Boats Gladiator: characteristics, model range and selection tips

Modern PVC (polyvinyl chloride) boats have become a continuation of the development of inflatable rubber boats, which became widespread after the Second World War. It was then that prototypes made of rubberized fabric began to be used for forcing rivers and landing amphibious assaults. The manufacture of inflatable boats today is established in many industrialized countries. In the 21st century, China has seriously invaded this segment of the economy.

Chinese brand Gladiator, manufactured by Weihai BS Marine Co. Ltd, has become not only famous, it is gaining popularity. Regarding the quality of the boats that the company produces, any irony referring to the notorious "real Chinese quality" is completely inappropriate. Before getting to the buyer, products go through several stages of testing, which absolutely excludes any marriage.

The advantages of Gladiator boats give them a significant advantage over numerous similar products from other manufacturers:

• products are very carefully thought out both technologically and ergonomically;
• for the manufacture of products, materials of the highest quality are used, allowing you to confidently operate it for 15 years, and with careful attitude, and much more;
• the thickness and density of PVC used for the manufacture of boats is selected in accordance with the recommended operating conditions of the product;
• armoring of the most vulnerable surfaces is widely used;
• careful processing of seams allows the manufacturer to confidently give them a 5-year warranty;
• despite the use of a number of modern technologies and materials, the price of products remains quite democratic;
• due to the huge scale of production, there is no shortage of spare parts for Gladiator boats.

The shortcomings of the Gladiator boats are often found when the choice of model does not match the expectations that the buyer had for the purchase, and are opened when operating in conditions for which it was not intended. The widest product range of Weihai BS Marine Co. Ltd allows you to pick up a boat of any price category, for almost any conceivable body of water, with the possible exception of the open ocean. Some owners also note the discrepancy between the power of the standard pump when inflating large boats, but this remark, rather, concerns not the product itself, but its configuration.

The range of Gladiator boats is very wide. The result of the effective work of the company's designers and constructors is the constant emergence of new models and the modernization of those that have already proven themselves with customers.

PVC boats manufactured by the company are technologically divided into 5 series.

These are the least expensive models of the simplest design. Vessels of this series are intended for fishing or recreation on calm waters. Most models have a classic shape for rubber boats and a simple flat bottom, although some may have a primitive inflatable keel. Connoisseurs note the similarity of some models of this series with proven inflatable boats of domestic production.

Popular two-seater rowing model of the series Simple - Gladiator A380NT - has classic contours and a flat inflatable bottom. As follows from the digital index, the length is 380 cm, this allows you to place 440 kg of cargo in it, which will fit two large fishermen, with luggage and a catch. The boat can be equipped with a universal removable transom for a 3.5 horsepower engine. A more powerful outboard motor is not justified and, due to the technical features of the hull, will only consume excess fuel without giving an increase in speed.

Oars should still be considered the main mover, with their help the boat can be successfully used in shallow water and in thickets, having excellent maneuverability.

This series includes PVC transom keel boats. The power of the outboard motor, under which the stationary transom is designed, can reach 30 hp. With. Representatives of the Light series can, despite the oars included in the package, be considered motor. All models have additional polyurethane armor on the bottom and cylinders.The design also includes an automatic valve that bleeds air when the cylinders are too hot in the sun.

Gladiator E 330, Gladiator E 350 and Gladiator E 380 are typical representatives of the series. Load capacity from 570 to 650 kg, allowed. t transport 4-5 people, along with camping equipment, fishing tackle and catch.

The structure of the body allows you to successfully use the engine up to 30 horsepower. Boats easily switch to planing mode, due to their large dimensions they have excellent course stability.

The increased diameter of the cylinders (up to 53 cm) allows the use of boats even on large water bodies with medium waves. And for all rivers and reservoirs, as well as most lakes, they are ideal. The existing bow awning will protect against splashes that occur in the glider mode. You can install a large awning canopy.

The products included in the series have been developed for the most intensive use, which affected their configuration. The transom is designed for a motor up to 40 hp. With. For the manufacture of cylinders, PVC with a density of at least 1100 g / cm² is used. Along the perimeter and at the bottom, the cylinders are protected by polyurethane screens 5 mm thick and 200 mm wide. The kit includes a bow awning and an anchor eye. Products are made from material of various colors. All models have an automatic valve that regulates the air pressure when the cylinders are heated in the sun.

This series can be presented by the popular model Gladiator C 370 AL. The boat has a stable U-shaped structure, the rigidity of which is maintained by means of an aluminum bottom and a fixed rigid transom. The boat can be used with a 35 hp motor. With. With a length of 370 cm, the vessel can accommodate 5 people, its carrying capacity is close to 700 kg.For splash protection during planing, there is a bow awning.

The boats of the series are designed for professional fishermen and hunters. Design features allow to operate them in the most extreme conditions. To avoid any unpleasant surprises, the thickest PVC sheet (1350 g/cm²) is used. The diameter of the cylinders is increased, and the bottom is fully armored. All protruding parts of the cylinders are also armored. To increase seaworthiness, the bottom has a keel shape. The complete set includes a bow awning, an anchor eye, a reinforced pump.

A special line of the series is boats with the index RIB. The design combines elements of an inflatable watercraft and a boat with a rigid hull. Rigid structural elements made of fiberglass allow you to maintain the optimal shape of the keel bottom, which determines the stability on the course and energy consumption during gliding.

