Re: Skater vs Gladiator
 

Also, Motion and Spectre build just about identical boats. The decks are a little different, other than that they are pretty much the same boat. Whats ridiculous is you can buy a 21 Eliminator with twin 2.5's that will run over 120, that seems just about as dangerous as a 28 Skater running 120. I would rather be in the true tunnel design. And from what I know, its really all cats when you are dealing with a reputable insurance company. They dont care if its an Eliminator or another brand.

Re: Skater vs Gladiator
 

Any word if insurance is any cheaper if the boat is not a true Cat? i.e. Eliminator, DCB, etc...

Re: Skater vs Gladiator
 

Your driving experience, horsepower, size, value, credit history, auto record will have a bigger effect. I would not go with the center pod cat boat if speeds of over 120 are planned. There is a difference.
I would not recommend a cat with bravos at any kind of high speed. Prone to breaking unless your are going to only run 500hp.

Re: Skater vs Gladiator
 

"Spectre and Skater have killed people"...

Wow, what an incredibly short sighted statement...

Do Gun's Kill people?, how about Cigrettes (not the boat), do they kill people?.

I donlt know about the rest of you but so far, my Boat has never made a open, public threat to kill me... now there have been times when it has "pushed back"... but only as result of MY behavior, not its behavior...

Gregg Reichman

Re: Skater vs Gladiator
 

One key question here is....Which 32' Skater?

The old, low freeboard, "classic"...designed in 1986?

or the new high freeboard model.....designed in 2000 or so?

These boats are very different..the new one has much better forward entry.... and is a bigger all around package.

The 6 drive on the new 32 is no issue at all.

Skip the Bravos...and the Arnesons.

Go with the 6's...or the new 700 MC's.

As to the insurance issue, I can't imagine that Eliminators or any other cat are rated below a Skater..... It simply makes no sense, as there is no underlying safety quality, that justifies a difference. Perhaps Spectre and Motion sales numbers have been so much smaller and there have been far fewer high powered packages from these two manufacturers..which has kept them off the underwriter's radar screens.

Sadly, the mad dash toward mega power plants (1200 and above)...and turbines.... have raised the risk level on cats. In this case it is the speed advantage that cats enjoy over vees that has come back to bite. 130+ mph is rare air and there just aren't anywhere near as many qualified drivers...as there are owners of these rocketships.

If all performance hulls were limited (by the industry) to say 2x575 hp up to 35', 2x750 hp up to 40', 2x900 up to 45' and 2x1100 up to 50'...the game, (safety and insurance costs) might change dramatically.

Just my .02

T2x

Re: Skater vs Gladiator
 

Plenty of vee's have been in accidents and unfortunately hurt people. I was just talking insurance wise. You can get hurt in any boat. All it takes is the right idiot and money and anything can happen.

Re: Skater vs Gladiator
 

I bet a 32 with 525's and black hawks would make a pretty nice package.

Re: Skater vs Gladiator
 

T2x,
The boat is the newer B style with 500's and xr's. I think its a 2001. Im not looking for a brand new boat. Thats alot of coin. Were looking for something that can run around 105-110 mph and have a stable ride. Not looking for 130+mph boats. That why I couldnt believe how much more the skater was for insurance and it only ran 100. I think we got a quote for a 35 motion with 500's for $5000 and a 36 eliminator with 525's was around the same. All fairly new boats.

Re: Skater vs Gladiator
 

That 32...will run with your Gladiator..in damn near any conditions...and walk away from it in a mixed slop.....

You'll love it.

If you get an educated insurer, the rates should be okay...but I'm paying $2500..for a 28 Skater outboard...... and that seems fair to me...so what do I know?

T2x

Re: Skater vs Gladiator
 

Thanks for the info!!!

Re: Skater vs Gladiator
 

Plain and Simple.

Re: Skater vs Gladiator
 

I have been in or owned all the cats you are looking at. The 32 Skater is a great boat and would be fine with bravos with the lower power. The Motion will be a little better in the rough with the extra length. Motion's quality is not the same as the Skater but well built and fast. The Eliminator will be slower as they are on the heavy side with full interiors. The 36 Eliminator with 500's will not even be close in speed. I would look for a 36 Skater if possible. The 36 Skater would be far superior to the other boats mentioned in ride quality.

Re: Skater vs Gladiator
 

From the sound of things you are not going to be getting the 32' Skater due to the associated cost of ownership. A cat is just more expensive to insure than a V bottom.

The boat's with Bravo's are really worthless as the cost to convert to anything else is extraordinary to say the least.

As Pro1 has pointed out (someone with experience) the Arneson's work extremely well on these boats and despite what T2X says, the Merc is not the best drive for these boats by far.

For the final word on the drive options, call Pete @ Skater.

For insurance call Markel

For a 100 mph boat, there are several options. Skater, Outerlimits, Fountain, Hustler, etc. With the new boat bottoms of today, reaching that goal does not require the power it once did. Then again 100 mph isn't what it used to be.

Re: Skater vs Gladiator
 

A used 36 was an option.

Wet sump drives and tanks may be an issue.

Quater canopy seems like a requirement.

