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!

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.

yes it is...its extremely noticable

Hey Paul
what is the differences in hulls


Rick OSG

Noticable appearance wise or ride wise in your opinion?

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?

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.

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

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

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.