When a long time boat owner decides to create a build to top all he has done before, Rather than dive into hours of details, review and approve renderings and proofs. Dennis Raia simply tells Randy Sweers of Fastboats Marine Group to build it and let him know when it’s done
Of course this wasn’t the first build for Mr Raia that Mr Sweers has accomplished, but by my estimation it is the very best, and arguably the best 48 MTI done to date.
The list of current and previous boats owned by Mr RAIA is long and distinguished: His current fleet consists of a 74 Viking Sportfish “Set in My Waves”, 42X Cigarette “Purple Haze”, with a matching 20 Cigarette,38 Jupiter with Triple 350 Yamahas, 30 Hinckley and of course the new 48 MTI “OUTRAIAGIOUS” catamaran. Starting out with a 36 Nor-Tech in 2004 then on to a 43 Nor-Tech with Mercury Racing 1075’s. The other two MTI’s were both 42’s with 1075’s. I remember being at the Key West Poker Run in 2009 just months after he had taken delivery of his first 42. A new 42 had been brought down to display in poker run village by David Woods of Pier 57 without power and was for sale. Even though he had just taken delivery of the his first 42, Mr Raia liked the paint on the new boat so much he bought it on site and had his engines and drives swapped to the new one.
The new 48 build had some special requirements and had to be done in a certain way. It could not just be another boat with a fancy paint job. This build had to be special, attention to detail, and a sophisticated style and look. This was achieved by using the styling cues from Fastboats Marine Group who has always brought a leading design and fashion edge to American Powerboating using the familiar black and white theme from their 40 foot MTI raceboat, the design of “OUTRAIAGIOUS” began. The end result was a meticulously detailed high performance cat.
The Fastboat Marine Group powerboating experience only begins with the build. The team at Fastboats brings the Epitome of “concierge” service. The hauler, the trailer, the scooters, everything is white and everything is spotless. Fastboats even has the mooring lines dry cleaned to keep it all fresh and ready. Under Fastboats care, Randy and Denis have finished every Poker Run they have started since 2004. Randy says his job is to get Mr. Raia and his quests through the Poker Runs “fast and safe”.
Attention to detail. Randy told me he compromised the design and reluctantly ordered grey material for the seats to be more practical. The decision literally kept him awake at night and at 2:30 in the morning he sent an email changing the interior back to white. A decision that Mr. Raia was very happy with, the design and style had to win over the practical approach. The styling cues and subtle elegance of the 165 MPH, 1350 Twin Turbo Mercury Racing Masterpiece. The M8 drives were custom painted to match the boat at the MTI Factory, the Heritage tilt trailer is immaculate.
I can’t wait to see what they do when this boat has 100 hours on it and its time to design a new build.
