Gladiator
 

I am seriously considering buying a Gladiator probably in a yr or so. I love the boat and I have heard that sitting down in the boat is awesome. I was in a friends Tiger (non-stepped) with 1,000's last weekend and it was pretty rough out there. I put the bolster seat up so I could sit in it. I was really surprised how comfortable it was. I talked to Phil Lipshutz today and he gave me alot of info on the Gladiator. (By the way, Phil was awesome to talk to. I will go to him if I decide to buy one.)
I am not concerned with a cabin and don't need alot of storage space. Phil told me that his Gladiators have a large area in the front of the hull for storage. Phil told me it runs the same as a T/S Top Gun (same bottom)

Please give me your thoughts and experience in a gladiator.

Re: Gladiator
 

I wish I could give you the personal experience of owning one but I can't...YET. It is definitely my #1 choice of any boat now. I need for the used market to open up a little more :D

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Go For It!!!! they look awsome.

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When you guys are ready...be sure and check this one out.......I absolutely love the boat....if you dont need the cabin..this is definitely the way to go...although you cant beat a Top Gun.............Rich

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A few more......

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I've seen Rich's Gladiator. He is VERY meticulous. It's perfect, the paint is unbelieveable, and priced well too!

LS JR.

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As a former Topgun owner and now a Gladiator owner,I love the Gladiator and the sitdown configuration.I have not spoken to anyone who owns one that disagrees.

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Did someone say GLADIATOR . :D :D
Here are some pic's.
Phil at lip - ship is one of the best when it comes to the gladiator. He set up this one for me.

Rick OSG

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Rick OSG

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Phil is an excellent person to deal with, unequivocally.

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If anyone thinks otherwise ..... I may consider, possibly, maybe, prolly selling my 2000 Carbon Fiber T/S F2 Top Gun for the right Glad :confused:

:fish: :fish: :fish:http://www.scopeinfo.com/images/2004...4-0549-800.jpg

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I appreciate all the info. looks like the Gladiator is a winner if you aren't concerned with a cabin (I'm not)
Rick OSG .... Beautiful boat!!
Gary... Your TG is awesome also.

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It's a great boat! No complaints. Sitting down is not an issue. Left hand throttling is not a factor. If you don't mind the smaller cockpit area and no cabin down below - you'll love the boat. There is nothing sexier than the lines of the Gladiator. If I can help it I will never have another boat with a rub rail. Rub rails look antiquated to me now.

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Antiquated or not....they sure are nice to have at the gas docks though..... :eek:

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We don't have that problem out west ... all the docks float around the pilons. The dock is always at water level.

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What kind of storage does your Gladiator have? Talking to Lipshutz, he said his Gladiators have specialized areas up in the front of the boat to store stuff---as opposed to a non-Lip-ship boat.

Also, if you store stuff up front, does it ever get wet? (water from the bilge area)

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All Gladiators have the storeage. I love the boat! lots of fun.

Mat

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hey mat you and gary should get together. sounds like your numbers would be close. mat, this rig is ready to go minus the cabin.

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Yeah, but the point of an F-2 is NO cabin. You destroy the purpose with a cabin!!! No talk of cabins around here...We don't need no stinkin' cabins!!! :hothead: :D :D.

LS JR.

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Yes they do.However,Philly gelcoats his and puts in fender racks and a storage box to give it a more finished look.

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Gerard, you know I am a v-bottom guy but I have to ask, if you don't need a cabin and intend on spending the money on a Gladiator....why not just buy a nice cat... there I said it. Now the OSO Cig family can take out a contract on me.

But conventional wisdom says they will be faster with less power and ride better at anything above 70 (I have no experience, just what I read here). If you don't need a cabin and like the sit down aspect then how about a 36 Skater or 36 Spectre. Maybe insurance cost is prohibitive. Or they are too wide to tow everywhere or something. What's the deal?

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Jody,
I agree with you about that cats are more efficient, but I am NOT a cat guy. V-bottoms are more versatile than cats. (usually because of the cabin) I can do without a cabin. I want to try a gladiator and sit. 2 weeks ago at the SCOPE Poker Run, the cats were having a hard time with the water and it wasn't rough at all. When we got to Catalina, there were approx. 7 cigs(we were the first Cig), 2 Hustlers, 1 Hallet, 1 Outerlimits, 1 Scarab(1st to the Island) and 2 cats (40 Skater/36 Nor-tech)

I am a V-bottom guy all the way. To each his own, but I have no interest in a cat (for now anyway!!) I would be better off with a V-bottom for the ocean anyway.

