nortech
 

I appreicate the posts on my 42-45 boat question. I now am looking for some feedback on nortech's 43 vs Outerlimits 42. I would look at a new nortech
vs a 2 yr old outerlimits.

They are both at the top of the heap in terms of both quality and performance. They are similar and yet two different animals (that's real definitive, huh). It really comes down to personal choice. You can't go wrong with either one. So, try a few test rides and go through the boats and one will probably fit your needs/wants/personality better than the other.

Diesel, both good boats, like Miller says, #1 and or #2 in many eyes. It depends what you want, the Nor-Tech is almost 44' long, a 9' beam with flowing europeen lines. The ride and handling for such a large boat is spectacular. We do quite a bit of overnighting and the 6' plus headroom is a great plus. Any thing you can come up with they will oblige. I am presently having a 43 built, and all I can say it has been a pleasant as well as professional experience, No B.S. my boat will be finished in approx. 5 weeks and they are on target for delivery like stated. Give Terry Sobo a call, he will get you on a test ride, I went in optomistic, was planning on buying something else, was totally shocked, and ordered one 3 weeks later, you won't be dissappointed, Good luck, Jeff Jassby 228-216-0900

Terry Sobo 239-994-9470 0r 239-567-5030
www.Nor-Techboats.com

What's with the "wood" comment? The only place we use it structurally is the transom and engine mount stringers. Everything else is foam core or solid glass.
Just curious about the myth.
Terry

Sorry if it offended you. I thought that I read or heard somewhere that you use wood in your construction of the boat and was curious on the opinions on that.

flip a coin!!!

Both Quality boats in my eyes, Check the factories out for cleanliness, but you need to go for a ride, definatly compare price, as well as resale, then make your desicion, it doesnt get any better for custom out there. Jeff.:D

It depends how important performance is, the outerlimits will be faster with the same horsepower. And I agree you should tour both facilities and see first hand how the boats are constructed.

Why? I don't think there is anything on the Outer Limits Vee hull that makes it faster than the Nortech. The "speed secret" that OL seems to use best is to put about 3000-5000 Sterling Horsepower in the engine compartment at a cost of about $200,000...... plus $100,000/year in maintenance.

T2x

Like Rush, once Mr. Luhrs chimes in there is not much to say after!!!

:D :D

What about Black Thunder? I went through their '46 and '43 at the Miami boat show a few years ago and they were really nice. The inside was unbelieveable, you almost forgot you were in a performance boat! I don't know how they stack up to OL or Nortech in the quality dept., but they were really nice. The '46 had a 7 or 9 person bolster setup in the cockpit!!

The Dirty Big Secret !
 

AMEN BROTHER ! Along with other user friendly options like the need for 116 octane fuel at 5.85/gal and CRASHBOXES :eek:

Jazzman, Don't forget TYPHOON PERFORMANCE MARINE in Toms River NJ, 732-477-6157 sells Nor-Techs to.

They had a Nor-tech 5000 at the Michigan City Boat Show this weekend. All I can say is WOW ! Triple desiels, Fit and finish were out of this world. Sales Guys were nice they took time even for me, even if I drooled all over it, my wife had to follow with a droole rag to wipe it down. 550,000 I think I'll have to win the lottery I don't play !

Thanks Shanghied Again, I'm familiar with Toms River, Thanks Jeff.:D

Ok tx2 how fast will a43' Nort-tech go with a pair of 900sc's
or with tripple 575 sc's with bravos????
I have a friend with a 42' ol with merc 900's that runs 115mph on gps. and know of another with tripple bravos and 575 mercs that runs 102mph on gps.

As for big power how about Bob Russels 42 gtx that ran 138 at the shoot out at loto in one mile.....how many vee bottom pleasure boats have the ability to do that........NONE. It looks like the secret is that an outerlimits can handle the horsepower and 140 mph speeds. By the way the last time I checked the merc spec sheet the 900sc still runs on 92 octane fuel and uses transmisions.

And I think the answer to the first question about the nor-tech speed with 900 hp is just about 100 mph so it must be some magic pixie dust that allows the Outerlimits to run 15 mph faster.

