MAMBA

An Outerlimits Powerboat with Venom!

When Mike Stevenson built his second Outerlimits Powerboat, it was a 47’ classic GTX, “Mamba,” named for the Eastern Green Mamba, the most deadly snake in the world.

His son, a graphic designer, came up with the concept while the father-son team brainstormed a new boat theme that would be totally different than any other they had ever seen. The team at Outerlimits shared his vision, as each of the company’s top-end performance boats is a custom-built masterpiece that reflects the tastes and specifications of its owner. The venomous snake paint job created by Outerlimits was a stellar showpiece and the boat was later sold to a customer in Dubai. Stevenson’s next boat had a tough act to follow.

Since this was his third Outerlimits Powerboat, Stevenson had developed an easy rapport with owner and president, Mike Fiore and the staff, especially General Manager and engineer, Aaron Crawford. He had a lot of ideas for his new sit-down, carbon fiber and epoxy rocket ship, powered by twin Mercury Racing 1075 SCi engines. While visiting Outerlimits’ factory, he had seen a 51 GTX under construction a boat that was to debut at the 2007 Miami International Boat Show and he knew that was exactly what he wanted a reincarnation of his first Mamba only bigger and better.

For Outerlimits, this was another opportunity to make a loyal customer happy once again. “I’ve had quite a few hot boats, but when you get into building something like a 51’ Outerlimits boat, it is a truly custom machine. When I tell them what I want, they say, ‘OK.’ I get a lot of myself into it, and they work with me” he states.

The Outerlimits 51 GTX is a low profile, canopied Vee-bottom, designed for blue water, topperformance enthusiasts. Like all Outerlimits Powerboats, it is constructed of carbon fiber and epoxy, making it strong, light and durable for the roughest of seas. The post-curing process of slowly baking and cooling each boat in a specially designed oven preserves the integrity of the boat’s finish, protecting it against the harsh elements of the sea and sun. This aspect of construction sets Outerlimits apart from other manufacturers and further ensures the strength of the hull and deck, one of the company’s highest priorities. “These boats are virtually indestructible,” says Fiore, “We build strength into our products because our customers like to use their boats.We back what we build because we put our boats to the test ourselves to make sure they will hold up to the elements and action that powerboaters enjoy.”

Beyond the handcrafted workmanship and materials used in the construction of the boat, each is individually designed and becomes a lifestyle and fashion statement. The boat reflects the character of the customer who selects everything from the options, engines, interior, colors and paint scheme.

As Stevenson worked with in-house interior designer, Joyce Fiore, he imagined his cockpit and cabin like a high performance sports car. The cockpit is set up with dual helms and an intercom system so two can share the thrill of throttling and driving. Mamba’s seats are upholstered with silvery snakeskin and dark charcoal leather, accented with polished chrome handles and step plates. Five-point harnesses ensure the safety of the drivers and up to four passengers. Stevenson even worked with Outerlimits to add a third front seat to the normal two and three additional seats behind the drivers. Crawford had custom-built, removable headrests made for the front seats to enhance the rear passengers’ visibility when necessary. Nordskog digital gauges, inserted into a fully leather-wrapped dash give the cockpit an aerospace feel. The name Mamba is carved in green into the cockpit’s charcoal carpets, a color combination that is continued throughout the boat. One of the customization changes to Mamba related to its deep exterior color, so Outerlimits had Valspar Gelcoats create a custom gunmetal gray gel coat for the bottom. Since Stevenson wanted pure speed in this GTX, the stringers were made from foam core and the bulkheads Nomex honeycomb, all adding to its weight-saving, aircraft-style structure.

The air-conditioned half-cabin includes a head, metallic leather and snakeskin
lounges and an electronics package with a VHF radio and top-notch stereo system. A custom 4-channel video recording system was added, covering the cockpit front and back, a wide-angle view of the cabin and the engine compartment. “I love to give someone a DVD of their experience at 115 mph.” says Stevenson; “It’s great to see the look on their faces.”

"Mike is a fun customer." says Crawford, “He’s excited about the project and participates in the process. As a manufacturer, he understands building, does research and comes to us with bright and practical ideas he wants to try; but at the same time, if he is not sure on something, he says, ‘You guys know what I like,’ and trusts us to make the right decision.”

The custom colors continued on the eyepopping exterior paint scheme as Dean Loucks of The Art of Design, the exclusive paint designer for Outerlimits Powerboats, went to work with Stevenson. Loucks was used to an educated customer, exacting and enthusiastic about his powerboat, so using the gracefully curved body of Stevenson’s new GTX as a canvas, he began planning how to uncoil a 51’ snake, using state-of-the-art colors and paints from top-tier Akzo Nobel, the manufacturer or Sikkens automotive and industrial paints.

When Stevenson presented Loucks with the challenge of developing a new Mamba theme, he pondered over drawings, then agonized over colors. “Green and yellows were a given that is the color of a Mamba,” says Loucks, who then went back to his paint workshop to figure out how to make a 51’ snake be beautiful, menacing and memorable, all at once.

By blending 25-30 different colors and metal flakes, including a stunning range of oranges that bring the greens to life, Loucks and his crew created the new Mamba complete with over 2,500 reptile scales, each outlined in black and airbrushed to provide depth and detail. The detail of the engine compartment and hatch cover, accented by custom billet aluminum activators, show Mamba’s evil red eye is everywhere vigilant and threatening to anyone who comes too close.

“Some areas were gone over 15 times, sprayed and splattered, then airbrushed all special processes and ‘passes’ with painting equipment,” says Loucks, “Pearl coating on top of everything the black, green, with a golden flake makes Mamba come alive! This is a true artistic piece there’s not another project like it!” he adds.

Creating such texture and patterns took over two months and Stevenson even came to the shop and spent a full day to watch the process in action. “Dean is an artist without question.” compliments Stevenson, “He outdid himself on this one it came out better than I could ever expect.”

Stevenson is equally complimentary about the Outerlimits Powerboat crew in the construction of the boat. “I’ve had quite a few hot boats, but Outerlimits is the golden ring,” he states.

Stevenson enjoys taking his boat to Lake Havasu for the Desert Storm Poker Run and also boats regularly on Lake Powell. “It’s one of the most beautiful places in the world I never get tired of it,” he says, “Fresh water, red rocks it’s Canyon Country, 200 miles long and 1,900 miles of shore line. With Mercury 1075’s, we take off and go for 100 miles. Those engines put the fun in boating again,” he laughs, noting that the high-horsepower engines. With integral superchargers and #6 drives, the boat can reach top speeds of over 125 mph, yet maintain reliability and “docking manners.”

With his wife of 43 years and a family of 11 grandchildren, ranging in age from 2 to18 years old, all joining him on the lake in a houseboat named “Family Affair,” Stevenson admits, “I have it all.” And that includes a 6-door Ford F650 with a matching paint scheme to haul the 51’ Mamba. The truck came to The Art of Design in pieces to customize to the boat, and then it was reassembled--with an added satellite TV. He also added the Outerlimits advertising tag line across the back of the boat transom. When Stevenson goes by another boater, all that’s seen in his wake is the all too appropriate “Live it!”