Little off topic:

This is just an observation, but its threads like these that really hurt/tarnish the OL image. Whenever the word "Outerlimit's" comes up in a thread its usually followed by constant bickering, fighting, disagreements, etc usually started by select individuals. Its a little disheartening because I am sure Mike F. and company work there a$$e$ off to create a reputable brand not to mention awesome performance boat.

I say this because, (again this is just me) if i had the money to purchase a boat (money is no object) it certainly wouldnt be an OL merely because of the dealings here on OSO. Its sad but true. The attitude(s) brought forward here are not constructive nor respectful. It would lead an unsuspecting buyer(s) to think that this is how the entire company functions. i know this is not the case but reading threads on here would prove otherwise...just my 0.02

Good point. I never looked at it like that. But with that said, I wouldn't go by the opinion of someone that is just bashing an entire manafacturer. About 10 or 12 years ago I went on a 37 OL, ( Lets Rock ), what a freekin animal. That boat crashed through anything, and now they're even better. I would never say anything bad about an OL, and I hope to one day buy one. (Now that I think about it, it may have been longer than 12 years ago)

If you decided not to buy an Outerlimits because of the baseless speculation from a few random, probably boatless, people on OSO that have possibly never even seen one, you'd be selling yourself severely short.

I'd hope you'd do a little more homework than trusting some random screen name on the internet as the gospel before dropping $1 million on a powerboat of any kind.

I think the Outerlimits representative on this site does more harm that good, personally.

Curious when was the last time Cigarette earned a "1"?

If I learned one thing reading about Don was it was all about business. He dumped his boat companies quicker than most guys dump woman and always came out ahead. I bet he would be proud of Michael for striking a deal like this. Bottomline is OL is out there doing battle on the race course far more than Cig.

Seems to me like OL just beat Cigarette to the punch...a typical "Don" move if there ever was one!

Hows this - why doesn't cig and OL battle it out offshore, winner take all! (okay just the Aronow special edition) :coolcowboy:

it doesnt have to do with speculation. i know OL is probably one of the best powerboats made...for me it has to do with ego and perspective.

This stunt would be like Lamborghini coming out with a red Enzo Ferrari themed car complete with prancing horses on the sides decades after he passed while the two companies were still bitter rivals in a bad economy. Even if they did get permission from one of his children, it would still strike a lot of people as being disrespectful to a legendary brand that so many people worked so hard to build up beyond the founder himself.

This DA themed boat with a (1) on the sides does not raise my image of OL in any way. In fact, as others have pointed out, it leaves me scratching my head wondering why they would pull such a stunt when they are finally sitting atop the V bottom racing world and should be far above making such gaffs. Build your own brand image for having the fastest V bottoms on the planet and leave the memory of Don Aronow and the (1) logo with Cigarette where it has been in good hands for the last 40 years. IMO

No doubt the boat rendering is slick. The thought of honoring DA is great idea. Making a themed Outerlimits DA boat does seem a little wierd to me as well.

Have CRT build a fountain tribute model, with the famous fountain logo and paint scheme. Reggie frequents this board, we can ask him how he would feel about it.

http://smiliesftw.com/x/roflfail.gif

This one is really funny............. cracked me up!

As for the boat, it certainly is a nice looking piece and being an OL, the build quality and performance will be right up there with anyone in the game.

With all of that said, it seems to be a matter and question of tradition more than anything. I personally don't see how you could file suit against OL because they are displaying the number 1 on their boat. As an exmaple, how many boat builders have displayed the words "world champion" on their boats. However, in the boating world the number 1 is tied to Cig as their logo, and Cig is historically known as "the company" tied to DA.

If it were me, I would have tried to come up with something that ties to DA while being original in hopes that it would be to OL what the number 1 is to Cig.

Love it! great tribute to the new record holders and DA.
May be another manufacturer will come out next year and try to take the "1" back!

What do you mean about take the 1 back I didn't realize they one the worlds in keywest or did they win the national title by points thats great for them.

What I mean by it is; maybe it will have other mfgs looking seriously at the LI race as a venue to showcase their products. Take back the 1 is just a metaphor for coming out and beating OL in LI next year, thats it! no hidden agenda or innuendos.

I'm NOT in ANY WAY talking about the National points races.
Here is the problem the way I see it; it seems any comment that is pro endurace is taken as an insult by racers or fans of any other type of powerboat racing. Absolutely positively meant no disrespect to anyone in any other form of offshore racing or meant to take away from the accomplishment of winning a national championship.

