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PART I • DESIGN & BUILD

ONE FINE FELINE ...

Birth of an Extreme Boat
Mike Fiore (Outerlimits) and Dean
Loucks (The Art of Design) brainstorm
with Bill Pyburn at the Lake Cumberland What do you do
Poker Run about what could be....
when you’re a top-of-the-line
custom Vee-bottom builder and
some of your best customers tell
you they want a new catamaran?
If you’re Mike Fiore of Outerlimits
Powerboats, in Bristol, Rhode Island,
you get busy. “I didn’t want my customers
to go to another manufacturer,” he says,
“While some cat builders may ‘splash’
a competitor’s hull, I don’t believe
in copying someone else’s work—
I wanted to make my own
entry into the ‘Cat World.’”

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The Outerlimits Team
(l-r) Paul Fiore, Aaron Crawford,
Steven Dennis, Joe Da Silva
and Mike Fiore.
Let’s meet the team:
MIKE FIORE | Builder After two years of development,
Mike Fiore is seeing his, and his customers’ dreams
come true at the 2007 Miami International Boat Show,
where the 50’ Outerlimits Cat makes its debut. Bill
Pyburn is the lucky first to see his cat “out of the bag,”
but two more are currently in production for other
loyal and long-time Outerlimits customers, Bob Russell
and John O’Laughlin. “Our team put a lot of work into
creating this new boat,” says Fiore, “The innovation in
the engineering, design and construction is evident, but
wait until you see how it runs!” he adds.
Fiore admits to still being considered the “new kid on
the block”—even though his company is 14 years old and
he has proved his mettle in building world-class Vee-
bottoms—including the 2006 National and World Champion
OSS Vee. So, as he planned the new cat and wanted some
top-notch advice on its hull construction,
his first call was to Michael Peters.
MICHAEL PETERS | Hull Design Peters,
a modern-day boat building legend,
earned his reputation on the design and
construction of racing hulls, primarily
in the European UIM circuit. Though
Peters shifted gears and concentrated
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GOLDDIGGER I SAW IT IN ‘EXTREME’
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KEITH EICKERT | Power This 50’ Cat is powered by
twin Keith Eickert custom designed 598 cubic inch
engines with Vortech Superchargers. (Did Peters say
“probably” see some pretty high speeds?!) Though
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he was happy with his previous Keith Eickert Engines
that ran on regular fuel at 1200 HP, Pyburn was up
for a boost and gave Eickert the green light to go
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faster. The new engine is more efficient because of
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the belt-driven centrifugal super chargers which are
similar to turbo chargers.
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“They don’t take as much power to turn and
they generate less heat,” Eickert says. Plus, these
piston-driven works of art run on 110 octane race
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fuel, achieving 1700 HP. The engines also sport
on large luxury yachts and the design and engineering Eickert’s own serpentine belt accuracy drive and
of production boats, “Race boats keep following us!” he intake manifold systems, so most boats will be left in
laughs. “It’s like growing up—we don’t do the same things Pyburn’s wake when he turns his new cat out.
we did in junior high--however, I do enjoy our racing
record!” he adds.
At first, Peters was reluctant to take on a powerboat
BILL PYBURN | Owner Bill Pyburn, and his father,
Bill Pyburn, Sr., are customers of Lake Cumberland
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project—“one more time.” But Fiore’s company—and
his own competitive nature--provided the impetus. “We
had options in Europe, but we really didn’t have anyone
Marine, and had purchased other boats from
Randy Hartmann. When he introduced Bill Jr. to
Mike Fiore, the
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in the States who was building cats—Mike had a team
who understood—they had experience and didn’t need
assistance, and they had the ability to sell a winning cat.
synergy was
obvious. “I knew
that Mike would
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They were the ‘right’ people and have been extremely understand what
easy to work with,” reports Peters, “They let us do what Bill wanted,” says
we thought was correct, then they made the changes Hartmann, “He is
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to the deck consistent to what they create—they have a a very discerning
look—but we share the interest in building the best boat.” customer who
The Outerlimits 50’ Cat is an evolution of Peters’ would rather wait,
World Championship Tencara design made famous by and even pay more to get exactly what he wants.
the Victory Team from Dubai, and more recently, with
Spirit of Norway. “We didn’t take any risks,” he says,
“We had some European designs that were never
Mike understands that and is willing to go the
distance to get and keep a good client.”
“We first started talking about this boat last year.”
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used in the States—but we’ve used this [hull] safely
and wanted to go with what we know works. You’ll
probably see some pretty high speeds.”
recalls Pyburn, “At the New York City Poker Run, I
went up [to Bristol] and took a look at the plug and I
knew right then -- that was what I wanted—
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and off we went! I’m a cat guy—I’ve had three of them. I
looked at the market and Mike offered what I was looking for.”
That satisfaction drove Pyburn to buy an Outerlimits
47 GTX while he waited for the cat. “I knew that Mike has
the technology to build light and strong boats—he stands
above everyone there,” he says, “And Mike is very safety
conscious—that’s big for me—at 200 mph.” But service was
also a big sales point for Pyburn.
“I see that [Outerlimits transporter] truck and the guys in
red, running around and I think Mike has done something
special. I probably did about 14 Poker Runs last year and
they were everywhere I’ve been. Nobody has service
like Outerlimits. They make sure the customer runs, and
finishes the events at all costs. That’s HUGE! If you can’t
