344 Hustler Cheetah opinions...
 

Any opinions on the boat with 500's or 575's. Handling above 92mph???

Any comparisons to another boat ...maybe a 388 slingshot


Thanks

I have looked at both, They are first class boats. I haven't seen many 344 used forsale, so people must really like them. I have been out in a 38 w/ 500s. Very fun and felt like you could easily catch air if you trimmed it out. Also note it didn't rattle, was solid as a rock. I would compare the ride and speed to a Fountain or Velocity.

WILL;)

..I was in a 388 during our Seaside NJ race, as Pace Boat 2..great ride from Manasquan to Seaside..fast and nice solid feel...

:cool:

`ITS NOTHING BUT A 32 MADE INTO A 34 !! THEY TEND TO BOW STEER,
ROLL, & HANDLE TERRIBLE ABOVE 95 AND LIKE ITS BIG SISTER THE 388 HAS LITTLE RESALE VALUE,JUST LOOK HOW CHEAP THEY ARE IN TRADER,ECT.[B]:mad:
AND I OWN A 388 NOW !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
SORRY FACTS ARE FACTS

The Fact is:
There are a couple of steps on the 34 and none on the 32... there is NO comparison between the two. The 34 was tested with 30 plus bottom combinations, the slingshot was not nor were many other stepped bottom boats. Never rode in either one but a friend did alot of work on the cheetah, and went for alot of those test runs, he says the cheetah is the most stable boat they have. CHEERS

Low freeboard .... can you run it standing up ????

How does it run in bigger water?

WELL
 

HAD A 1998 388 NICE FAST BOAT, BUT THE STEPS MAKE IT HAIRY,I HATE THAT FEELING, BUT GOING 90 + MPH WITH LITTLE HP IS A PLUS

has to be more opinions!!?!?!?!?!

I didnt' think there were all that many 34's out there. We looked at the 344 Miami unveiling boat. Nice boat, cool graphics.

Cardshark has a Slingshot and has run it in some poker runs, etc. He'll likely have a wealth of info!

Mark

I have not been in a 344 yet, so I can't comment on the ride. Although it did get good reviews. But i would disagree that it is just a 32 made into a 34. Start with the bottom:V-bottom-32 vs stepped-344 is no comparison. I don't care who's the manufacturer, take a stepped hull & compare to earlier model with v-bottom, it is going to handle & perform differently.The cabins are the basically the same. But, most performance boats have basically the same cabin! Styling of hull is considerably different, including the molded-in swim platform. Styling is more similar to a smaller version of the Slingshot.I don't see how anyone can make a determination on resale at this point in time. There are simply too few on the market for-sale to say they have poor re-sale.The boat from Miami show with Cheetah graphics has been for sale awhile. But, personally I am not wild about the graphics.An expensive boat with ugly graphics is still an ugly boat. The 344 is not like the Slingshot where always seems 1/2 dozen are always for sale.Given small number ever produced,I think you'll find opinions and first hand experiences are going to be very limited on this model.

Fact is I own a 388 and and know the guys that helped design it
and the 34 is a knock off of the old 32 mold it does as you pointed out have a different bottom ! The long and short is if you want a boat that is stable in driving at speed and stable in resale
DON'T buy these boats,,, look in yacht trader and on line at the prices they bring used ,,,,unless you buy a used one at a deal your going to loose money and triple didgets in either one with out tons of bottom work to get rid of some of the lift !!!
As one post said they are hairy at speed ,and rough water it will pound you silly !:mad: :( :(
a 39 velocity is a good fast boat that appears to do everything well for alot less money !
This post was not to start anything simply to express my 2 cents worth :) and to try and help ,the factory does give good support !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

JB,
There is one for sale here in Lake Norman.Radical Rides in Mooresville,N.C

I rode in a 344 last year with Rick from Aqua-Mania. It had stock 502 mags. AllI can say is WOW. It was fast, it handled well, and it looked great. I feel it is a 388 cut down. But you will have to take one out yourself. It is the only way to be sure. Everybody's taste varies.;)

I have always liked the styling of a Hustler. Although the color scheme on the 344 leaves a little to be desired to me.

There was a 344 that rolled here on Lake Norman last year, on the very first day in the water. No one was hurt, it was blamed on driver inexperience going up side ways on a very large cruiser wake.

Radical Rides here on Norman has had one for sale all summer and cannot seem to give it away. It is on a nice Myco trailer and is a very pretty boat, I don't know if it overpriced or what. They are not that well know in this area and when you say Hustler around here to those not in the know, the first thing you hear is "That's the boat that rolled last year".

They are fast!