Homage :: a show or demonstration of respect or dedication to someone or something, sometimes by simple declaration but often by some more oblique reference, artistic or poetic.

lets not over think it guys.......he may not have started OL but I am sure he influenced many guys industry wide who are here today......and OL is paying some Homage...

now if this logo was on the boat it would be odd......

:lolhit::lolhit::lolhit::lolhit::lolhit::lolhit::l olhit::lolhit::lolhit::lolhit::lolhit:
That's sad.

I agree here.. be original, dig deep into your DNA and come up with something to your brand. ALL Poor marketing in my eye's. Also get a nuetral, professional spokesman of better representation to support the company OL on line.

I agree it is sad. By default these companies develop "fanboys". In the end they do more harm than good. it reminds me of the BMW or Vw guys. People who think every product is far inferior to that in which they own. They always have a chip on there shoulder, it's hard to do anything other than disagree and fight with them. So again yes it is sad. Experiences here have left a bad taste in my mouth. I'd rather go do dealings with another company. Again just my opinion.

Dan had a rough start with his cheerleading attitude. No one can say he has not been better in the past couple months. The ranting on Dan is officially unwarranted. OL is building boats at least 4 boats that I know of, have you ever heard "no publicity is bad publicity"?:coolcowboy:

On a side note: Dan, boat looks great. If that is what MIKE ARONOW wanted and he gave you the legal rights to use it, god bless.:drink:

Marketing, cheerleeding, call it what you want. There are different brands for different reasons...if your brand works for you..great..but dont shove your brand up my azz and make it like every other brand is a pos...thats my point. I have nothing against OL boats, actually really like them, very innovative... just some of the representation at time to time I believe could be on a more professional level..Jeff

Agreed.
And there is a marked difference between the legal right and a prudent marketing move.

You dont see Pepsi selling soda in a red can with a swirl on it.

I think you can see the general gist of the reaction here and this thread is just getting started.

Interesting comments. Kind of reminds me back in the early 70's, when Don started his newest boat company and called it Cigarette.

Hey Don, we know that is your favorite name and you had it on three of your race boats, but you can't name a whole boat company, Cigarette. People will be confused, they will thnk it has something to do with cigarettes or smoking. They won't attach anything macho with that name, you are going to lose out to the competitors who have real aggressive and tough guy names.

Don smiled and said.... Well let's have the company name be built on on it's record in racing .....and then we will see how it is recieved by the public.

Guess he was ahead of everyone on that one.

IMO, poor effort using dons name.
If any of dons former companys wanted to build a don a edition i.e. formula, cig, etc... It would make more sence, but o.l.???

If o.l. Is trying to carry some steam off the long island marathon record breaker why not offer buyers a ” long island edition ” and do more than slap a ” 1” on the hull.
How about the ” long island edition ” comes with larger tanks than a standard 43, making it purpose built for marathon racing.

Imo this isnt a tribute build but a shatty marketing attempt using a legends name to boost sales and publicity. Sorry o.l.
Mike D

Since we are talking about Don again, I asked a question on the other DA thread and didnt get an answer.

Is there a recorded timeline of the ownership of his various companies??

At first read in all these threads it appears that as soon as he sold 1 company he took the money and started competing with the guy he just sold a company to.

Is that what happened 4 times ?

Sometimes he would buy back the company, change some of the designs and resell it to someone else, like Magnum, which he owned at the same time he also owned Cigarette.....a couple of years and he sold it again. He also was part owner with Hal Halter in Cigarette as well as owning Squadron XII at the same time. He was part owner of Cary at the same time he was selling Magnum the first time.

Gotcha. Thanks Charlie

Maybe if they tweaked the graphics a little it would better reflect the intention of this "tribute boat"?..and remove some of the "controversy"?

Instead of just "Don Aronow" on the side...some creativeness could be mustered to somehow have some or parts that reflect the Event incorporated in the graphics:

"Don Aronow Memorial Marathon Race Around Long Island"
"2011 Winner and Record Holder"
etc, etc..

In the case of the controversial "one symbol and circle"...some smart graphics guy could, for example, use the outline of Long Island with a "l" in the middle some how???

Sorry for the crude examples, but there are lots of different ideas that could be done that not only celebrates the win and record and still show respect that it was a Don Aronow Memorial race...won by an OL boat.

