Last week, Chuck Broaddus and Grant Bruggemann began testing Broadco, a 40-foot Marine Technology, Inc., catamaran that competes primarily in the Superboat catamaran class on the Super Boat International offshore racing circuit. It was the first time that Broaddus, the team’s owner and driver, had shared the cockpit with Bruggemann, his new throttleman and team manager, since they joined forces earlier this year. (Read the story.) Between morning and afternoon sessions that included propeller testing, Broaddus and Bruggemann logged two hours together on Sarasota (Fla.) Bay and in the Gulf of Mexico.

“I couldn’t have been more ecstatic with the performance of the boat—and Grant,” said Broaddus when he returned to the Grant’s Signature Racing Shop in Bradenton this evening. “I think we have a winning combination, and I think we have good things in store for us this season.”

Among the setup changes Bruggemann and the Broadco crew made to the 40-footer for the coming season was moving back its 750-hp Scorpion Racing engines. Broaddus said the improvement was obvious and significant.