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2001 Hustler 344 Cheetah Photos
2001 Hustler 344 Cheetah Test Details
| Category | Performance Boat |
| Length | 34ft 4in / 10.36 m |
| Beam | 8ft 6in |
| Fuel Capacity | 510 L |
| Weight | 7,200 lb |
| Dealers | Contact Hustler Boats Dealers |
| Buyers Guides | Search For Hustler Boats Buyers Guides |
| Boats For Sale | Search For Hustler Boats For Sale |
2001 Hustler 344 Cheetah Description
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Heres a question for performance boaters: when is a cat not a cat?
When the cat is a Cheetah, a 34-foot offshore V-bottom designed by a pioneer in stepped-hull technology!
Global Marine Perfor-mance, builder of Hustler powerboats, introduced its Cheetah Poker Run edition at last years Miami Boat Show. Few were released in 2000 but orders for both these and the luxurious pleasure version are ramping up for 2001 following rave reviews.
Hustlers lineup of go-fast boats ranges from 26 to 50 feet, with recent attention centred around its 388 Sling-shot model, a front-runner on the Factory 2 offshore racing circuit. The Cheetah again utilizes Hustlers patented variable 24-degree deadrise hull and ventilated Tek-Step bottombut the steps are shallower, configured more like shingles to produce superb handling at high speeds.
These days, with poker run boats capable of 80 mph plus, handling is a priority. Hustlers new Cheetah is a testament to this.
Quickly readied for our test, the 344 Cheetah was splashed with 30" pitch Bravo One props spinning from Mercury Racings robust new XR drives. Powered by twin fast and reliable 470-hp HP 500 EFIs, the boat had not yet been dialed in, but even so, we captured a top speed of 84.3 mph/4,900 rpm on GPS, 86 mph indicated on the speedometer. Straight off the trailer, thats quick.
Top end is important, but if you cant use it safely, the excitement wears off fast. The Cheetah handles magnificently at high speedsregardless of how much trim is used.
Acceleration times are impressive: 0 to 40 mph in 8.7 seconds, to 50 in 10.2 seconds and 70 in 16.9 seconds. Demonstrating excellent mid-range, the Cheetah pulls from 50 mph to 70 mph in just 7.7 seconds, and took 17 seconds to accelerate from 40 to 80 mph. You could cruise around all day long at 60 mph/3,800 rpm without straining the motors one bit. At 3,300 rpm, the boat runs a gas-efficient 50 mph. It also planes flat at 25 mph/2,300 rpm.
High-speed cornering comes naturally. The hull sets quickly when trimmed under, yet the bow will still bite when trimmed at 0 degrees, or even slightly positive. It slaloms like a runabout.
Race boat construction techniques are employed. The hull, deck and liner are fibreglass bonded and vacuum bag-ging, with tri-axial and bi-axial rovings, carbon fibre and Kevlar hybrids, is employed. Every paint job is custom.
The 344s custom McLeod cockpit has twin bolsters with lumbar back-rests andadjustable headrests in-corporate pistol-grip handles for passengers.
The helm is first class, with top-line Nordskog or Gaffrig instrumentation.
Access to the foredeck is simplified by steps integrated into the passenger console.
The cabin, with enclosed head, sink, cooler and spacious berth, is adequate for overnighting.
Undeniably, Hustlers 344 Cheetah is bred to run aggressively. Cat lovers bewarethis Cheetah shows its claws.
2001 Hustler 344 Cheetah Test Specifications
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Test boat engines:
Twin Mercury Racing HP 500 EFI,
470-hp, 8.2 litre (502 cid)
V-8 gasoline engines, pushing 30-inch four-blade
Bravo One props through RX drives.
Acceleration
mph sec. mph sec.
0-20 5.60 0-50 10.25
0-30 7.11 0-60 13.91
0-40 8.74 0-70 16.93
Top speed (GPS)
rpm mph
4,900 84.3
Cruising speed (GPS)
rpm mph rpm mph
3,100 40 3,800 60
3,300 50 4,400 70
Speed testing by Garmin GPS
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