Just because a 344 rolled does not mean the hull is prone to rolling. How many have rolled? There have been (2)recent threads, including today about Cigarettes with stepped hulls rolling. There are have been a number of cases of multiple brands of stepped hulls rolling,ie: Fountain,etc. Including in racing situations with experienced drivers. In general,in most cases, regardless of the brand,the result always seems to be it's a case of driver error.The 344 deck mold & cowl is a totally different design from the 32.The sundeck design is a clone of the Slingshot.It's not even close to a 32.Upper sides of hull by engine compartment much more rounded-again lika a Slingshot,not like a 32.The freeboard is similar to a 32,but overall appearance of a 344 is lower due to new front deck.The 32 deck is more angled up going toward the driver,than there is a cowl or windshield on top of that.It gives appearance of more freeboard.Instrument cluster & control set-up is totally different from a 32, including end of model years 32's.The 32 never had throttles on one side of cluster and shifters on other,like a 344. Accessory switch placement, cabin door, all different. If someone says a 37 Outerlimits is a stretched 32, I agree totally.But not a 344.

As far as that cheetah rolling on Lake Norman. I know people who were good friends with the passengers on board. 3 words........ GROSS DRIVER ERROR. cant make those CAPS big enough
What is that marina trying to "give the cheetah away" for?

National Marine in OH has/had a 344. I believe it is a 2001 with 502's. Wow, I think we are up to (3)for sale now. Must be a glut on the market!!

Still a long way to catch up to the 3412 fountains out there!

COME ON HUSTLERS TOTAL PRODUCTION HAS NOT EQUALED FOUNTAINS 2 YEAR production RATE ,, ANYONE SHOULD NO THAT !
SO YES NEW AND USED HUSTLERS ARE VERY HARD TO UN LOAD,( RATIO)
JUST CALL SOME OLD DEALERS AND ASK OR TRY TO TRADE ONE
UNLESS THEY HAVE ONE IN STOCK THEY WILL TELL YOU CAN'T SELL THEM !
FOR INFO OFFSHORE PERFORMANCE I THINK THERE IN MD. HAS A CHEETAH THEIR BLOWING OUT AND THERE IS ONE AT RADICAL
RIDES IN DENVER N.C I THINK, AND DOLLAR OFFSHORE HAD TWO ALONG WITH THE ONE NATIONAL MARINE HAD ,SO WHEEL AND DEAL YOU CAN BUY UM CHEAP JUST REMBER IT WHEN YOU GO TO UNLOAD IT TRY AND BUY AN OUTLIMITS CHEAP !!!!!:D :D
DRIVER ERROR AT 45 MPH :confused:
HAVE A GREAT LABOR DAY EVERYONE !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

MY NAME IS CHIP FENDT/VP HUSTLER AND I WAS THE PERSON THAT PUT THE 40 DIFFRENT CHANGES IN THAT BOTTOM. YES IT'S TRUE THAT THE 32 WAS USED TO AS A PLATFORM TO CREATE A TEST BOAT BUT HAS NO RESEMBLENCE TO IT. HERE AT HUSTLER WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE THE FUNDS, TIME AND RESOUCES TO BUILD A TEST BOAT AND NOT MAKE YOU THE CONSUMER A GINNY PIG.
THE CHEETAH IS A 34 FT BOAT WITH 32 FT OF BOTTOM. HOW MANY BOATS ARE OUT THERE THAT RUN A REAL LOW 90'S WITH STOCK 500 AND WHEELS. AS A MATTER OF FACT BOB TEAQUE AT POWERBOAT RAN ONE IN THE TRIAL'S WITH 502/415HP EFI'S AND A FULL LOAD OF FUEL AND RAN 83 MPH AND CHANGE. HE ALSO COMMENTED ON THE RUFF WATER HANDLING WITH EXTREME PRAISE. YES ONE FLIPPED IN LAKE NORMAN, BUT DID YOU KNOW THAT THIS PERSON JUST WHIPPLECHARGED THEM AND THE BOAT A 4300 RPM IS RUNNING IN THE LOW 90'S AND MOST LIKEY DIAL IN CLOSE TO A 100MPH. THIS BOAT JUST RAN UP FRONT WITH THE ROCKET SHIP'S DURRING THE 1000 ISLAND POKER RUN. I GUESS FOR THOSE WHO LACK EXPERIANCE WOULD CALL IT A HANDFUL- MR DANIEL'S ?
PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CALL ME IN THE OFFICE WITH ANY QUESTION'S YOU MAY HAVE OR BETTER YET' SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT AND VISIT OUR FACILITY AND WE'LL ARRANGE A TEST RIDE.

CH1P FENDT

RACERCHIP - Some on this board can get testy from time to time, but most of us know who they are and take it for what they're worth. When people like you come on and participate, it's much appreciated by most of us. It's great to have the manufacturers here to set the record straight and hope you participate more often. Some might take cheap shots but that's because they have an agenda and we can see through most of those responses. Thanks for the input...Steve

Looks like there is a hidden agenda here, lets take it behind closed doors guys.

Say good bye to this thread.

OSO

Only my 2 cents but I feel Hustler is a premier boat builder. I have talked a length with Chip and He knows his STUFF. Hustler has been building boats along time and Chip has alot of experience racing Offshore. Other than the Navy, who other than Hustler took the Steps to the next Step. I feel Hustler has been given a bad rap at times. There 388 and 344 are first rate!! Just my Two Cents like I said.