Outerlimits or other?
10-25-2025 | 08:52 PM
#21
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Posts: 420
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From: New Smyrna Beach FL/ LOTO MM 21
I couldn't agree more with the couple of post above; very tough to beat an outboard cat. I have one inboard still with 575s in it, (36 Spectre listed in the classifieds-alot of boat for the money) , it is the last inboard other then small ski boats that I will likely ever own.
Joe
Joe
10-26-2025 | 02:38 PM
#22
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 9,989
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From: Chicago
10-26-2025 | 03:55 PM
#23
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,652
Likes: 390
From: Syracuse Ny
These threads always get me. I’ve only ever owned big power units. First boat was a 388 slingshot with arnesons and custom built 850hp blower motors. (The engines were built in 2011. My Forman bought the boat back, unknown hours 3 owners later I sold the boat almost 10 years ago. And it still absolutely rips) sure it needed the occasional tinkering. Plugs , and msd box here and there but dang it’s part of the game.
my next boat was a 39 outerlimits with PFAFF 1150’s. 1471 blower top hat fuel Injection I don’t even know what computers. And the boat was so reliable. Honestly both of these V’s were hybrids on fuel consumption. So sporty and enjoyable to run. No it wouldn’t hang it out there with the big cats. But I have a big cat now and have no one to run with. I owned that boat 3 years. I think all I did was a head job on one of them because idk something broke and wore out the cam. But the repair bill I think was 7g ??? For 3 years of running a sit down 135 mph v with a full cabin. ??? Insurance for both those boats was a song compared to my skater. Sold that boat in 2019… engines were ORIGINAL from 2005…same owner still has it. Has done some minor Maintenance. And still running strong. Granted not many hours a year since the boats in Sweden now.
now I built my skater. Big Teague quad rotors. We put the boat together and I had the best year of boating ever. The boat was Honda Civic reliable. And made the hair on my neck standup every time i drove it. Granted we took the engines out and redid them because they had sat some number of years by the time we finished the boat. And I chased gremlins alll year… comes with the territory but we got them all straightened out thanks to Mitch at Maryland offshore and Denny at custom performance. Now, the big cat, cost I will admit is diabolical with fuel consumption, transportations a total annoyance. Insurance is out of this world. And honestly I’m quite bored unless I’m at loto because I don’t have any friends in the big cat world that I can run with so often I’m running around solo or dragging an anchor.
idk, I do hear the new DWR 39 and 42 are real performers. I love the smaller skater OB 28-318’s but the OB fad just doesn’t do it for me and everyone who knows me knows I will die on the big power hill. Yes probably 95% of boating population puts more hours on than I do. But I, like most used to, use my boat for my race car adrenaline rush, if I want to enjoy the lake, I take one of my normal boats out and drive aimlessly till I’m bored and go home.
I own the skater 399v mold and to be honest miss that kind of boating and we are going to be bringing that boat back to market with skater style laminates, for a reasonable price point. In limited run numbers.
you absolutely cannot go wrong with an outerlimits. 05-10 era you want to make sure the tanks were done because I’m fairly certain most had bladders and those only have a lifespan of so long. The Quattro 39 bottom is slippery but an absolute blast to drive. 42 legacy will be a gas hog and needs some smoke to really run but great option. We also have an SV43 we are rebuilding.
my shop is Upstate Powerboat in Syracuse NY. This is what we do. We are probably bias as 80% of our customer base is die hard stern drive. But we are north eastern boaters. We boat for 4 months a year. Most all of us don’t put enough hours to need or care about miles per gallon or how many extended years of warranty replacement etc etc.
hope this post helps.
