37 AT or 388 Hustler...?
 

I am curious what you guys think. Not looking for opinions from your recliner...looking for first hand knowledge. I have found a nice 37 but I have always liked the 388 but don't know much about them.

388 is fast.

That said the cabin is cramped and you can almost feel the water from under the boat from how they are built. They are strong and fast but they have an odd feeling to them.

The Hustler 388 is a quick boat and handles well only up to about 95 mph after that they are not predictable that's why Hustler decided to build the 39 Rocket as opposed to redesign the 388 hull .
I agree the Active has a bigger cabin.
Rick G.

The cabin room is important for me because we will be staying on it alot.

AT no question asked

If you wanted a bigger cabin yet, you could find a 37 Stiletto...:cool::cool::cool:

The AT is a great boat lots of room and nice to stay on, my 388 was a blast at speed it gave you that lite feel (at 105 mph) the Hustler was a great boat but not much to stay on.

PM Dean on here, I think he is selling his 388 with 600sci.

Depends on what era 37AT you are talking about. In 2003 the deck was raised on the AT cresting about 3" higher front to back. It's noticeable. Earlier than 2003 has more of a flat-deck type of look from the windscreen ramp forward. 2003 and later has more of a curved slope look, from the same point forward.

I've had several friends with 388 Hustlers, and they all loved them. Well, one didn't because he kept blowing Bravos off the back of the boat, but that's what happens with twin 900HP motors. Regardless, there was nothing wrong with the functionality of the boat. mwdill here on OSO has had his 388 Hustler for several years, and we've ridden many poker runs together, in some snotty stuff in the Chesapeake Bay/Virginia Ocean front even; and we've both lived to tell about it. They have even slept 4 adults on their boat on more than one occasion.

I don't think you could go wrong with either. I've been in the cabin of mwdill's boat a few times, and I'd compare the headroom to that of the earlier 37 Active Thunders. All told, I think the AT rides probably a little better in the rougher stuff, but the 388 holds up just fine in the end as well.

His 388 is clean too. Very nice boat

We have a 388 with 850's runs 108-110. Great boat. Extremely well-built. Yes the cabin is smaller but I believe you can make it work. In my opinion the 388 is one of the sexiest boats out there. As far as running the boats I have never ran an AT. But the 388 is a boat with a lot of stern lift. Of course some of that ultimately depends on set up. But still.

I have a 388 with 700's and SCX drives. I came from a 2002 Topgun with 575's. Like was said earlier, the 388 has a different feel to it. You do "feel" the water through the hull differently. Not bad but just different. So far I love the boat. I have slept in it a few nights and it doesn't have a lot of head room, but the size of the bed etc, made it comfy to sleep. (I am 6'5"). I get more comments from strangers on my Hustler than I did with my Cig.

The one I'm looking at is the early step hull as I can't afford a newer one. I've heard exactly what you guys are saying about the 388 from others but wanted personal experience opinions

I agree with the others, the 388 is a little faster (although hairy once you reach the high 90's), but the 37 AT has a way better cabin if that's what you're looking for. I would think even the early AT's with the lower deck would still have a little more cabin room than the 388.

As mentioned above, the 37 Outerlimits has an even more cabin so you might want to look at those also.

I will also add the 37 AT and 37 OL will be better in the rough as well.

I do love the 37 OL but haven't seen any under 80k and they are hard on bravo anything.

The 37OL is bigger than the 37AT, and heavier. I'd compare a 37 Outerlimits with the 38 PowerPlay before anything like an AT, Cigarette, Hustler; strickly comparing sizes.

I was out on a friend's 388 a couple weeks ago. My first time driving one. Coming from a Baja 342, I couldn't believe how light and nimble it felt. Loved the flat ride and great acceleration. Good cockpit room. Nice deep feel to it. I thought it had a decent cabin size. I little tight in and out through the door. I think someone turned off the radio three times that day bumping into the panel coming in and out.

I don't know what you guys mean by "feel the water" ?! :drink:
[ATTACH=CONFIG]528075[/ATTACH]

Agree with Brian, the OL is a big boat, not really Similiar to the others as far as size.

