerably. We would literally be 100' apart in the same water and you could distinctly see the rocking side to side motion while by boat stayed true and level. I am not sure why this happens but even he admits that it is a big handful at 90mph. He says he would NOT be comfortable going much faster with this setup. That being said - I know there are some big(ger) powered staggered Glads out there. I would be interested to know if they also chine walk at the top end and what is their prop rotation.

In terms of prop rotation - we both turn inwards. Both have non labbed standard four blade Bravos. He also has the new lower unit on his Bravo XRs which has a bullet-shaped nose cone. He is going to try to rotate his props outwards, however, he is worried about losing a few miles per hour. He runs a solid 91mph with 525EFI's. I run 88.5mph with 500EFI's. If he loses 2mph from prop rotation he will almost negate the benefit of the 525s over my 500s. It will be interesting to see if the boat settles down or not. Theoretically, it should.

In the case of the Gladiator - my opinion is that there is no advantage to the staggered setup. His boat should run a couple miles per hour faster based solely on the motors and improved lower drive design. Furthermore, my motors have twice as many hours on them. I am curious to know what other staggered Gladiator owners are running speed-wise with the different setups and power. True GPS verified speed.

Re: Gladiator
 

We ran against this boat yesterday. It very mean and very sharp. If you want a sit down boat, go fast, and don't need a cabin. Get a Gladiator. They are awesome!

I wouldn't doubt he was running 95-97 becuase the cat we were in yesterday ran in the low-mid 90s and we couldn't really get a neck and neck race (ran out of room). Gotta go the other way next time so we can run for a couple miles 29scarab!

Bobby

Re: Gladiator
 

I think that I would beleive Neil over Powerboat.I could be wrong,but I doubt very highly that the hulls are different.

Re: Gladiator
 

We were talking about the forward hatch on the deck. They did not make it like the forward hatches on the Gun. Since most Guns have a cabin to protect from the elements - there is a channel that catches water and drains it out the side. On the Gladiator - since there is no cabin below - Cigarette took the easy way out (figuring no big deal if water drips into the hull) and did not put a channel around the perimeter of the forward hatch. There is only a rubber seal that does not catch any water so water drips into the forward bilge area when you are washing the deck. This is no big deal unless you happen to store things down there. I have four plastic tubs down there and I forgot to close one of them one day while I was rinsing off the deck. Everything in the tub was soaking wet. Again, no bg deal - just don't forget to close the tubs! :)

Re: Gladiator
 

Just had to talk to the factory about a warranty issue and I asked again and was told that the Gladiator bottom IS different than the Topgun.

Re: Gladiator
 

yes it is...its extremely noticable

Re: Gladiator
 

Hey Paul
what is the differences in hulls


Rick OSG

Re: Gladiator
 

Noticable appearance wise or ride wise in your opinion?

Re: Gladiator
 

Rick,I did not get in to the specifics because I was quite suprised to hear this.I remember reading about Michael Peters,I think who helped fine tune the design of the Gladiator bottom.I also know that it has been rumored that the new Topgun mold which started with the 02 Topgun was changed and improved slightly at the same time.I was told that the 00 and 01 stepbottom Topguns were inferior to the new 02 mold.Who knows?

Re: Gladiator
 

I had my Gun in a slip in Havasu next to Jeffrey and the blue Gladiator he is talking about and the bottoms looked identical to me. On top of that, My Gun used to sit on a trailer that a Gladiator now sits on. I am pretty sure the bottoms are the same.

Re: Gladiator
 

Same bottom on the gun and glad...... checked more than once!!!

Re: Gladiator
 

the steps on the 2002 gladiator and 2002 top gun are different. gladiator's steps are approx 24" further back than the guns......

Re: Gladiator
 

and also in the ride...friend has an 2004 side by side GUN with 525's and the other is the gladiator. the glad is faster by about 10 mph, but in my opinion the gun rides a little nicer.

Re: Gladiator
 

The Gladiator should be faster because approx. 1200 lbs lighter them a top gun

Re: Gladiator
 

10mpg seems a bit much ..

My 2000 TS Gun w/525, weighing in about the same as a Gladiator, will run right with an '03 staggered 525 Glad ... 92 mph

G

Re: Gladiator
 

Hey D-hlaw Thought so
I Thought they have the same bottom.

Rick OSG

Re: Gladiator
 

Inferior OR different?

;)

Re: Gladiator
 

Rick:

Our boy told me that the rear step on the Gladiator is approx 6 inches closer to the front step as opposed to the Gun's steps, and are a bit further back to accomodate the lack of forward weight.

Also, the Gladiator has it's own mold. If the Gun and Glad were the same, this would make little sense.

and if Neil says they are different, that is the gospel. :cool:

Re: Gladiator
 

if i were in the market for a boat of this caliber it would be very difficult to choose. i would choose a gun for the simple fact that i like the stand up a bit better (i spend alot of time in ocean)and i like the cabin, not only for myself but also for re-sale reasons...BOTH ARE AWESOME DONT GET ME WRONG

Re: Gladiator
 

Thanks Bro
Did you book a spot at TNT for the winter yet

Key west (group1 Nov 16) (group 2 Nov18) (group 3 Nov 19)

Rick OSG

Re: Gladiator
 

Gladiator has it own mold because because the deck height is 7 inches lower.....

Re: Gladiator
 

I just walked out to the garage and looked at our Gun. The front step appears to be in the same spot of the hull as OSG's Gladiator above. It is directly below the start of the fairing. Maybe the fairing on the Gladiator is in a different spot? Just a coincidence that they are both lined up with the fairing?

Re: Gladiator
 

Yes I booked a couple of weeks ago to insure a spot. I am pumped for the Keys. I am planning to leave on the Thursday departure. See you soon. :cool: