On the Water: Doubling the Double Nickel
April 1, 2004
Standing on a public dock in Rhode Island’s Bristol Harbor, I wait as
Michael Fiore fires up the Outerlimits 51 Quad Step Sport Yacht. After
tightening a power steering belt, the company’s president returns to the cockpit
where he flicks the ignition switch and hits the starters. Twin V-8s explode
into life with a deafening roar and then settle into an idle aurally reminiscent
of a funny car lined up at a drag strip’s Christmas tree.
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Outerlimits is scrupulous in the construction of its $1 million speedboat,
including the unusual process of “baking” its hulls and decks. (Click image to enlarge)It is a
primal sound that nearly induces physical pain. No surprise there—the 51’s
Sterling engines crank out 1,200 hp apiece. The staggered powerplants are hooked
up to a Bam transmission, Mercury Racing No. 6 drives, and two Hering five-blade
propellers. Taken as a whole, the setup can propel the V-bottomed 51 to 85 mph
in a scant 20 seconds.
Needless to say, power has its price, and in the case
of the Outerlimits 51 that tariff is $1 million. As we cast off into
Narragansett Bay, I ask Fiore how his company justifies the fee. “We don’t have
to,” the 34-year-old boat-builder states flatly. “Our customers want the best.
They buy our work because I tell them it will be perfect. And I make sure it
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He’s not kidding; Fiore’s fanatical attention to detail is reflected in
every aspect of the boat’s production. Prior to construction, he personally
inspects each 51’s hull and deck molds for the slightest imperfection. During
fabrication, every single layer of material is measured and documented to ensure
that the finished shape exactly matches the engineering specifications.
Then—unlike other speedboat builders—Outerlimits “bakes” its hulls and decks in
a computer-controlled oven. (Click image to enlarge)
In a prelaunch factory tour, Fiore’s father, Paul, stresses the importance
of this procedure. “There’s no way the 51’s epoxy resin materials can meet their
full design strength unless they’re post-cured,” Paul insists. “The process is
also critical because it reveals any surface imperfections prior to painting.
Precise post-curing makes the 51 both incredibly strong and aesthetically
flawless.”
As well it should be, considering the enormous and constant g
forces the boat must withstand at speed. Before Fiore submits his latest
handiwork to its second sea trial, I descend belowdecks to stash my notepad and
see if his perfectionism extends to the 51’s cabin.
Although the 51’s gold
plumbing and ostrich skin wall covering may not be to everyone’s taste, there is
no denying the care, craftsmanship, and thought put into the interior. All the
boat’s perfectly polished cabinetry is glassed into the deck and hull to
eliminate potential rattles. To the same end, the “doors” to the stateroom and
head are zippered flaps. In fact, there is not a single screw to be found
anywhere. Nor a pot or a pan. Quite sensibly, Outerlimits figures its
well-heeled clientele are more comfortable dining in a five-star restaurant than
slaving over a hot stove in a miniature galley. A drop-in icebox shelters the
requisite refreshments, while a flat-screen television and sound system keep
owners and guests electronically amused.
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