Bauer To Lead DCB Production Team – Speed on the Water

High-performance marine industry veteran Johnny Bauer has joined DCB Performance Marine as the company’s vice president of production. Bauer starts this week at the Phoenix-based custom catamaran company.

“I am basically tasked with making sure we use all of our equipment at the new facility to its maximum potential and increase through-put,” said Bauer.

The hiring of Bauer is another noteworthy move in a big year for DCB. Under new principal owner Craig Hargreaves, the company moved from its longstanding home in Southern California to Arizona in June.

“We could not be happier to have Johnny join the DCB family,” said Jeff Johnston, the president of the company. “He brings a wealth of experience to our production team and we’re excited to have him with us at our new facility.”

Formerly with Mercury Racing and Performance Powerboats, Johnny Bauer has a new mission in Arizona. Photo by Cole McGowan copyright Powerboat P1.

In May 2022, Bauer was hired by Performance Boat Center in Osage Beach, Mo., to manage production of the multi-brand dealership’s Performance Powerboats catamaran line. He had worked for Mercury Marine for nine years before joining Mercury Racing, where he stayed for 18 years while working on various projects including the Fond du Lac, Wis., company’s quad-cam four-valve engine platform.

Bauer’s work with Performance Powerboats included setting up a lamination facility in Houston as well as working with the Performance Powerboats team to create a deck for its 42-foot catamaran and more. The Performance Powerboats P-420 catamaran debuted during the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout in August.

“I wanted to finish the 420 all the way through to delivery to the customer before moving on to my next challenge,” Bauer said. “My only regret is that we didn’t get the P-280 dialed in before I left.”

The co-owner of Performance Boat Center, Mark Waddington wished Bauer well in his new position.

“We appreciated Johnny being part of the team,” Waddington said. “He did a lot to help us out as we got started with Performance Powerboats. We are excited for him with this new opportunity.”

Bauer, who recently sold his home at the Lake of the Ozarks and is currently house-hunting in Arizona for a new place to share with his wife, was equally graceful in departure.

“Working with the teams in Texas and Missouri, we were able to establish some very good standards and procedures for building the Performance Powerboats line,” Bauer said. “I know they will succeed in the future and continue with what we started.”