An Early Look Inside a Rare Merritt Build

July 2026: I recently had the chance to stop by Merritt Boatworks for a behind-the-scenes look at one of its most unique projects currently under construction—a custom 56-foot catamaran.

If you know Merritt Boatwork, you know the yard has built its reputation on producing some of the finest custom sportfishing boats in the world, almost exclusively with traditional deep-V hulls. Seeing a Merritt take shape as a catamaran is something you don’t come across very often.

The boat is still several months away from splashing, but that’s what makes this early look interesting. Walking around the build gives you an appreciation for the craftsmanship and engineering that go into a project like this.

One thing that stood out was it felt similar to walking through any custom sportfisher, with the same attention to detail that Merritt is known for.

The boat will be powered by quad 600-hp Mercury outboards and this custom 56-footer is sure to draw plenty of attention once it hits the water. Until then, enjoy this exclusive glimpse inside the build process as another high quality Merritt begins to take shape.

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