XXX, I read your other three big uninformative posts on the board, the last 2 previous posts had to do with negative comments about the 3 NorTechs taking a 3 sweep on The Hudson, and dogging Xtreme Xhibit for taking first. Hey, if you like Outerlimits, Im happy for you, they also make one hell of a product. If you want to compare Apples to Apples: The OL has a 9'2" beam vs NT 9'0". The OL GTX is a cut down version of their 42, it has no headroom and a few jump seats in the cabin, no ammenities. The NT has over 6'0" headroom , full head, micro, frige, tv, dvd, couches, and vberth, its a plearsure boat that goes fast. The OL is lighter by 4000. pounds.
Bottom line is that their bottom has no special magic, get rid of the weight, ammenities, cut the deck down, change the lamination schedule, POOF, its magic, then possibly the Nortech would go 15mph faster, even with a 9' beam, but we will never find out, cause thats not NorTechs market place. OL has there niche, and does a good job, and NorTech has their niche. Bottom line if you want to go fast, BUY A CAT, oh, thats right, NorTech makes them also. If you want some respect, dont come on the board everytime there is a NorTech thread, it looks suspicious, like you work for another co.

Both of these boats are awesome, no need to bash any of them. However, I remember hearing the OL 42 w/full cabin 6'2 of head room, AC, and everything else will run close to 120mph w/1200's. To make this more of a fair comparison, what will the Nortech run with this power?

I know of a 37 with 900s that will run 115, not a 42.

Extreme Dream ran 118 with 1200s and 6 drives and she was a 42.

A 42 with 900s would run about 105. I would have your gps checked. Don't get me wrong O/L makes a beautiful boat.

But if I was in the market for speed, Give me a 36ft cat with 600s and I will hit 120 at 5200rpms.

I just have a problem with a boat that costs 600,000 and a 60,000 engine that may last one Poker Run.

I think you should check your facts!!!! Brian M of cape cod mass. just took delivery of a 42 that ran 115 MPH !!!! on a livorsi gps speedo. And then there is Brad Bensons boat with 900 mercs that runs 113 mph but don't take my word for it ask him. Oh and by the way a 42 outerlimits has a 9'2" beam and has 6' of headroom. with a stand up head with shower. The boat in cape cod I am speaking of is a stand up version and not a gtx. If it were a gtx it would run over 120 mph. As for being informative maybe you should read the ol web sight for the exact specifications. I have no problem with the nt and think they are great boats, I just think since this thread started with someone looking for information about two different boats the information should be acurate.

I think both the Nor-Tech and the Outerlimits are comparable. The OT does have a 9.2 foot beam and 6'+ of headroom. They weigh a similar amount. As for the speeds, I don't know what the NTs run but I'd suspect, like T2x said, that with equal power they probably run pretty close to each other. Either way, I stand by my original post, they are each at the top of the performance boat pyramid in terms of style, performance, status and quality. You cannot go wrong with either one.

Ignore all the bs chest thumping and visit the factories. Go for some rides and you'll know which one is RIGHT FOR YOU and rest assured that the next time this conversation takes place, they'll be using YOUR boat as the example upon which someone will stake his or her testorerone claims.

:D :D :D

Good grief!........

At the end of the day all we're talking about here is Vee bottoms. A monohull is essentially a monohull and power and setup means a lot. The OL's have not been particularly competitive in real races. They do dominate in Poker runs.....But!!!!..... They envariably have twice the power of most other mono hulls.....and the company owner seems to drive the fastest one. At the NYC run they were basically the only big power vees at the event. But....bottom line............ Cats run rings around 'em every day.

Ol's biggest asset seems to be that they are better at marketing to people who can (or will) spring for monster motors....... This doesn't make them particularly bad boats........nor particularly good either.

I do question why there only seems to be shades of yellow, orange and red in their hull graphics pallette.

T2x

Ain't that the TRUTH!:D :D :D

I friend of ours that used to own a Black Thunder with monster power decided to dump it for another brand that would be more supportive.
He shopped two boats one was a O.L. the other a N.T.

