While a twin-outboard-powered 29-foot catamaran is a mild ride relative to “the big stuff” in the high-performance powerboat world, most members of the marine media don’t cover that world and have little to no exposure to it. So to give the marine press people attending Mercury Marine’s new-product introduction today for the MerCruiser 6.2L 300- and 350-hp engine (read the story) in Charlotte, N.C., a taste of something thrilling, the Fond du Lac, Wis., company recruited customer DCB Performance Boats to send its M29 catamaran powered by twin Mercury Racing Verado 400R outboard engines for media demo rides.
Of course, longtime DCB team member Tony Chiaramonte brought the 29-footer to Charlotte and is handling the driving for his marine and mainstream media co-pilots.
The first sport catamaran powered by Verado 400R outboard engines, this DCB M29 is in Charlotte today to thrill members of the media.
Among the non-media people who’ll have a chance to experience the M29 is special guest speaker Steve deSouza, a current NASCAR executive and former powerboat racer whose resume includes a 30-year career in F1 tunnel boat racing with nine regional titles, six national championships, four world championships and two world speeds records. The executive vice president of NASCAR XFINITY/Development for Joe Gibbs Racing, deSouza started young in his powerboat racing career.
“I started by writing a letter to Mercury Outboards when I was nine years old asking how to become a racer,” deSouza said. “My first boat race was when I was 15 and I was fortunate enough to go up the ladder to F1.”
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DCB M29 Cat with Mercury 400R Outboards Heading to L.A. Show
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