Jackhammer/Manatee Marine Factory Stock Raceboat To Debut At Great Lakes Grand Prix

The jovial driver of the Jackhammer team, Reese Langheim doesn’t sit still well. But so far this season, that’s exactly what the former Super Stock-class team-owner has had to do as he and throttleman Julian Maldonado have waited for their Factory Stock-class 38 Valor Aerocomp raceboat to arrive unrigged at Manatee Marine Unlimited in Palmetto, Fla., the business Maldonado owns with Langheim’s wife, Sara.

The new Jackhammer/Manatee Marine raceboat is ready for its first Factory Stock race early next month in Michigan City, Ind. Photos courtesy/copyright Manatee Marine Unlimited.

Now, minus a few tweaks and set-up modifications, the canopied, twin Mercury Racing 500R outboard engine-powered 38-footer is ready to race, The Dubai-built catamaran will debut at the August 1-3 XINSURNANCE Great Lakes Grand in Michigan City, Ind.

“The initial test was a home-run—Reese danced on the deck after we slowed down,” said Maldonado, who so far this season has been able to satisfy his offshore racing craving by competing alongside rookie driver Jeremy Tschida in the Super Stock-class Wozencraft Insurance raceboat. “The boat did exactly what it was supposed to—engine heights, toe-in and the rest were dead on. It really showed how much effort went into this project.”

After the first test-session, team owner Reese Langheim (right) climbed out of the catamaran’s cockpit and danced on its deck.

“The 38 Valor Aerocomp is a true raceboat, not a hybrid race/pleasure boat,” he continued. “It hit the water running incredible speeds, great cornering and outstanding overall performance. Mercury Racing 500Rs are an incredible package for this hull. We’re excited about this new venture and are ready to show what it can do.

Maldonado and company at Manatee Marine installed the twin 500-hp outboards and handled all the rigging, set-up and cockpit build-out.

“Our team at Manatee crushed it, of course,” he said then chuckled. “We used top of the line hardware manufactured by Lunar Marine, we did gold accents on this one to compliment the sexy lines that it has.”

Said Maldonado, “We’re excited about this new venture and are ready to show what it can do.”

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