New Hellkats 32 Catamaran Aces First Test Session
Rigged by Julian Maldonado and company at Manatee Marine Unlimited in Palmetto, Fla., the first 32-foot Hellkats Powerboats catamaran built under the new team at the Miami-based company will be displayed next week at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. Earlier this week, Maldonado ran the 32-footer powered by Mercury Racing500R outboard engines for the first time, and the boat impressed him.
The first Hellkats 32 catamaran impressed test-driver Julian Maldonado, who also rigged the boat.
“It was 10 times better than I expected it to be,” he said. “It was very predictable and very agile. I only spent about 10 minutes in it, but think it’s going to be a big ticket for the new owners.”
Currently in Dubai with his wife, Madison, Maldonado returns stateside Monday. Preparations to defend the Jackhammer team’s 2023 Super Stock world championship title with team owner/driver Reese Langheim at the upcoming Race World Offshore Key West Championships will keep him busy until the first race begins.
Starting next Wednesday, the 32-footer will be on display at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.
However, Maldonado does plan to run the Hellkats 32-footer for a couple of the company’s sea trials on non-race days.
“I’ll do more tuning on it after Key West, but I won’t have time until then,” he said.
Testing will continue after the Key West Offshore World Championships.
