POWER BOATING HAS LOST AN ICON AS OUTERLIMITS FOUNDER MIKE FIORE HAS DIED

The Power Boating industry has yet again suffered an unimaginable blow with the passing of Mike Fiore Outerlimits Power Boats President and CEO from a horrific accident this past weekend during the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout event. Outerlimits Powerboats released this statement regarding Mike late Tuesday evening.

“Outerlimits Offshore Powerboat company President/CEO and founder Michael Fiore passed away this evening from injuries sustained during a boating event in Missouri over the weekend,” said Frank Sciacca, general counsel of Outerlimits in the statement. “Fiore, 44, of Bristol, R.I., developed complications from surgery and died at University Hospital in Columbia, Mo. The entire Outerlimits family is devastated by the loss of our friend and leader of our company.

“Mike’s love for high-speed boating was only outmatched by the love for his wife, three young children and his family,” Sciacca continued. “Details on arrangements will be made and released in the coming days, and in the meantime we hope all understand the family’s need to grieve for their loss privately.”

The entire power boating community is extremely saddened and affected by this incident and loss of Mike. PBN extends are heartfelt condolences to Mike’s family and the entire team at Outerlimits. Rest in peace.

Wherever you look you see high horsepower engines shattering new power levels but one of the key components making that possible is what your not seeing. Hidden deep inside the belly’s of these beasts is the link between durability and reliability

Oliver Racing Parts Company President Joe Moch points out that Oliver Parts legend as a company of connecting rod development is enjoying great success by making huge strides in their ability to deliver even more product to their customers.

“This continued strength and success of the Oliver Racing parts has the company building connecting rods for nearly every segment of the professional racing engine market.” Joe said

The company has been working at full tilt supplying custom engine connecting rods to a wide range of professional motorsports from Roush Racing, Duttweiller racing, Chief Engines, BoostPower USA, as well as the Goodwin Competition offerings we have been following closely.

Joe pointed out that engine development happens at a very rapid pace today and being able to work closely with with the professional teams requires Oliver Racing to be a nimble and responsive company. Joe also said, the companies success has other industries such as the high performance diesel racing engine providers seeking their services as well. In addition to the product success the company itself is making big advancements and were promised an inside look next time at what equipment and processes changes Oliver is using to lead their market segment.

Oliver connecting rods has claimed its stand among the top of the mountain as the standard of which other rods are measured and for us in the power boating world that just means confidence when you run the best.

PowerBoatNation was a lucky participant in the Emerald Coast Poker Run and we had nothing but great fun. The Florida Powerboat Club
always does a great job setting the events up and giving us all great coverage following. Check out all the great pictures and event highlights in the FPC Galleries.

From Mr. Stu Jones!

If you participated in last weekend’s Emerald Coast Poker Run, thanks for joining us and we don’t have to tell you how much fun this big summer event was!! Having great Boat Week parties all week long from Tuesday through Sunday, and fantastic weather day after day, made this one of the best Emerald Coast Poker Run events in recent years! Thanks to the generosity of our poker runners, the Emerald Coast Foundation was very pleased with this year’s fund-raising results, which are unofficially reported to be nearing the $ 150,000 mark!

Here’s a snapshot of all the highlights, and we’ll soon be broadcasting complete television coverage as Powerboating in Paradise TV returns to SunSports with two complete episodes featuring the 22nd Annual Emerald Coast Poker Run. Special thanks to IP Casino in Biloxi and Emerald Coast TDC for their continued support of this fantastic summer boating event!

Stu Jones – President
Florida Powerboat Club

CLICK HERE TO SEE ALL THE FPC PHOTOS

The Team Spirit of QATAR boat shattered this years top speed record running an astounding 244 MPH at this years Lake of the Ozarks Shootout breaking the record set by MY Way just last year of 224 MPH. Discussions with John Cosker the Mystic company founder at Key West last year indicated that the My Way team saw larger numbers than the 224 they were clocked at last year and that bigger numbers were on the horizon. Not a truer statement could be spoken the Qatar team came prepared with some obviously highly tuned up T-55 Turbine engines and did an amazing job coming back from their first run of 210 MPH after a drag chute deployed while on the run to set the milestone 244mph speed. Powerboat Nation stood by for just a few seconds to see if there would be a challenge and as it stands at least not until next year, this 50 MYSTIC Catamaran will hold the title TOP GUN.