Re: Skater vs Gladiator
 

[/QUOTE]For a 100 mph boat, there are several options. Skater, Outerlimits, Fountain, Hustler, etc. With the new boat bottoms of today, reaching that goal does not require the power it once did. Then again 100 mph isn't what it used to be.[/QUOTE]

Thats why we were thinking going to another Gladiator with Zul's or a Donzi ZR. I know my dad would love a skater with arnesons, its just you usually have to buy a new one to get them or spend major coin to do a conversion. We are a firm believer in arnesons though, after blowing multiple bravos!!!

Pro1,
You have a very nice rig there!!!!! The perfect setup!!!

Re: Skater vs Gladiator
 

Thanks man!!! Best of luck to ya.

Re: Skater vs Gladiator
 

Tricky Ricky likes the Arnesons for obvious reasons (he is the distributor), and they do work well.

TX2 correctly points out that the 32 will smoke your Gladiator in almost every category and condition.

Insurance... it has certainly gotten out of hand but in spite of that it does not appear to be an enterance barrier, people are willing to go the extra mile as far as cost to feed the habit, and frankly there is very little that can be done at this point since there appears to be a single source provider. Once there is competition in the caetgory, the pricing will come down.

Buy the 32 Skater, #6's or Arnesons. You won't need a hernia operation in a year from pushing it around at the Dock, if you get the 36, you will.

If you buy a boat with Bravos, or "precious metal" Bravos, Gold or Titanium, or Platinum, or Super Duty Tricky Whammy Bravos, make sure you get at least 5 pair with the deal and carry one on board so you can change it in the Water (like Jerry Gilbreth used to do with Alcone's Props during the race).

Gregg Reichman

Re: Skater vs Gladiator
 

It's no issue on the classic either. The boat is incredible with this drive. NK

Re: Skater vs Gladiator
 

You should have seen the water I just came back in. I dont think a 32 Skater could have done any better or given a better ride. The best I could average was 35-40mph. It was solid 8 footers. Real 8 footers. My dad has been boating for over 45 years and knows how to judge waves. I was driving and it was the biggest water I have ever driven in. If any of you have boated in Long Island Sound you know what Im talking about. If we ever get a Cat its going to be 36+ ft. One last thing, Im happy that there's a #1 on the side of our boat!!!

Re: Skater vs Gladiator
 

Only for 35 years :eek:

Dan, where were you, the Race?

Re: Skater vs Gladiator
 

No, it was just in the sound. We went over to greenport then around shelter Island. Where the ferries cross on the other side of shelter there were 3-5 footers. Coming through the gut wasn't that bad but the sound was down right scary!!! They were some BIG waves!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I still cant believe I drove the boat through them.
Have you been out lately???

Re: Skater vs Gladiator
 

Yes, we did the Brunch Run around Manhattan then my trailer brakes/bearings crapped out on me so it's been sitting. I want to run it one more time before winterization. So. Florida Trailers is supposed have the parts shipped to me this week. Hopefully I'll be out this coming weekend if I can find some time for the rebuild.

Re: Skater vs Gladiator
 

Yea, our trailer is down for the count as well. We have to replace the rear axle. On our way to lake george last weekend both the truck and our trailer broke down. Long story. I think this weeked were going to get the Hustler up and running and take it for a spin.

Re: Skater vs Gladiator
 

The arnesons on my 36 Nor tech work wonderfully they are light & very strong.. + the boat has no porpoise that is prone to a #6 style drive... on a smaller 32 the arnesons will work best... as far as the Gladiator or ZR just drive both & you will find the answer easy.

Re: Skater vs Gladiator
 

We would love to own your Nor-Tech. Its probably my dads favorite boat for sale anlog with a friend of ours. We own a Gladiator now but have been looking hard at your old ZR. We like the graphics they put on it. We just need to get a ride in one so we can compare it to our Gladiator. From what we've heard it should ride and handle a little bit better.

Re: Skater vs Gladiator
 

On Sat 10/14?????????? I don't know where you were, but I ran from New London to Clinton and never saw anything close to an 8 footer in LIS! Wind was was only 10 to 15 kts and waves were 2-4'. Check on NEBC as the records should be there. It's been a loooonnnnggg time since I've seen true 8 footers in LIS. Now Plum Gut or the Race are a different story, but are isolated areas and there certainly weren't 8 footers in the Sound on Sat!

Re: Skater vs Gladiator
 

This was later in the day. Around 5:00. When we went over to Long Island there were only 2-4 footers in the afternoon. It picked up quite a bit later in the day. Okay Maybe I exaggerated but there were some 8's. Probably 6-8's. It was a constant wind through the day so the waves kept building. What time were you out???? I know what I was in and saw. Like I said before the Gut was relatively calm. There wasn't any boats with in sight when we were running back. If you think they were 2-4's later in the day then go right ahead.

Re: Skater vs Gladiator
 

We pulled into Clinton around 4 PM. The wind was building from 10-15 kts earlier in the day to 15-20 by 5PM so I suspect it did get a little worse after we got off the water. I live on the shoreline and I can tell you it certainly wasn't 8's at any point, maybe 4' to 6' at best... rough either way. TRUE 8's (not OSO exaggerated) are huge and very rare for LIS. ;)

Re: Skater vs Gladiator
 

Perceived wave heights and pecker length are both frequent victims of fantasy versus fact....... :D :D

T2x

Re: Skater vs Gladiator
 

All I know is that I dont think a cat could hve gone any faster or given a better ride in the water we were in. Maybe, Maybe not.