Re: Gladiator Speeds
 

I am not bashing Sterling cause i work for Zul,but our motors seem to run faster then the sterlings.The reason being we build our 750s with 598 ci and the Sterlings to my knowledge are 557s.The 598 combo has more stroke which will make alot of bottom end torque over the 557 combo.Torque plays a major role in turning a large prop.Philly runs alot of pitch with our motors.Im sure the sterlings have big cams and will rev higher than the Zul package.108MPH was gotten with a light load.Still in FL heat though.They lose 2 to 3 loaded down.

Re: Gladiator Speeds
 

big cats run 130-200 MPH and they are all sitdown..... so is mine, i won't stand again... :cool:

Re: Gladiator Speeds
 

V bottom sit downs and cat sit downs are a little different.

I'm sure there are other people on here who can give you a better comparison, but here is mine. I've only been in one Gladiator and we had it up to 75mph in 3 footers only becuase the motors were still new. I felt very secure sitting down and it almost feels like your part of the boat. I also like the fact that when you sit down you are about eye level with the waves. I have no doubt that running 90mph feels like your on rails. I know it did in "TwinStepGun's" Top Gun. I thought your back would take a huge beating sitting down. I was wrong, and it wasn't bad. The nicest part about sitting down is after we left Shooters we had to idle home. I just sat back, turned the stereo on, and relaxed :drink:. Thanks Steve :cool:.

Bobby

Re: Gladiator Speeds
 

I'm sure he'll chime in when he comes around...

Re: Gladiator Speeds
 

I just figured it out.......I think :rolleyes:

LS JR.

Re: Gladiator Speeds
 

6 Blade = more stern lift (more boat in water, flies level)

4 , 5 Blade = more bow lift (less boat in water, bow can "kite" if you are so inclined)

Re: Gladiator Speeds
 

I can first hand back this claim. A 2003 Top Gun on Grand Lake powered with 750 Sterlings barely pulls my rig by 2-3 mph. I have the 625 Zul package. This is after an entire Summer of working on the Sterlings to get them to run reliably. The 2003 Lip-Ship Top Gun powered with 750 Zul's ran 105 (light) and was featured in Powerboat Magazine.

The 750 Sterling Gladiator that was at Lip-Ship (not built there) would only run high 90's when it arrived, if you could keep it running. After much tweaking and tuning, it finally broke 100 to run 102 or so with a light load.

Enrique Eglesias had the 750 Zul package. Neill, Philly, and myself ran it up to 106 with a half tank. That's pretty much normal operating conditions.

No slam here either. Just calling it as I've seen it. :cool:

Re: Gladiator Speeds
 

I am going to be one very unhappy camper if my gladiator is
not a 105+ boat. I had a problem with my fountain not reaching expected speeds and I don't want back into that same situation. Back when I was trying to decide which engines to go with, sterlings or zul, I was pretty much set on the Zuls. After some discussion with my dealer and the fact that they had easier access to the sterlings, i went with the sterlings. Sterling is a big name on the race circuit so i figured i wouldn't have any problems. We'll just see though, hopefully everything will work out!

JCPERF......Are you 100% sure on the Sterlings. It is my understanding, from talk over the phone, that the Sterling 750's are the same as the 700's they build, which are 572's, yet with aluminum heads. However, i guess it really doesn't matter b/c 598's are still going to make more torque. I can see your point!!!

Re: Gladiator Speeds
 

i've been in a Gladiator side by side with 575 sc's that runs 98 and some change...and Lucky Strike Jr witnessed it :drink:

Re: Gladiator Speeds
 

that boat is equipped with Xr's, shorties ...i believe 32 p 4 blades and she hits the limiter...

Re: Gladiator Speeds
 

as far as the sit to stand preference...in a v i'd rather stand...we ran from Manasquan Inlet to Hudson River in the gladiator...2-4's going (wasnt bad) ran about 70 the whole way...coming back 4-6's (with the occasional kicker) and my back was sore as **** the next day and i was in the front seat...people in the back take it much worse...BEEN THERE DONE THAT. As far as a cat much softer ride due to hull lift....cant compare the ride of the 2...just my .02

Re: Gladiator Speeds
 

only way to run a sit down v comfortably in snotty water is drives tucked and tabs dropped otherwise you get punhished...in under 4' water i love the boat...a Corvette on the water :evilb:

Re: Gladiator Speeds
 

Damn, I know we got our butt kicked but was it that fast? :drink:

LS JR.

We are also re-considering the Gladiator VS Top Gun. The winds start to blow down here in the Winter pretty hard (15mph minimum) and that is when we do a lot of boating (not so hot :D) and I don't know how well the Gladiator would do in 4-6s.

How is the deal going on the Spectre Bern? Arnold just got in tonight and David will be down in the A.M.

