Gladiator 24

Description

The Gladiator 24, a robust fiberglass masthead sloop designed by American naval architect Henry R. "Hank" Lauritzen in 1969 and produced by the short-lived Gladiator Boat Company in New Jersey from 1969 to 1972, exemplifies the era's pursuit of affordable, family-friendly cruisers with a nod to offshore capability, blending classic lines with practical innovations for East Coast and Great Lakes sailors. At 24 feet LOA (23'6" hull) with a 7-foot 10-inch beam, 3 feet 10 inches draft on a full-length external lead keel (4,200 pounds displacement, 50% ballast ratio for excellent stiffness and a comfort ratio of 24.5), it offers a secure motion in choppy bays while remaining trailerable under 5,000 pounds dry; the fractional sloop rig deploys 285 square feet of sail (SA/D ratio 16.2 for balanced speed, hull speed ~6.1 knots) with an in-mast roller furling main as a signature feature for effortless reefing, achieving 5–7 knots on reaches in 10–15 knots of wind. Constructed with hand-laid fiberglass hulls (plywood bulkheads, balsa-cored decks prone to occasional delamination if neglected), it includes a shoal-draft variant (3'2" draft) and inboard Atomic 4 gas auxiliary (later Yanmar diesel conversions common) for reliable 5.5-knot motoring; the interior delivers surprising volume with 5'10" headroom, V-berth forward, U-shaped galley with sink and icebox, enclosed head, and convertible saloon settees sleeping four comfortably for weekend overnights. Only about 35–40 hulls were built before the yard folded amid economic shifts, fostering a dedicated owners' group for parts and rallies.