24 Skater Vs 25 Liberator Cat

[Ospreyproduction]

i like seeing a copy of something great , especialy when the original isnt available anymore, and when they try to improve on it (bigger cockpit and a cabin) that just makes it better for boaters like us

Well said. Not to mention that Randy has everyone of his boats laid up for twins regardless of the application. Plus it's much easier for someone to get a loan on a 2008 Liberator that it is a 1988 Skater.

[Ospreyproduction]

Listen guy's Mr Corson is one of the most honorable persons I ever dealt with he is the reason Liberator has the reputation it does. If all guys did bizz like him we would all be in good shape!!

I hear ya!!! But when you slam Liberator in general like you did earlier in this thread, you steer people away from buying a Liberator from Randy too. You need to remember that your comments unfairly effect his business. If you have an issue with Dave, feel free to discuss it, but don't bust the boat because of an issue with Dave.

[Stitch King]

I was at Skater in Douglas, MI. 3 weeks ago and inquired about a 24. They will build one for you but it's gonna cost ya. It was made perfectly clear that it will be a special setup with all of the costs associated with it. They almost discourage the idea. I do not blame them as the profit margins are higher for the larger hulls. Only ones really available are used.

As far as the Liberators go my 6 year old 21 has held up quite nice. But then again it's only been driven by a little old ladys to church on Sundays.

Saw on another site that Randy has a 25 Lib down in Daytona. Spend the $ on a plane ticket and check it out for yourself. You will be impressed.

[LakeTrash]

I bought my first Liberator in 87 and have had Dave build me 3 others since then. Each was top notch construction. I rig my own boats so the finished product was my own creation.

Dave has been up front and held up his end in every deal in which we have been involved. Many more than just the 4 boats.

Randy does a great job rigging. I like to think he saw one of mine and copied it but in reality I think he is driven by a quest for perfection. The strange thing is Dave was selling 50 to 100 Liberators a year for many years before Randy got involved.

As to the original question - I have been lucky enough to spend a considerable amount of time in both the Skater and the Liberator and owning either would be a pleasure.

LT

[Dutch]

If you cant afford a new Skater I would much rather buy
a new Liberator than a 20 year old Skater. Boats are just
like women, they have a useful life span. A boat like we are
talking about isnt something that is babied, it gets the snot
beat out of it in big waves, and pushing it to the limit with
as much power as the owner can afford. No one in their
right mind can honestly say that 20 years of abuse doesnt
take it's toll on the strength of fiberglass.

[beer30]

No one in their
right mind can honestly say that 20 years of abuse doesnt
take it's toll on the strength of fiberglass.

I agree with this statement 100%. Chuck

[LakeTrash]

I am a person who believes if you are going to start making it personal, (do it in person ) then let the chips fall where they may.

How does that fit with --

I will tell you this that that boob in Texas Dave never had an original idea in his life.

and

Na-- Liberator is a good boat the guy who owns the company - aHHH

Seems to me you need some Help.

LT

[Li'l Toy]

I have to tell you that, in principle, I have always looked down an anyone who copies another's design. Going back to Barney and Action--Pipkorn spent lots of time and money perfecting the Hydrostream, then Action just copied it, and undersold Howard. Not fair. I remember when Thunderbird or Maritime got so tired of little companies popping them and underselling them that they formed thier own comany called Pop-Craft, build the same hulls on the cheap, and undersold themselves.

But then Barney made the Action 16, which I always undersood was a little shorter and wider than the Ventura. From all that I saw, it outran the Ventura in JP. So I guess you gotta buy the Action 16 if you wanted to run JP, or just be fastest.

I bought a 20 year old Eliminator rather than a six year old Liberator. Felt like I got a better quality layup--but as someone else said, 20 years takes its toll. My boat keeps remeinding me. Also, Dave improved on the Eliminator 21 by raising his deck and giving more freeboard. Much as I dislike pops, if I was to buy this boat again I would probably buy the Liberator for the greater freeboard.

And if Douglass really doesn't want to make the 24, more power to Dave for still building it.

[skatermike24]

If it floats its a good day on the water. If you don't like it, don't buy it. It's thats simple.

[beer30]

And if Douglass really doesn't want to make the 24, more power to Dave for still building it.

