DCB delivers second M35R catamaran, tops 126 mph on test run

DCB Performance Marine has handed off its second M35R catamaran, and the number that jumps off the deck is 126 mph. The Phoenix builder’s vice-president, Tony Chiaramonte, tested the boat on Lake Havasu earlier in the week with twin Mercury Racing 500R outboards and 34-inch-pitch props, then watched the bright 35-footer head toward its New Hampshire owner on an Adrenaline aluminum trailer.

That kind of speed is exactly why the M35R is drawing attention beyond the usual cruising crowd. DCB has positioned the model as the newest addition to its M-Series outboard lineup, with seating for six and a design meant to be the company’s most versatile and user-friendly cat. It sits just beneath the larger M37R, but it is also meant to be easier to trailer, launch and dock than bigger performance cats, a point that matters to buyers who want supercat punch without committing to a larger footprint.

The buyer profile is clear: this is a boat for people who want a fast, nimble hull, not just a big cockpit and a smooth ride. DCB says the M35R can be rigged with twin Mercury Racing 300R, 400R or supercharged 500R outboards, and the company’s preferred setup is twin 400R V10s, a package aimed at balancing power, efficiency and reliability. The 500R test run showed what the boat can do when maximum performance is the brief, while the 400R option points to the way many owners are likely to actually run it, with enough speed on tap but a more practical day-to-day package.

The early sales numbers also suggest this is more than a one-off showcase. Chiaramonte said DCB has already sold four M35R catamarans in total, with hull number three already in lamination. That pace matters in a segment where fresh tooling, refined handling and production flow can separate a curiosity from a real model line. DCB says the M35R was unveiled in fall 2025, built from freshly designed tooling, and intended to be a more user-friendly answer to buyers who still want the feel of a high-performance cat.

The broader picture is just as telling. Since Craig Hargreaves bought majority ownership from Rob Blair in 2023 and the company became DCB Performance Marine of Phoenix, the brand has pushed hard on growth, operations and new-model development. Add in the continued interest around demo rides in Lake Havasu City and the M35R’s second delivery, and the message is hard to miss: there is still a durable market for power cats that combine speed, stability and enough practicality to make ownership work beyond the headline number.