I noticed your Scarab is for sale. Why are you selling it? It is a bada$$ boat. what's next for you?

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Besides the insurance aspect .... Cats and the Pacific swell scare me. I'd feel more comfortable flying a V .. there's only one sponson to deal with on re-entry.

G

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I actually have noticed one thing I don't like about the Gladiator........how do you get onto the deck from the cockpit??/ I don't se a step or anyway that looks easy.

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I think you walk around the side, like the mid 80s Mistress.

LS JR.

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You walk around the side. It is not bad at all


Rick OSG

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Being a V-bottom guy also, it's nice to hear they still have advantages besides cabins.

Gerard, I put the Scarab up for sale because I have not been able to use it. Here's a pic of it just before the Catalina ski race. It may some time to sell because it is unique but after it does I will focus on my business and kids for a couple years until they are older and more independant. Then I will return (sounds like General McArthur).

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Gerard - Just the standard layout - raw fiberglass and stringers. However, the gunnels between the stringers are a perfect size for plastic storage containers. Throw four of those down there and you have storage galore. They never move or bounce around. Everything stays dry. The only thing you have to worry about is when you are washing the deck. The hatch design is lousy. At least the Top Guns have a channel to catch water around the hatch opening. Cigarette apparently did not worry about this with the Gladiators since there is no cabin to protect from the elements. There is no channel - only a rubber gasket - and that does nothing to keep water out. Water will dribble into the hull and if the plastic containters are open ... bummer!

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Access is around the sides. It just made me think of something else. A little change of topic here - did you know there are different size cockpits in the Gladiators? Both length and width wise. The wider cockpits have a much narrower side to walk on. Also, the ones with longer cockpit areas have substantially more foot/storage room in the rear. Someone told me the smaller cockpit (shorter length-wise) areas were only on the staggered boats, however, that is incorrect. I have a side by side setup and my cockpit area is the smaller version. However, my friend has a staggered setup and he has the same length cockpit but his cockpit is much wider. Just an interesting observation.

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Thanks for the info. Last time I saw your boat was in Havasu, right next to the blue Gladiator. I did notice the cockpits were the same length, but one was wider. I guess Cigarette was testing a few different things. I wonder if they are all the same width now? (except for the length of the cockpit)

Looks like the Gladiator has no issues (for me). The Gladiator is now DEFINATELY #1 on my list. Now I have to work harder to get one!!

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Good luck selling the boat. I think you, Gary (Cigarette1) and me will all have a harder time selling our "unusual" boats than the norm. What is your business?

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The cockpit are the same in length the only thing that changes is you can get norrow cockpit to rub the sh*t out of your arm when sitting down if you are big guy & more space to walk on the top deck.
Wide cockpit more room in the cockpit for us bigger guys & less room to walk on the top deck.


Rick OSG

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Semiconductors (chips)

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Gerard - Since this thread is about your search/desire to eventually purchase a Gladiator - there is another thing to consider. This one will likely cause some controversy. Here it is: All Gladiators are not created equally!

Speaking from actual experience - there is a difference in the way the "side by side" boats run versus the staggered boats. Phil at Lipship will tell you that there is no advantage in terms of top speed. He is correct. I have experienced this fact personally. However, there is a distinct difference in the way the boats handle in disturbed/rough/quartering seas type of water.

I know there will be those who disagree with me but unless you have driven both boats you will not know what I mean. I will save my opinions for later. Let's see what some of the other Gladiator owners think.

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I was actually wondering what the difference between the side/side and staggered setup would be. I would guess that the staggered Gladiator would fly more level, but somehow I think your going to tell me different.

ALL Gladiator owners give us your info---The suspense is firggin killing me!!!!!!

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can you give my 2500HD (Duramax) more power????

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The chip is cheap, it's the programing that costs $.

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Considering the cockpit space difference between the two, Gerard you should ask your girlfriend if she likes the throttles sticking her in the stomach or the thigh when your laying down in the back seat in a secluded cove.



:drink: :D

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I'll keep that in mind :D
The Gladiator does get her wet!

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All right, no one else is playing so give it up!