His new Nor-Tech is called No Limits. :eek:

Just a story don't shoot me:D

How fast is Your friends NT with the big power?
Rock it ran 130 mph with 1200+ engines and it is a full stand up 42 OL shower and all. It also won every PXV class race it entered against cats and vees.

Rock-It has a half cabin, not a full cabin and had 1200hp Eickerts. Ask Waterspeed about the boat, he's been out on it.

mr. Luhrs,

I take personal offence to the comment that cats run circles around my boats. You should look at the results of the loto shoot out and see how many cats did not run faster than my 42' vee bottom. In no way do I claim that a vee bottom is faster than a cat, there is no need to start that topic. Furthermore we do not only market to people who want big power, we have become a company that has been known for big horsepower because our boats perform well at 100mph plus speeds as well as cruising at 75 mph. I think we are the only company to guarantee 140mph performance in a 42' vee, or 130mph in a fully loaded 51'.
In the end it is up to the client as to which boat suits his or her needs, I would be proud to show my factory and my boats to any perspective client and show why we belive we build a great boat.
And mr. Luhrs, if you have any questions about my company or my boats feel free to call me at 401-253-7300. We have never officialy met but I have watched you as a kid on needle nose race films, I look forward to a proper introduction in the future.

Respectfully,

Mike Fiore

Don't know and to be honest don't care.
More important things impress me like the attitude of the person that is lucky enough to have or not have the nicest or worst.
I'm not into the my dog is better than your dog crap all I wanted to share was another persons experience.

Mr. Miller,

Rock-it had 1200 hp eickert 572 ci motors, a half cabin and a shower with a stand up head and ran 132 mph. This boat was owned by Bob Russel and he and I raced it for a season in p-1 until they kicked us out of the class and put us in extreme vee because they did not belive a boat that ran over 130 belonged in that class.

WHAT ABOUT 47 GTX WITH BIG HP STERLINGS....IS THAT GUARANTEED 140MPH? OR DO YOU HAVE TO BUY A 46 SKATER TO GO THAT SPEED WITH THE SAME POWER?:hothead:

A new 47 epoxy gtx with sterling 1450 's is guaranteed to run 140.

I GUESS THE EPOXY PART PUTS IT OVER 140.....? WHAT ABOUT THE PREVIOUS 47 GTX'S THAT WERENT EPOXY

mr. Fiore:

Perhaps we will meet officially someday and I understand you are proud of your product....It is , after all your way of making a living. I will also accept that you don't want this to disintegrate into another cat vs vee thread, since you have acknowledged that cats are faster. That having been said........ It seems that the rest of this thread has to do with selling various products as "the best" or "the fastest" and as you have pointed out that is a personal decision depending on the buyer's taste....or lack thereof.

I have noted , I believe accurately, that OL has a larger than average share of mega horsepower monohulls on the Poker Run circuit...and that is the primary source of "pit buzz" regarding your product at these events. Rock-It is a perfect example...and a fast boat. Racing (as opposed to Poker runs and "exhibition/outlaw classes) to me, however, is about apples to apples in which the consumer can see, and the manufacturers can demonstrate in heads up confrontations, comparisons of various hulls in all kinds of conditions. The most widely recognised "level playing field" is in spec class racing...and OL has not distinguished itself from many other vee hull designs in the single and twin engine factory or super vee classes. No bash intended because as I said......mono hulls...are mono hulls..... after all is said and done...and there are a lot of them at or near state of the art in terms of design and construction.

Cats, to me, are easier to distinguish in that there are far fewer truly top flight manufacturers and a significant difference between the good ones and the bad ones.

I hope you enjoyed the NNRT tapes although I am not sure who "as a kid" was....me or you? I wish you, mr. Fiore, and your enterprise, Outer Limits, as much success as any other respected builder in the performance boating industry.

Rich Luhrs

Sorry about that. When I saw it in the pits at the NYC Poker Run a couple years ago someone said it had 1400hp Eickerts, that is why I stated that. I knew it had a half cabin so I included that information as well. It's an awesome boat as are all those that I've seen from you. Didn't state nor imply that the boats are anything other than awesome.