Skater built a 24 about 2 years ago, was on the Lake Clumberland Marine web-site, they wanted 180,000 with 280's on it. You could buy a 28 for that. And that is probably Skater's plan. Chuck

[Ospreyproduction]

Skater built a 24 about 2 years ago, was on the Lake Clumberland Marine web-site, they wanted 180,000 with 280's on it........

So let's make a fair comparison. $180K for a new 2005 24' SKater........ Do you think the 2005 24' that Skater built is worth 190,000 today????

That makes the 2006 24' Liberator with twin 300's on it for 65K look pretty damn good.

You make the call.

[qmaster023]

just an opinion. i believe that it is not comparing apples to apples. a 20 year old skater cannot be compared to a brand new liberator. a new liberator cannot be compared to a new skater. i own a 1996 liberator. i could not afford a new one or a new skater. i bought it for price and condition. it is personal. if i win the lottery and could pick anything i want then i would do a ton of comparison. if you can't afford the ferrari you buy the chevy. you still have a nice new car. it is just a chevy.

[Hottrucks]

Skater built a 24 about 2 years ago, was on the Lake Clumberland Marine web-site, they wanted 180,000 with 280's on it. You could buy a 28 for that. And that is probably Skater's plan. Chuck

Chuck not to get into any thing but when I talked to Peter before I bought mine, he said the last 24 he built was in 95.....and bit was a few years before that since his last one......

I think Ben hit the nail on the head I bought my Skater because it is what I could afford at the time, and yes it's 20 years this year. Is it new NO with up dated power and new interior would it be equal to a new Liberator???? Well I would have to do a side by side and anyone who thinks they rode in a Skater and a Liberator Unless they where set up the same with equal parts and POWER I would still take the Skater because of the resale value... I have never seen 2 boats set up the same to do a fair test.....SO
Lets find 2 same powered, same interior set up and turn them over to JD power and let them decide and wait for the result....till then I'll Love my Skater ( because I own it) and would never knock another's boat.....at 90 mph they all look pretty good although it's hard to see past the smileing teeth in either.......

One more quick thing yea my boat is 20 years old but it's pretty clean ( ask those who have seen it not me) and free from stress cracks. I would say that ALOT depends on how it was used and taken care of......My boat still retains All of it's OEM parts except one water presure guage,one lower unit and the power heads have been converted to carbs instead of the Lazer EFI ( which I still have all the parts to) they have been freshened once.......Not bad for a 20 year old boat and feel free to look it over anytime...yea I'm pretty proud of the find but it took me 2 year to find it......

Jeff

[dan1731]

Chuck not to get into any thing but when I talked to Peter before I bought mine, he said the last 24 he built was in 95.....and bit was a few years before that since his last one......

There has been newer boats than 1995. I know there was a 97, a 2002 that was built for a single, and the 2005 which was a custom boat with quarter canopies.

[beer30]

Chuck not to get into any thing but when I talked to Peter before I bought mine, he said the last 24 he built was in 95.....and bit was a few years before that since his last one......

I think Ben hit the nail on the head I bought my Skater because it is what I could afford at the time, and yes it's 20 years this year. Is it new NO with up dated power and new interior would it be equal to a new Liberator???? Well I would have to do a side by side and anyone who thinks they rode in a Skater and a Liberator Unless they where set up the same with equal parts and POWER I would still take the Skater because of the resale value... I have never seen 2 boats set up the same to do a fair test.....SO
Lets find 2 same powered, same interior set up and turn them over to JD power and let them decide and wait for the result....till then I'll Love my Skater ( because I own it) and would never knock another's boat.....at 90 mph they all look pretty good although it's hard to see past the smileing teeth in either.......

One more quick thing yea my boat is 20 years old but it's pretty clean ( ask those who have seen it not me) and free from stress cracks. I would say that ALOT depends on how it was used and taken care of......My boat still retains All of it's OEM parts except one water presure guage,one lower unit and the power heads have been converted to carbs instead of the Lazer EFI ( which I still have all the parts to) they have been freshened once.......Not bad for a 20 year old boat and feel free to look it over anytime...yea I'm pretty proud of the find but it took me 2 year to find it......

Jeff

Here is the first thread talking about the boat. Pic's are gone, maybe somebody will still have them. Chuck

http://forums.screamandfly.com/forum...berland+marine