TEST DRIVE - HUSTLER 344 Cheetah

TEST DRIVE - Hustler 344 Cheetah

Location: Lake 

Test Load: Safety gear, No water, No waste, Half fuel. Driver only.

Test day conditions: Wind 15-18 knots, Waves twoo feet, choppy & gusty conditions.

Synopsis: With a 24 degree deadrise, Hustler’s Tek-Step hull is comfortable in rough water. A ventilated step bottom gives the boat speedy performance without sacrificing desirable handling attributes, resulting in a boat that’s very fast but also enjoyable to drive.

Specifications:
Length.....34 ft. 4 in. (10.46 m)
Beam......8 ft. 6 in. (2.59 m)
Weight.....7,200 lb. (3,265 kg)
Fuel........ 135 gal. (510 L) 

Power & Performance

Test boat engines: Twin Mercury Racing HP 500 EFI, 470-hp, 8.2 litre (502-cid) V-8 gasoline engine, pushing a 30-inch four-blade Bravo One prop through an RX drive.

Acceleration:                  0-20 mph: 5.60 sec.;
                                      0-30 mph: 7.11 sec.;
                                      0-40 mph: 8.74 sec.;
                                      0-50 mph: 10.25 sec,
                                      0-60 mph: 13.91 sec.,
                                      0-70 mph: 16.93 sec.

Top speed (GPS):          84.3 mph / 4900 rpm.

Cruising speeds (GPS): 40 mph / 3,100 rpm;
                                      50 mph / 3,300 rpm;
                                      60 mph / 3,800 rpm;
                                      70 mph / 4,400 rpm.

Speed testing by Garmin GPS

BoatsandPlaces.com, 2001