First DCB M45 Widebody Catamaran Targeted For July 2025 Delivery

During last Thursday night’s DCB Performance Marine Owners Regatta Welcome Celebration, most participants officially learned—though at least four already knew—that the Phoenix-based company was building a sterndrive-powered 45-foot catamaran. According to DCB vice president of production Johnny Bauer, the delivery of the first M45 Widebody-dubbed model is planned for July. Hull No. 1 will be powered by Mercury Racing 1550/1350 engines.

Coming next year summer from DCB Performance Marine, the M45 Widebody is a full-tunnel catamaran with sterndrive power. Rendering courtesy Johnny Bauer/DCB

How does a custom catamaran builder go from a new-model announcement to unveiling the first build in just 10 months? First and foremost, DCB already has the hull mold in the form of that used to create its new M42R outboard engine-powered cat slated for a debut of its own in November. For the sterndrive version, inserts will be used in the 42-footer’s hull mold to narrow tunnel-width and reduce compression.

“Our goal is take out some of the lift,” Bauer explained. “With the power we’re anticipating, most likely (Mercury Racing) QC4v (quad-cam four-valve) 1100s, and the higher speeds, we know we will have plenty of compression. So we will use inserts in the M42R mold. If there’s enough demand for the M45, we will create a second hull mold.”

The 45-footer shares a hull with the upcoming outboard-powered 42-footer though one that will be modified for sterndrive applications.

Florida-based Marine Concepts handled the tooling for the M42R cat, so the company already had the hull plug and mold completed. But the deck was designed for outboard applications, which means it had to be raised significantly to accommodate the height of turbocharged powerplants mounted inside the engine compartment.

So a taller new deck with a bustle extension is being created at Marine Concepts. All tooling, including that for the new engine hatches and other small parts, is set to arrive at DCB headquarters by February 2025.

An engine compartment, of course, translates to lost rear stowage that comes with having outboards on the transom rather than taking up rear cockpit space aft of the firewall. Bauer and company founded enough space to locate a stowage bin inside the engine compartment. And there will more built-in stowage options available, depending on buyer preference.

The design of for the M45 Widebody combines new and classic elements of DCB styling.

The M45 Widebody combines styling cues from the original M-Series of sterndrive cats with those of the newer R-Series of outboard cats.

“It pays homage to DCB’s classic, elegant styling and its newer, ‘Gen 3’ styling,” Bauer said. “We’ve designed the tooling with all that in mind, plus easier production and much easier installation and removal of QC4v engines.”

Having the same interior specifications as the M42R catamaran means the M45 Widebody can use the same cockpit-liner tooling, which already exists at DCB.

At the moment, DCB has four orders—hence why at least four people knew about the M45 Widebody before the Friday night celebration—for the cat. Bauer believes that Mercury Racing’s two-year warranty on its 1100 engine is driving a resurgence of interest in sterndrive power. The M45 is a next-generation offering designed to serve the sterndrive audience.

Closer detail.

“With the extra warranty for the Mercury Racing 1100, we’ve been seeing a lot of interest on the sterndrive side,” he said. “Plus, it’s been awhile since Mercury Racing has done anything with the QC4v line. We’re anticipating that they may have something else up their sleeve in the near future.”