my next boat was a 39 outerlimits with PFAFF 1150’s. 1471 blower top hat fuel Injection I don’t even know what computers. And the boat was so reliable. Honestly both of these V’s were hybrids on fuel consumption. So sporty and enjoyable to run. No it wouldn’t hang it out there with the big cats. But I have a big cat now and have no one to run with. I owned that boat 3 years. I think all I did was a head job on one of them because idk something broke and wore out the cam. But the repair bill I think was 7g ??? For 3 years of running a sit down 135 mph v with a full cabin. ??? Insurance for both those boats was a song compared to my skater. Sold that boat in 2019… engines were ORIGINAL from 2005…same owner still has it. Has done some minor Maintenance. And still running strong. Granted not many hours a year since the boats in Sweden now.
now I built my skater. Big Teague quad rotors. We put the boat together and I had the best year of boating ever. The boat was Honda Civic reliable. And made the hair on my neck standup every time i drove it. Granted we took the engines out and redid them because they had sat some number of years by the time we finished the boat. And I chased gremlins alll year… comes with the territory but we got them all straightened out thanks to Mitch at Maryland offshore and Denny at custom performance. Now, the big cat, cost I will admit is diabolical with fuel consumption, transportations a total annoyance. Insurance is out of this world. And honestly I’m quite bored unless I’m at loto because I don’t have any friends in the big cat world that I can run with so often I’m running around solo or dragging an anchor.
idk, I do hear the new DWR 39 and 42 are real performers. I love the smaller skater OB 28-318’s but the OB fad just doesn’t do it for me and everyone who knows me knows I will die on the big power hill. Yes probably 95% of boating population puts more hours on than I do. But I, like most used to, use my boat for my race car adrenaline rush, if I want to enjoy the lake, I take one of my normal boats out and drive aimlessly till I’m bored and go home.
I own the skater 399v mold and to be honest miss that kind of boating and we are going to be bringing that boat back to market with skater style laminates, for a reasonable price point. In limited run numbers.
you absolutely cannot go wrong with an outerlimits. 05-10 era you want to make sure the tanks were done because I’m fairly certain most had bladders and those only have a lifespan of so long. The Quattro 39 bottom is slippery but an absolute blast to drive. 42 legacy will be a gas hog and needs some smoke to really run but great option. We also have an SV43 we are rebuilding.
my shop is Upstate Powerboat in Syracuse NY. This is what we do. We are probably bias as 80% of our customer base is die hard stern drive. But we are north eastern boaters. We boat for 4 months a year. Most all of us don’t put enough hours to need or care about miles per gallon or how many extended years of warranty replacement etc etc.
hope this post helps.
10-26-2025 | 04:01 PM
#24
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Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,652
Likes: 390
From: Syracuse Ny
And an additional to my comment. I’m sure one day I’ll get tired of wrenching. Maybe so. But my generation grew up dreaming of the noise. The show. The clout. For most of us the OB do nothing and we are all finally able to afford the true go fast. The same reason a 1990 super car or Japan turbo cars are bringing dumb money and we don’t care about a new Mercedes…
regarding stock power. I’ve never owned one. I’ve never owned a 525 xr boat. I’ve ridden in plenty of them and driven plenty of them. I can honestly say, no exaggeration. I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve said “why would anyone pay for this. I’m so bored id rather be at the dock”
we tested a quad engine statement CC for bottom work. We were so bored we just went back to the trailer after 15 mins of data testing. Tested a stage 3 700 39 cig…. Bored after 15 minutes. A 525 boat? Dear lord I’d just be scared to break the drive.
I will admit. We had some time in a 388 slingshot hustler with xr and I’m fairly certain somewhat stock 575sci’s and dear lord that boat I swear had 800 orig hours on the power. And I was very impressed with how it performed.
you couldn’t GIVE ME a 42 fountain with 525’s and xr’s lol I’d rather **** around on my jetski
regarding stock power. I’ve never owned one. I’ve never owned a 525 xr boat. I’ve ridden in plenty of them and driven plenty of them. I can honestly say, no exaggeration. I’ve lost count of the amount of times I’ve said “why would anyone pay for this. I’m so bored id rather be at the dock”
we tested a quad engine statement CC for bottom work. We were so bored we just went back to the trailer after 15 mins of data testing. Tested a stage 3 700 39 cig…. Bored after 15 minutes. A 525 boat? Dear lord I’d just be scared to break the drive.