Re: Gladiator Speeds
 

tell Dave i'll keep a stool warm for him at frankies in Point...still contemplating cat deal, the whole insurance issue thing spooks me a bit. i dont need to sell my boat then buy one i cant insure...i'd be pissed. the day we played in the bay was a legit 94-96 mph day...best ever was 98 and some change...she'll break 100 next year. gladiator rides nice in the snot but not as nice as a gun...just not into the whole sittin down in a v thing. just cant imagine having 38 ft of boat with no cabin...i know i know sounds stupid... :cool:

Re: Gladiator Speeds
 

What's wrong with having a 38 ft boat w/out a cabin :confused:. I ate at Frankie's when I was up there, it was two nights dinners for me! :D.

Ya, we all know from the seaside bridge to the Manalokin bridge (is that right?) is not enough time for a cat to pack enough air under the tunnel to get full speed. Next summer - Seaside bridge down the bay to Water's Edge. Loser buys :D.

Sorry to hear about the cat, I say go for it. There is nothing like the ride of a cat and this is coming from a hardcore Cig bro!

LS JR.

Re: Gladiator Speeds
 

i'm between a 33-35 v and the 30 outboard cat. just the horror stories i keep hearing about insurance makes my head spin. unfortunately $$pockets$$ wont let me go any bigger...lol

Re: Gladiator Speeds
 

and thats a deal ...Loser Buys...as long as i'm not in my 29 scarab...if i am then i'll be buying unless your only running Thunder with 1 motor :eek:

Re: Gladiator Speeds
 

Ok, ok. Tell Tommy to bring the Gladiator :evilb:

Sent you a PM.

LS JR.

Re: Gladiator Speeds
 

deal !!!! :evilb:
sent you a pm as well

Re: Gladiator Speeds
 

Some people think the Gladiator has a better bottom than a Topgun and actually rides better.Plus,it all depends on who is driving.I dont care how experienced you are,there are very few people,if anyone,who can drive a Gladiator or Topgun better and smoother than Phil.He can make that boat ride as nice as he wants.Like wise,take a Outerlimits out with Mike Fiore and he knows exactly what to do to make that boat the best ride you will ever have.The average performance boater as good as they may be,does not even come close to the talent of these guys.and thus cannot experience the full potential of these boats in ALL water conditions.

Re: Gladiator Speeds
 

Very true. However, Phil or Mike won't be in the boat with you at all times. So, if you can't make the boat perform like they do and you don't like the way it handles when your driving it, you aren't going to want that boat. You have to decide if you like the boat based on your ability to drive the boat.

My $.02
LS JR.

Re: Gladiator Speeds
 

If you can't drive it, you should not own it.

Re: Gladiator Speeds
 

Brett,

With as much seat time in the gladiator (both types) can you pontificate on whether you should have more stern lift as you might get with a 6 blade?

Re: Gladiator Speeds
 

That is a good question.Will the boat ride better or worse?

Re: Gladiator Speeds
 

After hearing from Brett (and seeing the video) I think transom lift would be great for straight line top end but not good for anything else (read turning).

Brett ? :D

Re: Gladiator Speeds
 

I 'll tell you what..... I just tried a set of 6 blade Herings with staggered blades and the result were not good. The transom lift makes the boat very hard to drive at top speed. It was very squirrely and at times I had little or no feedback on the wheel! Needless to say we pulled those right off!! It was bad enough that BK1 even felt the boat and saw me white knuckled...... not pretty!

Re: Gladiator Speeds
 

I know that recently Cig has lowered the x-dimension on the Gladiator to improve out of the hole starts and overall handling.My six blade Herings work well.Also,I know of several other Gladiators running with them and they swear by them.Could a higher x-dimension,like in a race boat do that....Another question is if the stern is lifted,does that make for a smoother ride with the bow attitude changed?Or,does it make the boat ride rougher than with a standard 4-blade prop and no stern lift?

Re: Gladiator Speeds
 

Wow
A lot of talk about Gladiators & speed :eek:
I could give some input here :D


Happy new year


Rick OSG

Re: Gladiator Speeds
 

He's back!

Re: Gladiator Speeds
 

2112 -- Why is this? Lack of room next to the motor for trannies? Has anyone put arnesons on a Glad or a TS TG??

Re: Gladiator Speeds
 

Arneson conversion does not require relocate. Trans goes in box.

Re: Gladiator Speeds
 

Sorry RBR --we're not referring to the conversion, I realize they go in a box. I'm questioning the staggered set-up :drink:

Re: Gladiator Speeds
 

Has nothing to do with trannies and everything to do with the notched transom. The notch will not allow you to mount the drive in the correct location when the boat has staggered motors.

I checked with Arneson on this.

Re: Gladiator Speeds
 

thanx for clarifying

Re: Gladiator Speeds
 

No problem.

My suggestion, if one wanted Arnesons in a Gladiator, is to keep the engines side by side with the trannies inside the boat. Plenty of room for this. With the trannies in the boat the CG should be close to the staggered set up. This also allows for proper drive positioning.