Gladiator RIB 320 has an external length of 320mm and a width of 154cm. A load capacity of 600 kg allows you to carry 5 people with the appropriate luggage. Two aluminum seats have a movable likpah-lyktros mount that allows you to change their position. Rigid stationary transom and bottom are designed for use with a 20 hp motor. With. The wide polyurethane fender allows you to moor almost anywhere. The price of this professional boat is very high, but it's worth it.

The boats are in many ways similar to the representatives of the Simple series. Having the same characteristics, thanks to the use of the latest technological solutions, they turned out to be lighter and more compact when folded, fit in one bag. Some modern models of the series have a package that brings them closer to the Professional series.

The boat Gladiator 330 LT Air has a number of features that distinguish it from products of similar size. First of all, this is a light version with NDND (low pressure inflatable bottom). Despite the so-called "soft" bottom, this model can be equipped with a motor up to 15 hp. With. Ease of assembly and disassembly, lightness and portability have made the models of the Air series one of the most popular models in the Gladiator lineup. Boats can be operated successfully in shallow water, including bare and rocky areas.

It is the sheer variety of accessories designed for boats that has made the Gladiator range so diverse. We list the main additional devices that may be included in the package:

• armor around the perimeter of cylinders made of polyurethane protects against possible damage in contact with the berth material, stones, snags;
• keel reservation allows the use of many models in shallow water or in conditions of snarled and rocky rivers;
• the anti-slip coating of the floorboard helps to maintain balance even in the presence of water at the bottom of the boat in conditions of active fishing;
• aluminum seats give the body additional elasticity and significantly increase the comfort of the cockpit;
• lykpaz-lyktros mount allows you to move the seats and set them in the most comfortable position;
• a nose bag will help protect luggage from splashes while driving;
• bow awning creates additional protection against splashes that occur in planing mode;
• fender - a layer of armor along the sides - creates additional protection when mooring;
• passenger handles (handrail ropes) ensure the safety of passengers and allow you to fix the position of the body, these devices are especially necessary during gliding.

Choosing Gladiator products is no easy task. A huge variety of models, constant modifications and the emergence of fundamentally new products can actually cause confusion for the buyer. What to be guided by when choosing a model of this company?

However, more often than not, the main criterion is the goal, the achievement of which the boat should contribute to. And here the Gladiator brand can provide Huge selection at a wide range of prices.

For professional hunters and fishermen, for whom fishing is not just entertainment, but a source of income, the best solution would be to choose a watercraft professional series, designed for the most extreme conditions and intensive use.

If the goal is family vacation or calm water fishing, boats are quite suitable. Light series or all the same Simple. It is difficult to manage them in big water, but for small ponds or lakes these vessels are quite suitable, having excellent controllability on oars.

Fans of extreme recreation, river rafting or multi-day water trips are better off choosing on the Active or Air series. Their complete set will allow you to spend time in harsh conditions with the greatest possible comfort. But if there is no shortage of funds, for this category of users, perhaps the best option can also be a professional series boat.

If the watercraft is supposed to be transported on itself in terrain that is difficult to access for transport, the best choice would be lightweight boats of the Air series.

The operation of Gladiator PVC inflatable boats is not difficult.

In order for the boat to serve the time allotted by the warranty, you must follow a few simple requirements.

• Assembly should be carried out in a suitable place. Preferably without stones or bushes, closer to the water.
• Assemble the boat according to the instructions. It will be very difficult to insert the seat or bottom into place if the cylinders are already inflated.
• The correct order to inflate the compartments is also important. This is usually indicated in the instructions.
• When inflating compartments, if there is no automatic valve that bleeds excess air, you should also follow the instructions.
• Operation of the boat in conditions for which it is not adapted is unacceptable. For example, representatives of the lightweight and simplified series should never be used for swimming in large bodies of water.
• It is undesirable to use a boat motor with a power greater than that indicated in the instructions.Firstly, it is useless, the boat will not go faster, since its seaworthiness is largely determined by the design features and the shape of the bottom, and secondly, it is dangerous.
• During operation, it is important to ensure the availability of a repair kit, since, despite the provisions provided by the designers of Weihai BS Marine Co. Ltd ways to preserve the integrity of the material, the inflatable boat can still be prone to all sorts of breakdowns.
• On the shore, it is better not to leave the boat in direct sunlight.
• At the end of the operation, the boat should be washed and cleaned of dirt or fish slime, this will help preserve the properties of the seams and plywood parts of the bottom or transom.
• It is also important to dry the boat before it is packed for long term storage.
• It is best to store a rolled up boat at room temperature. Although modern PVC material can withstand quite a lot of cooling without significant changes in properties, temperature changes are best avoided.
• It is important to timely replace failed components, especially valves.
• At the end of operation, it is important to assess the condition of the entire craft and its individual accessories. Something might need to be replaced. That is why Weihai BS Marine Co. Ltd manufactures a large number of spare parts for all models of Gladiator boats.

Numerous products of the company made it possible to provide boats for a multi-million army of fishermen, hunters, lovers of water recreation and tourism. It is quite natural that a lot of reviews about this popular brand appeared on the network.

As for positive statements, many note that boat Gladiator 330 is made of high quality multilayer PVC. Worked great in both hot and cold weather. Gladiator A280HT is easy to assemble, easy to move when assembled, and consumers find the Gladiator D420AL boat easy to drive and comfortable.

Some note negative points, for example, insufficiently high-quality plywood in the manufacture of seats or floors. Some consumers complain that the regular pump is too small, it takes a long time to pump, and when entering the glider, the boat scours with its nose. But all these shortcomings, most likely, arise due to violation of the rules of operation.

See the following video for an overview of the Gladiator boats.