I will admit. We had some time in a 388 slingshot hustler with xr and I’m fairly certain somewhat stock 575sci’s and dear lord that boat I swear had 800 orig hours on the power. And I was very impressed with how it performed.
you couldn’t GIVE ME a 42 fountain with 525’s and xr’s lol I’d rather **** around on my jetski
10-26-2025 | 05:40 PM
#25
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Joined: Jan 2021
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From: Gothenburg, Sweden
10-26-2025 | 06:40 PM
#26
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Joined: Jul 2024
Posts: 283
Likes: 148
From: Illinois
10-27-2025 | 10:17 AM
#27
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Joined: Sep 2025
Posts: 26
Likes: 9
From: Mississippi
These threads always get me. I’ve only ever owned big power units. First boat was a 388 slingshot with arnesons and custom built 850hp blower motors. (The engines were built in 2011. My Forman bought the boat back, unknown hours 3 owners later I sold the boat almost 10 years ago. And it still absolutely rips) sure it needed the occasional tinkering. Plugs , and msd box here and there but dang it’s part of the game.
my next boat was a 39 outerlimits with PFAFF 1150’s. 1471 blower top hat fuel Injection I don’t even know what computers. And the boat was so reliable. Honestly both of these V’s were hybrids on fuel consumption. So sporty and enjoyable to run. No it wouldn’t hang it out there with the big cats. But I have a big cat now and have no one to run with. I owned that boat 3 years. I think all I did was a head job on one of them because idk something broke and wore out the cam. But the repair bill I think was 7g ??? For 3 years of running a sit down 135 mph v with a full cabin. ??? Insurance for both those boats was a song compared to my skater. Sold that boat in 2019… engines were ORIGINAL from 2005…same owner still has it. Has done some minor Maintenance. And still running strong. Granted not many hours a year since the boats in Sweden now.
now I built my skater. Big Teague quad rotors. We put the boat together and I had the best year of boating ever. The boat was Honda Civic reliable. And made the hair on my neck standup every time i drove it. Granted we took the engines out and redid them because they had sat some number of years by the time we finished the boat. And I chased gremlins alll year… comes with the territory but we got them all straightened out thanks to Mitch at Maryland offshore and Denny at custom performance. Now, the big cat, cost I will admit is diabolical with fuel consumption, transportations a total annoyance. Insurance is out of this world. And honestly I’m quite bored unless I’m at loto because I don’t have any friends in the big cat world that I can run with so often I’m running around solo or dragging an anchor.
idk, I do hear the new DWR 39 and 42 are real performers. I love the smaller skater OB 28-318’s but the OB fad just doesn’t do it for me and everyone who knows me knows I will die on the big power hill. Yes probably 95% of boating population puts more hours on than I do. But I, like most used to, use my boat for my race car adrenaline rush, if I want to enjoy the lake, I take one of my normal boats out and drive aimlessly till I’m bored and go home.
I own the skater 399v mold and to be honest miss that kind of boating and we are going to be bringing that boat back to market with skater style laminates, for a reasonable price point. In limited run numbers.
you absolutely cannot go wrong with an outerlimits. 05-10 era you want to make sure the tanks were done because I’m fairly certain most had bladders and those only have a lifespan of so long. The Quattro 39 bottom is slippery but an absolute blast to drive. 42 legacy will be a gas hog and needs some smoke to really run but great option. We also have an SV43 we are rebuilding.
my shop is Upstate Powerboat in Syracuse NY. This is what we do. We are probably bias as 80% of our customer base is die hard stern drive. But we are north eastern boaters. We boat for 4 months a year. Most all of us don’t put enough hours to need or care about miles per gallon or how many extended years of warranty replacement etc etc.
hope this post helps.
