joined team hustler
 

well, i pulled the trigger on this bad boy today. was looking at a few other boats but decided on this one. brand new motor builds. maybe have 20hrs on them. built by a great builder in cuse Jebco racing engines. actually 10 minutes down the road from me. the ASD conversion was done by a local syracuse shop. only 160hrs on the boat. its a 1997 kevlar 388. motors are 557ci 850hp. infront of bam trannies. merc racing 5 blades. took it out for a water test today, 40 degrees!! hooked onto my truck and headed home we went. it was far over my budget that i wanted to spend but decided to spend the money now rather than next summer trying to chase problems or miss good weekends or head aches. when these fired up this morning in 40 degree weather bone cold after sitting winterized for a year, and sat there purring like kittens idling perfectly. it sold the boat right then and there. the boat supposedly cruises at 92mph @4000 with only 2-3 psi of boost. and has seen a best of 109. with smaller props it should run well into the one teens. the plan for this boat is to just run it. there are some things i will need to correct from one paint shop who did some work on it, but other than that well run it for next summer and then change the paint next winter, unless it grows on me. i could not be more ecstatic with how business is going and allowing me to make a purchase like this.

now ive never driven an arneson boat, or an 850hp boat so maybe some folks can chime in with what not to do and what works well with these 388's!! heres some pics!!

http://i58.tinypic.com/sdfnn6.jpg

http://i59.tinypic.com/2q9b621.jpg

http://i60.tinypic.com/2dvmy41.jpg

http://i62.tinypic.com/90x0e0.jpg

Congrats very nice post a pic of the Rooster tail when you get a chance.

Dean

I didn't realize that boat was still forsale, I saw the ad awhile ago and then it was gone. It was cheap money I thought. Nice boat.

There is a triple for sale same colors

If you're thinking of changing the paint, start with the dash panels! Is that pink?
I reckon the rest of the color scheme looks great. I know paint is your thing but I wouldn't go changing it in a hurry. Nice looking boat.

RR

What a boat!!!

Awesome boat! Change the pink dash to yellow and you're done. Enjoy.

SWEET! Congrats.

I love the cruise at 92 @ 4000 really ?????

Very nice

We built 1 a few years ago with Arnesons and Ilmor 625's that run's 101 MPH

thanks guys! i will post a rooster tail later!

Congrats. looks like your going to be having some fun next summer.I bet the acceleration is going to be stout,be carefull around the props,I would change the steering wheel also,my had yellowed some too, I would ck the regulator make sure it has some kind of rubber/isolator between it and the mount.

Rob

:grinser010:The pink may help him get in touch with his feminine side. Just sayin. Looks great enjoy.

Congrats awesome rig!

Sweet rig ! My only advice is....

- pin the sticks ALOT !
- and when getting off the swim platform, jump WAY out !

Very nice!!

Congrats, Very nice boat. I visited the factory way back when. Joe? I think is his name who owns Hustler is a real nice guy if you ever needed him.

looks like we might get some nice warm weather for a few days next week. going to take it out and rip it around

It's not the Apache but she is a stout beast. Congrats, love the Hustlers lines and it looks like you found a nice one.

Congrats and enjoy!

Did I see this boat years back at Sterndrive Spec (in NY) in their 'showroom ?' years back ? If the name is not around, it's across the small marina channel to NN's old 'Boat House' bar.

I am not sure. It's been an upstate NY boat since new. Color craft in Syracuse did the conversion (don't get me started on what I need to redo) and the guy who built the motors is in a shop across the street from coopers Marina off 370 in baldwinsville NY. Not sure where you could have seen it but maybe! LOL

Congrats on purchase, a lot of performance for the money and motors should treat you very well with proper care. A lot of time and money was spent to get the power correct in that boat and it's a great looking boat for sure.

Take time getting used to how it reacts at speed, that boat is getting pushed beyond that hull's happy place so extra attention is needed. Years ago a guy took delivery of a 344 with Arnesons and immediately entered a poker run. The boat began to chine walk and ultimately hooked/spun when one prop came up out far enough to lose grip. Luckily no other boats were involved as we were running tight together, but his wife went through the dash breaking bones.

Don't worry about how fast the boat can go, just make it run stable and safe. Then the speed will come naturally.

Thank you!! And I Agree fully with you! We were going to take it to key west next week but realized zero seat time and trying to run hard could be disasterous. Going to take the boat out tomorrow or Thursday for a little scoot and get some time in it before I burry it in the shop for the winter. You should bring holy cow out and come for a rip!

some advice before you head out.... do some serious research on how to run a stepped boat, especially that hull with those drives, you are newbie and have no experience in a boat like that, I am not trying to be a dik, I am trying to save your life and others, take it easy and learn that boat for a few hours before you push it.... running a fast stepped boat and a 60 mph Cig are 2 different worlds and can kill you.... good luck, I don't wanna see anyone hurt....

Would love to join in, but the weather is too nice........decided to get one more cutting of hay in for the year. Next couple afternoons will be spent getting that finished.

Please post some pics of the guys lucky enough to get out !!

which is why we did not go to key west. and why im going to run 150 gallons through it tomorrow in the 1000 islands LOL sucks the leaves are all blown down up there. would have been beautiful.

kelly, the other guys going out ended up bailing so me and a buddy are taking the boat to cape vincent and running up to abay. maybe over to kingston for lunch! will post pics!

Love it Phil! Can't wait to meet up with you at Tickfaw this coming year...just give me a few links headstart!

http://i67.tinypic.com/9vdoy9.jpg

http://i64.tinypic.com/akaik8.jpg

http://i67.tinypic.com/2zjm2r6.jpg

snapped a few pics yesterday. weather was BEAUTIFUL. YES tickfaw will be a blast!!

Man i have to get into the boat butchering biz.

I can't afford my Pabst Blue Ribbon and gas for 9.9 on my Johnboat on the same day.

how did ya get that last pic?

I don't see a selfie stick....

More seat time than just 150 gallons of gas. My straight bottom surface drive(kaama) boat was real fun at first :/ Be very careful with the kplanes when crusing fast. If you drop one side to fast it will damn near spin the boat out or want to make a 90 degree turn.

GoPro most likely

show time, ya driving this boat was a total different experiance. i have talked to rick at aqua mania and in the spring he is going to give me some real lessons for driving this boat because he has seat time on my exact boat. even just turning between islands in the channels at 50 was so different. you can totally tell you have nothing in the water behind you. trying to turn around in the channel was weird too... fell off of plane a few times, and one time it hooked pretty hard only doing about 45 turning easy... certainly going to have a learning curve! but boy going straight on flat water is fun! LOL