For people who attended the Miami International Boat Show last February, it was hard to miss the bright blue missile with the extra large Outerlimits logo on the side blasting across Biscayne Bay.
The 50-foot-1-inch (length overall) Outerlimits SL50 Carbon Fiber, sporting the largest logo the Rhode Island manufacturer has ever painted on the side of a boat, has a beam of 9 feet and weighs in at a svelte 11,000 pounds. It is powered by twin Mercury Racing engines that make 1,550 hp on 112-octane race fuel, and 1,350 horses on 91 octane. At the lower power rating, the boat still has a weight-to-power ratio of only 4 pounds per hp. Top speed for the multistepped design with the 1,350s is estimated at 145 mph.
This was the third SL50 built since the model was introduced two years ago, according to Outerlimits Powerboats General Manager Dan Kleitz.
The boat features a low-profile deck design, but it still has a deep stand-up cockpit so owners get the best of both worlds. The seating configuration in the boat at the Miami show featured three individual bucket seats across the back with two stand-up bolsters up front. The driver and co-pilot both have two-position footrests. The helm is to starboard and features comfortably placed controls, and all engine and navigation information are displayed on Garmin screens.
Forward, the centrally positioned cabin hatch provides access to a simple, straightforward layout with long, facing lounges, a drop-in cooler and zippered storage compartments in the bulkhead.
As with all Outerlimits models, the SL50 Carbon Fiber is laid up with a proprietary blend of laminates, epoxy resin and carbon-fiber reinforcement, and the entire boat is baked in an oven to ensure that it cures properly for the optimum mix of weight and strength. For more information, check out www.outerlimitspowerboats.com.