my next boat was a 39 outerlimits with PFAFF 1150’s. 1471 blower top hat fuel Injection I don’t even know what computers. And the boat was so reliable. Honestly both of these V’s were hybrids on fuel consumption. So sporty and enjoyable to run. No it wouldn’t hang it out there with the big cats. But I have a big cat now and have no one to run with. I owned that boat 3 years. I think all I did was a head job on one of them because idk something broke and wore out the cam. But the repair bill I think was 7g ??? For 3 years of running a sit down 135 mph v with a full cabin. ??? Insurance for both those boats was a song compared to my skater. Sold that boat in 2019… engines were ORIGINAL from 2005…same owner still has it. Has done some minor Maintenance. And still running strong. Granted not many hours a year since the boats in Sweden now.
now I built my skater. Big Teague quad rotors. We put the boat together and I had the best year of boating ever. The boat was Honda Civic reliable. And made the hair on my neck standup every time i drove it. Granted we took the engines out and redid them because they had sat some number of years by the time we finished the boat. And I chased gremlins alll year… comes with the territory but we got them all straightened out thanks to Mitch at Maryland offshore and Denny at custom performance. Now, the big cat, cost I will admit is diabolical with fuel consumption, transportations a total annoyance. Insurance is out of this world. And honestly I’m quite bored unless I’m at loto because I don’t have any friends in the big cat world that I can run with so often I’m running around solo or dragging an anchor.
idk, I do hear the new DWR 39 and 42 are real performers. I love the smaller skater OB 28-318’s but the OB fad just doesn’t do it for me and everyone who knows me knows I will die on the big power hill. Yes probably 95% of boating population puts more hours on than I do. But I, like most used to, use my boat for my race car adrenaline rush, if I want to enjoy the lake, I take one of my normal boats out and drive aimlessly till I’m bored and go home.
I own the skater 399v mold and to be honest miss that kind of boating and we are going to be bringing that boat back to market with skater style laminates, for a reasonable price point. In limited run numbers.
you absolutely cannot go wrong with an outerlimits. 05-10 era you want to make sure the tanks were done because I’m fairly certain most had bladders and those only have a lifespan of so long. The Quattro 39 bottom is slippery but an absolute blast to drive. 42 legacy will be a gas hog and needs some smoke to really run but great option. We also have an SV43 we are rebuilding.
my shop is Upstate Powerboat in Syracuse NY. This is what we do. We are probably bias as 80% of our customer base is die hard stern drive. But we are north eastern boaters. We boat for 4 months a year. Most all of us don’t put enough hours to need or care about miles per gallon or how many extended years of warranty replacement etc etc.
hope this post helps.
I've changed my share of starters on smoking hot hot engines and pulled valve covers off smoking hot headers drag boat engines between rounds and have permanent scars from them .
A guy looks at my hands and arms and can tell we are brothers if he's a racer.
Man this has been great to read opinions because it truly does help me.
10-27-2025 | 08:27 PM
#28
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 9,989
Likes: 6,484
From: Chicago
Honda civic reliable ? Common Phil.
I`m not going to get into a pissing match but OB are honda civic reliable BBC`s are Ford 6.0 Diesel reliable if you`re exteremely lucky.
Now I`m talking about running the boat almost every weekend like I do.
I see guys at the marina asking why I`m always fixing stuff, their stuff never breaks.
The thing they don`t mention is their boat is a dock or trailer queen. I see em leave for 20 minute ride per weekend and back on the lift it goes.Then they sit on the dock boasting how their engine builder is the best .. lol Stuff doesn`t break when you don`t use it? Who knew!! GTFO
I`m not going to get into a pissing match but OB are honda civic reliable BBC`s are Ford 6.0 Diesel reliable if you`re exteremely lucky.
Now I`m talking about running the boat almost every weekend like I do.
I see guys at the marina asking why I`m always fixing stuff, their stuff never breaks.