Respectfully,

miller

Unfortunately, this type of discussion is all to familiar in the high performance boating arena. Be it racing, poker running or otherwise. All too often the only way one is able to obtain any significant level of respect among the high performance crowd is by either having raced and succeeded or spent mega dollars. I look at it this way.

From a boat owners perspective: If your boat is running and you are having fun with it, doing what you like, that is what matters. Whether it is a 2003 or 1983, whether it has $100,000 Sterlings, or shade tree mechanic small blocks, is of no importance. What IS important, is that you have FUN, be SAFE, and understand that not everyone can afford to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars to go boating, but simply being out there and enjoying the sport we all love. To me, whether you are running a little 15 year old 24 Skater with twin 225's like I do, or a million dollar monster like My Way, it should matter not. But having FUN TOGETHER SHOULD! We will each have our preferences in designs, graphics, power, etc. Doesn't make either right or wrong, just different.

From a builders perspective: Are your products built for "safety" and performance and do they handle the water conditions they are designed for in the manner they are advertised to? Are they built using the best products, technology and methods available today in an effort to produce a "safe" and reliable product? Or, do you skimp, cut corners, copy others designs and call them your own in an effort to build them as quickly as possible with the highest margins possible? Do you cover up flaws (such as waves in the gunwales etc) with heavy doses of wild paint and or vinyl? Do you stand behind your product with CONSISTANT QUALITY service? Not just for the guy that bought the biggest fastest boat in the world, but for the hard working Joe that busted his azz to finally purchase his dream machine? These are characteristics that make a boat a quality boat.

I don't think that any one can successfully argue that in the Vee category there are some fantastic builders. Including but certainly not limited to, Outerlimits, Nor-Tech, Formula, Cigarette, Fountain (did I say Fountain:p j/k of course) Hustler, Apache, Donzi, Active Thunder etc etc etc. However, as T2x said, in the cat category the truly great builders are certainly less in numbers. I.e. Skater, Spectre, Nor-Tech, MTI. You say; toe-may-toe, I say toe-ma-toe, "let's call the whole thing off" and enjoy what each boat has to offer. Arguing whose boat is nicer, faster, better etc. only drives wedges between us.

Surely there will people that each of us will not get a long with. Lord knows, I have a few. Does that make me a bad person? No. Does that make them bad people? NOPE! Just different. There are OSO members that I do not necessarily care for. I know there are members that do not necessarily care for me. BUT! I respect them! Except one from the mid-west who is no longer joining us here on OSO. Like them...not really. Respect them? Absolutely. So let's discuss the differences, draw backs and benefits of different boats, power plants, drive configurations etc, but respect them for what they are. If a manufacturer holds them out to be something they are not, well, then, all bets are off as they brought it on themselves. Then it is time to call a spade a spade.

Using the example of where I made a HUGE error in judgement last week with regard to 2 other OSO members. Was I wrong in what I did? ABSOLUTELY! However, I quickly admitted to it, took my lumps, felt horrible and have subsequently "righted the wrong" with one of the members who is a dear friend. The other member and I, certainly have a personality "issue". I accept that. I wish it were not the case but such is life. I appologized to him here and offered to buy he and his g/f a drink or dinner out of respect and being sorry for my actions which were uncalled for and childish. It is to bad that we differ personality wise as we share many of the same interests and hobbies. However, he did NOT deserve what I did. So I have done my best to acknowledge such and respect him for who he is, what he is, and what he has accomplished personally and professionally.

I hope this long winded post helps to share my perspective on things, that although we will never all agree on everything, we should maintain respect for each other and his or her posessions until we are harmed by someone to a point that others need to be made aware to protect their personal interests. This has been a part of this sport since its inception and some have even been murdered because of it.:(

Shane, did you just step into a discussion and make peace???? I'm so confused. I used to be able to count on you stirring things up!! :D

How are you buddy?

Good Miller, you? I never heard back from you about the 1000 Islands and subsequently my buddy John went with me. Are you not going to London?

Very well put:)