Plain and Simple.

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.

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.

A used 36 was an option.

Wet sump drives and tanks may be an issue.

Quater canopy seems like a requirement.

[/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!!!

Thanks man!!! Best of luck to ya.

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

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

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!!!

Only for 35 years

Dan, where were you, the Race?