The thing they don`t mention is their boat is a dock or trailer queen. I see em leave for 20 minute ride per weekend and back on the lift it goes.Then they sit on the dock boasting how their engine builder is the best .. lol Stuff doesn`t break when you don`t use it? Who knew!! GTFO
10-27-2025 | 09:05 PM
#29
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Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 420
Likes: 577
From: New Smyrna Beach FL/ LOTO MM 21
Do your homework and see what they resale for when you are at that point....Also performance is the deal when you have a cat "it will matter when we pull up next to each other".
Joe
10-27-2025 | 09:12 PM
#30
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Joined: Sep 2025
Posts: 26
Likes: 9
From: Mississippi
LMAO! I tell my clients that hot rod cars are like women. You got some good ones and you got some bad ones.
With all due respect I never imagined an industry, or sport, that had so many owners with the lack of knowledge of what they had.
Guy sends me invoices over on a boat engines build and he really couldn't tell me what size they were so I saw they had 4.5 bore Merlin's with a set of set of Teauge 4.375 cranks at 8k and I told him he had 557's. Personally on a blown app I build 4.5 x 4.25 to get a 540 with a little longer rod with the just the .400 taller big blocks.
The cams had 52 degrees of of overlap..ya gotta run a little more boost with that much overlap to have a presentable amount of cylinder pressure. Had quad rotor Whipple's which are much stronger than roots but that adds up to 6.6 litres each engine with 3.3 l. That could make 2300 HP at less than 25 lbs of boost.
I wish I could get the racing part out of my blood. I'm new to Powerboats but sure not new to boats. My last lake boat for tubing wing the kids was a Crown line 21 ft Bowrider with a 305 2 Barrell with an alpha 1. I built a forged 377, Vortech heads, Edelbrock Dual plane RPM gap intake with a marine vac sec. Edelbrock carb and it would run 74. Trimmed it out leaving boat ramp for top speed and had a trigger to kill the trim the rest of day if kids drove it. It would jump straight up and out like a runner bottom drag boat on taking off. Plane in just a few seconds.
I guess I just need somebody to convince me to slow it down... I can make more power than most all money dogs, but I can't money whip them and they'd have to bring their Tuner. My Tuner has stickers all over his laptop with a broken screen .. Santa gotta bring me a Windows Surface.
I'm learning a lot from you guys. Being a builder myself you have to have a psychology degree just to make sure they know what they are giving up just to brag on much HP they are making.
Thank you guys.
With all due respect I never imagined an industry, or sport, that had so many owners with the lack of knowledge of what they had.
Guy sends me invoices over on a boat engines build and he really couldn't tell me what size they were so I saw they had 4.5 bore Merlin's with a set of set of Teauge 4.375 cranks at 8k and I told him he had 557's. Personally on a blown app I build 4.5 x 4.25 to get a 540 with a little longer rod with the just the .400 taller big blocks.
The cams had 52 degrees of of overlap..ya gotta run a little more boost with that much overlap to have a presentable amount of cylinder pressure. Had quad rotor Whipple's which are much stronger than roots but that adds up to 6.6 litres each engine with 3.3 l. That could make 2300 HP at less than 25 lbs of boost.
I wish I could get the racing part out of my blood. I'm new to Powerboats but sure not new to boats. My last lake boat for tubing wing the kids was a Crown line 21 ft Bowrider with a 305 2 Barrell with an alpha 1. I built a forged 377, Vortech heads, Edelbrock Dual plane RPM gap intake with a marine vac sec. Edelbrock carb and it would run 74. Trimmed it out leaving boat ramp for top speed and had a trigger to kill the trim the rest of day if kids drove it. It would jump straight up and out like a runner bottom drag boat on taking off. Plane in just a few seconds.
I guess I just need somebody to convince me to slow it down... I can make more power than most all money dogs, but I can't money whip them and they'd have to bring their Tuner. My Tuner has stickers all over his laptop with a broken screen .. Santa gotta bring me a Windows Surface.
I'm learning a lot from you guys. Being a builder myself you have to have a psychology degree just to make sure they know what they are giving up just to brag on much HP they are making.
Thank you guys.