Maybe the graphics guys should take the harder road to come up with something special and unique, instead of taking the simple easy road of the unoriginal current design (no offense intended).

After all, you have some very special "ingredients" involved here. A special Boat, "OL", ...a couple of Special guys that won the race and set the record, "The Joes", ...and the Memory of a very special person, "Don Aronow".....doesn't all of that deserve a "Special" Graphics package to celebrate this accomplishment...instead of just slapping on a graphic "style" that has been done to death over and over??

Of course, to be honest I like the simplicity of the current design, it is more to my taste...but, I also do get the emotional response by many here too.

Maybe something as simple as tweaking the current logo with just "Don Aronow" and the "Oval" to incorporate... "Don Aronow Memorial Race" with the outline of Long Island, instead of the Oval thing. ??

Just tossing out some crazy thoughts...but, it's funny, when I first saw the graphics I thought it was cool....but after reading comments here and thinking about it overnight (and even thru typing this long a$$ post) I think I understand the issues better.

The current design makes the boat "appear" to be a Don Aronow boat, or at a minimum one of his designs...it is neither. Anyone not in the "know", i.e the average boater is gonna see this boat(or boats) on the water and think it is a Don Aronow boat...not cool! When they see this boat with just "Don Aronow" on the side, what the heck else could they think???.

This is why IMHO, the graphics needs to celebrate the Win/Record of the Memorial RACE(and be obvious about it), not just the MAN and his name alone on the boat...it is a big HUGE difference...

OL has no "heritage or History" with Don Aronow I have ever heard of (or,do they???)...just the pride of being the winning and record setting boat of the Don Aronow Memorial Race..nothing more, nothing less.

Dave

And its not even snowing yet.........its going to be a long winter.

I wonder what would have happen if a fountain won the LI race.................. I guess that would be even more odd.... :)

He acts like an immature douche, you know it,I know it and if I were ever to buy an Outerlimits first thing I would say to Mike is keep that lil douche out of sight and away from me during the purchase.. there it's been said... :D have a nice day, thanks Bye!

That would be funny.

The boat runs great, they won the race, let em build a tribute boat!
Why all the hatin?

amazing that mike f doesnt come on here and see what goes on, or animal house how does he feel about this.

I've ALWAYS said Dan could use a class in PR or at least in online PR (since I've never met him in person). dan's effort to promote OL routinely strikes a nerve with many because of his perceived arrogance and elitist attitude. Now, I've learned to just ignore it because it's obvious Mike F knows the things Dan is saying on here and the way he promotes OL as an employee so it's again obvious that Mike F and company agree with the way Dan attempts to represent OL.

Me personally? I like the subtle approach of humility and letting the product speak for itself. There's no problem with announcing accomplishments of your company but it needs to be done with out bashing another company. To me, that's just unprofessional and immature. When a rep from a company does that, I feel it leaves a very bad taste in peoples mouths.

There's very few companies on here that have official representation because you're bound to piss someone off at sometime. And there's even a fewer representatives that can come on here and rep a company well 99.9% of the time (Terry Sobo comes to mind).

On the other hand Dan keeps OL on the finger tips of peoples minds, if you will and such marketing campaigns as this due their job; 24 hours and thousands of hits on this topic.

There's very few people I've met and dealt with in this industry that I don't like (I can actually count them on one hand). All of them are due to arrogance and all of them I will not deal with because of said arrogance. Some of you may scoff at that but the people that represent your company are just as important (if not more important) than the product itself.

Back on topic though - I think it's a great marketing ploy and I think the boat is beautiful and is obviously a proven performer!

Congrats Scot you too have now drank the olmighty Kool Aid.

I don't know about Kool Aid, but I can tell you I was running with the sv43 up at the fall river poker run and he was going 115 ++ ! I was impressed as he'll, and I'm a die hard Skater guy! I thought that was pretty impressive for a big v bottom with 725 hp/side.

I have to say this is really a joke it feels like April fools to me. Come on these guys could come up with anything else other then putting a number 1 on it and using Don's name, it is clear you are trying to fill some type of void in your life. Just go buy a Cigarette for crying out loud, it is so obvious this is sub consciencely want to do it.

+1

Best post on the whole thread.

In racing circles the number 1 is used to designate either the national or world champions, depending on the current rules and sanctioning body. I believe in this case the number 1 is used as a reference to winning the don aronow around long island race and is not an infringement upon cigarettes' branded logo.