2 friends 1 with an AT and 1 with 388. Have spent equal time on both. I got no skin in the game but the AT is heads and shoulders nicer in ride and room just 5 MPH slower with same power. AT all the way!!

Brian bring the jet to the James I just picked up a WarHawk 19 that thing is a blast to drive....

Did you buy Tommy's WarHawk? You really feel the water in that! I wish I could have brought my jet down to GPP last weekend.

Derek, it may come down to the type of boating you want to do. The pad v is going to ride rougher but it is 38'...but damn it sexy. It's got the AT in the looks department

I boat lake Michigan 99% of the time and we all know how that gets so I'm thinking that the ride and cabin are top priority.

Yeah...what he said

One thing about the 388 that was said earlier about the ride being hairy in the 90's. yes it does walk and get squirrely in that speed zone but if you trust it and push the boat about 4mph faster it will straighten right out and fly like an arrow. you just gotta trust it. we ride better at 100-105 then we do at 94 in ours.

i think a 18 ft bayliner is the answer ! i got 1 I'll sell you for real low cheap ......

Hard to trust it when the manufacturer tells ya the hull wasn't designed and doesn't run well at those speeds. This the reason of the redesign.

No question, the 388 is a sweet boat and was on my list too.

they had the original black thunder 388 running 150+ back in the day...just saying

8 of 10 days your not even going to see 85 on Lake Michigan. Like I said earlier. Ride and cabin are #1

Then I think you just answered your own question. :D

What boat is this? Black thunder or hustler? I've seen YouTube vids of a 388 with 1500 a side that supposedly does 130+. Is that an early or later 388?

Did hustler update the bottom on that 388 reloaded that they are selling new? Is it now similar to a rockit?

Go always go Apache you know how those guys are with big water rants....

Black Cloud, And its for sale if anyone is interested :D

That's the one, its called Black Cloud, and its an Arneson Boat with huge power. 146 mph.

Aggressive lifting strakes and light composite construction make these boats fast with little power, it also makes them feel squirrely....but only in the passenger seat :D The early models many removed the last 18 inches of lifting strake (Black Cloud included). Its a big job, because the strake is part of the mold. Later models it was built up flat in the inside right from the factory, so removal was easier.


I have cut holes in a 388 for installation of things, the pieces I cut out we so light I was simply amazed. But they are a good strong boat, just a different feel than standard construction.

Tabs down in rough water it's still 38'8" of boat, I'm not sure why people suggest the AT will be better in the rough? In fact the hustler may weigh less, which will be better on bravo drives.

I like the latest gen of AT because of the cabin, the cabin could never be compared to the hustler. In fact the hustler v berth bed is shallower than most 24 ft boats, no way could I sleep up there.

The rigging, wiring, and hardware on the 388 are simply amazing, highest quality and best attention to detail in that price range, by far.

The bathroom in the 388 is like a practical joke, even for girls :)

IMO neither is a bad choice, even for big water. 388 less cabin but more a speed.

All true, except...


The tabs (transom) on the Hustler are roughly 37' 6" linear feat from the nose of the boat. So it's not exactly 38' 8" of boat.

Go home Tape Measure; your Drunk off the Fountain again. :bananalove::ernaehrung004::lolhit:



I've rafted various 37ATs to various 388 Hustlers many times over the years, and if you include the swim platforms (bolted/molded respectively), they are nearly identical.




I wish someone actually measured "bathtub" lines or water lines. It would make things much easier.
Then again, men have been measuring from the "base" for years, but women never care about that either.

Hogie Roll,

You are correct, the 388 Reloaded is the new version of the 388 Slingshot. We took what we learned from the 39 Rockit and applied that to the bottom of the 388 Reloaded.

Paul

Yes, bolt on swim platforms are not counted. Everyone that doesn't have a molded platform patrols the internet trying to measure their penis against a molded platform boat. Wouldn't it be easier to just get with the times, add the molded platform and call the AT a 39? it may increase your sales :D hahah

That's very high on the priority list.
#1: build a CC
#2 add molded swim platform

:D

I've ridden in both. Both great boats. IMO I'd give the 388 an edge for poker runs, and the AT for all my every day boating. But that's really nit picking.