Just 20 miles south of Las Vegas, Henderson, Nev., population 300,000, is thriving. It offers suburban living within easy reach—but with just enough distance—of the uniquely excessive nearby city. Better still, at least if you have to be a performance-boat lover?

Henderson is the gateway to Colorado River-fed Lakes, the closest being Lake Mead, which is on the city’s doorstep. For a change of pace, Henderson-based go-fast boat owners can head south to explore Lake Mohave and, of course, Lake Havasu and the Parker Strip, or head northeast to tackle Lake Powell.

For the Dukes, the DCB M31 Widebody with an open bow and a mid-cabin is the perfect family boat.

For Shawn and Janice Duke, who moved from San Clemente, Calif., to Henderson last year, easy access to the river mattered as they’re a couple of longtime boaters with four adult-children from 19 to 28 years old. Boating is high-quality family time for the Dukes. And now, after taking delivery of a new DCB Performance Boats M31 Widebody—dubbed Strength and Honor—with a mid-cabin and an open-bow, they’re ready to explore.

“It’s definitely time to branch out,” said Shawn Duke, who manages a logistics company from his home office. “Most of our boating has been at Lake Havasu with some at Lake Powell.

“We are going to broaden our horizons and do more boating at Lake Mead,” he added, then chuckled.

The Duke’s journey to yesterday’s delivery began a few years back during the Los Angeles Boat Show, then held at the Los Angeles Convention Center, where they spied the famed Lickity-Split M35 Widebody catamaran on display. Though they weren’t ready to buy, they stayed in touch with the El Cajon, Calif., company’s Jeff Johnston and started serious discussions with him a little more than a year ago. They took test rides in an M35 and the M31, and though they appreciated both they preferred the smaller boat with an open-bow.

Check out the slideshow above for more images of the latest M31 to leave the DCB facility.

Built through the vacuum-infusion process, the carbon-fiber, half-capped boat is dressed in DCB’s Phase III gelcoat graphics package and loaded with options. Its interior blends Alcantara and CoolTouch marine vinyl with CNC stitching. Helm station features include an Isotta Carlotta steering wheel and upgraded controls from Latham Marine. A Stage III stereo with a Fusion head unit, amplifiers and speakers provides the tunes. The 31-footer’s interior LED package includes mood lighting, courtesy lighting, cupholder lighting and more.

The boat arrived in Lake Havasu City, Ariz., yesterday, on an Extreme custom trailer.

“Today was our first day on it—and it was fabulous,” said Shawn Duke after yesterday’s delivery test-session. “We are all grinning from ear to ear. And I as told Jeff and (DCB’s) Tony Chiaramonte, we are safe and responsible boaters. We’ll be very good members of the DCB family.”

Ready for the river.

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