enjoy your boat, why own it? We don’t have the patience
for that. Mike brings something to the table that no one
else does—peace of mind.”
THE BOAT | While Outerlimits has built its business
and boats on the technology of carbon fiber and post-
cured epoxy construction, this cat takes the carbon fiber
construction one step further by adding a monocoque
engine compartment. From the French for “single” or
“eggshell”, monocoque construction adds strength, as the
shell absorbs the stresses to the body and frame. This shell
body style has been used successfully in planes and race
cars, and in this powerboat, will also isolate vibration and
noise in the unibody engine compartment.
“No one has this now,” says Fiore, “It will make the
rigging cleaner, the boat stronger and lighter and add to its
unique features.” As with all Outerlimits boats, strength and
weight are major considerations; in this cat, weight was
Midnight Oil
The teams at
Outerlimits & The
Art of Design were
working 24 hrs a day
to get the entire rig
ready for its premier
at the 2007 Miami
Boat Show.
an additional focus with
every ounce shaved from
the hull, structure and
interior. “This cat will be
able to fly—like when a
cat jumps and lands softly
on its paws!” Fiore says,
“My team here really
sharpened their pencils—
they’re the best!”
The air-conditioned,
closed cockpit converts to an open cockpit with minimal
effort via removable doors—a bonus to Outerlimits
customers who enjoy the experience of a controlled
environment for high-speed, as well as the open-air feel of
wind in their faces. “I like a sit-down boat,” says Pyburn, and
though It took some getting used to in his Vee-bottom GTX,
the speed-lover now feels at ease in either configuration,
so long as he is surrounded by the plush, comfortable and
detailed Outerlimits upholstery.
The race-style cockpit sinks the driver into hand-made
bucket seats, positioned in custom carbon fiber constructed
molds, supported by custom-CNC billet bases with
matching footrests. Embroidered headrests provide comfort
and support and the four passengers in the back get the
same cushioned treatment—and all in coordinating colors of
ruby red and golden tan leather.
The carbon fiber dash features a Garmin 3006
navigational system that includes GPS for the passengers as
well. EFI technology provides a digital read of fuel injection
functions to the display panel and in addition, a series of 16
standard Autometer carbon fiber gauges, six per side and
four in the center, provide data in analog format. Latham
controls, a Grant racing steering wheel, and conveniently
placed instrumentation complete a dashboard that is
technically suited to this race-ready cat.
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DEAN LOUCKS | Design The sleek, hi-tech look of the
cat’s lines, are enhanced by its Art of Design (TAOD)
paint scheme. Pyburn chose the name “Golddigger” as
he laughingly surveyed the scene of Key West during the
Offshore Powerboat Worlds and Poker
Run weekend. “Nobody will forget it!”
he laughs, “It’s a cool name and my
wife is OK with it! Dean grabbed a hold
of the concept and really nailed it in the to event across the country.
first rendering.”
Dean Loucks, the artistic driving
force of TAOD, interpreted the
Golddigger theme with the input of
California-based air-brush artist, Yvonne
Mecilias. Loucks saw her work, on TLC’s
“Ride” TV show, in a paint-off with Mike Lavalle. They met at
the SEMA show in Vegas and he asked her for some input
on his newest project. Known for her futuristic, sizzling hot,
female frames, Mecilias provided a combination of hi-tech
body lines, combined with voluptuous 007-type, all-woman
silhouettes. “The James Bond kind of pose seemed to ‘go’
more with the theme,” says Mecilias, “It’s flashy, sensual and the helm, “I have always been into it--I used to watch Miami
tasteful—more Victoria’s Secret type of embellishment.”
Mecilias, who has a Fine Arts degree from Cal State
Long Beach, has been painting since she was a teenager.
She has enjoyed great success in the automotive and
motorcycle world and is eager to do more boats. “Doing the boat out on the water so that we can truly experience
design work is the easiest part--working with Dean was a
unique experience!” she comments.
The boat is rich in deep reds that with a non-metallic
flake paint, go beyond sparkle. “The flake is so intense that
it puts out its own glow,” explains Loucks, who blended the
ruby tones with gold accents that take on various shades
from bronze to gold to white, as if the sun creates “hot
spots” on the paint. All the colors change with light, most
notably where the bronze pearl on deep red becomes
black, creating the sultry hood ornament silhouettes.
The paint scheme, including the Golddigger label,
repeated over and over like a Gucci print, is translated to
the tow vehicle, and even to the engine compartment
where everything from the valve covers, oil tanks and
engine parts are theme and color-coordinated.
TRANSPORT | To complete the scene, Golddigger will be
transported on a American Tilt hydraulic tilt trailer which
when lifted or lowered 8” will provide added ease in
dealing with curbs and terrain. Angled European-style, the
trailer will be a standard load, making it eye-catching and
easier to transport as Golddigger makes its way from event
The 379 long-nose 2007 Peterbuilt truck will be another
jewel-studded attraction in ruby and golds. The 2 x 6
fenders are covered in hundreds of Golddigger labels and
thousands of them adorn the body of the truck. The seats
are TAOD customized, as are the carpets, embellishments
on the head rests and mud flaps. Extra Large smoke stacks
give the lowered truck a “tricked out” look, like it should
eat up the pavement. “It has been totally customized by
Dean—a one-off!” says Pyburn as he anxiously awaits his
newest entertainment package that Loucks estimates took
over 3,000 man hours to create.
“I love speed!” Pyburn says, chomping at the bit to get to
Vice and waited for the day I could afford my first go-fast boat!”
(a 232 Baja) “I’ve been very fortunate,” says the successful
resident land developer, “I’ve come a long way!” •
Stay Tuned... In Part II of our coverage, we‘ll get the
this new Outerlimits 50’ Cat. Yea Ba-beee!

PHOTOS CASEY KIERNAN - DEAN LOUCKS - MEGHAN SEPE

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