Boat owner and driver Sheikh Hassan bin Jabor Al-Thani and throttleman Steve Curtis were obviously elated with their fantastic run and only they know what their future plans may be to break the record or challenge anyone that may try.

While the QATAR runs is impressive to me the real showcase speed run of the weekend came from John Roth’s 388 SKATER open cockpit pleasure boat driven solo by John Tomlinson. John made a first pass of 194 MPH followed by a 197 MPH and again on Sunday he ran 197 MPH. This all done in what is essentially a pleasure boat with some monster Carson Brummett power that you could run around with on any given weekend.

The other incredible run came in from another SKATER owned by Kenny Mungle who is always on hand to greet the fans and show appreciation to everyone who comes out to support the event. The colorful 32 SKATER “Gone Again” ran 180 MPH.

LOTO this year had some highs and some very deep lows. Their were great people everywhere, fast boats, and it was very hot. Attendance seemed off the mark from previous years and when we left we all had heavy hearts with prayers and hopes for a successful recovery for our friend Mike Fiore. PBN extends our best to Mike and his family Joel and the entire Outerlimits Family.

On Saturday, during the early runs at the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout, the new 46-foot SC Outerlimits catamaran owned and driven by Joel Begin and throttled by Mike Fiore—owner and founder of Outerlimits—flipped while running more than (estimated) 150 mph about three-quarters of the way down the course. After launching 50 to 60 feet in the air, the boat landed on the throttleman’s side of the canopy and came to rest right side up.

Fiore and Begin reportedly survived the crash, were extracted by the Shootout’s rescue crews and taken to University Hospital in Columbus, Mo. After being taken to the hospital as a precaution, Joel Begin was released. Mike Fiore remains in the hospital but is stable and responsive. The Outerlimits Family released this statement in a facebook post on Sunday:

“We would like to take this opportunity to thank all for the concern and overwhelming support.

We ask that everyone please respect the privacy of the families and individuals involved.”

UPDATE 8/26: MIke Fiore developed complications during surgery and passed away due to his injuries. See here for more info.

PBN also thanks Matt and Jason from Speed on the Water for the collaboration during this stressful time.

1 of 6

The entire team at Performance Boat Center has been working so hard to get their new facility ready, help out all of the Shootout Participants, and on top of all this they held a HUGE party last night at their fabulous new facility. PBN will tell you all about this brand new PowerBoating Center Showcase later, but I can tell you now this place is incredible and nothing in the powerboating segment can touch it.

With a stack of fabulous boats on display, hundreds of people showed up and the Performance Boat Center Team were wonderful hosts. With live music, hosted food and drink the place was swarming with powerboating enthusiasts. In the house were Peter Hledin from SKATER, Mike Fiore of OUTERLIMITS, Randy Kent, Team Qatar, and tons of familiar faces from all over the country.

PBN cant thank Performance Boat Center for including us in this event and I promise next year we will make it even more special.

1 of 32

For heavy hitting powerboaters all roads lead to the Lake of the Ozarks. DCB’s are fast and showcase some of the best rigging and manufacturing quality available anywhere.

The Lake of the Ozarks shootout is THE PLACE to show how well they run. As I write this , Win Farnsworth’s M41 “Silver Lining”running Mercury racing QC4v 1350’s is en route as well as a brand new M35 also with Mercury Racing 1350’s. Tony Chiaramonte from DCB tells us both boats will l run in the shootout

The M35 is for is being delivered to its owner Jake Nossaman… this is Jake’s fourth DCB showing yet another case of how loyal the DCB buyers are. Great boats, for great people that perform exceptionally well. Check back to PowerBoatNation for all the shootout results live from LOTO

1 of 4

Boat Week in Destin could be just too much fun and with so much going on. We had a pretty solid plan for theEmerald Coast Poker Run this year. I was going up to Throttle the 50 Outerlimits “Golddigger” with boat owner David Landsman and his entourage from Showcase Motorsports Poker Run Team on my flight were Larry Goldman of Xtreme Powerboats, who was Throttling a new 48 MTI with Mercury Racing 1650 QC4v’s and Randy Sweers running Denis Rias 48 MTI with Mercury Racing 1350 QC4v.

The plan seemed good but I did get off to a bad start leaving Miami. However, I did get to Destin on time and the Friday fun run/ lunch run onboard Digger was great.

This years Poker Run brought in about 160 boats registered in the Poker Run but there must have been over 400 boats during this incredible week on the water. Many people arrange boat week for their family vacation and just come to the Emerald Coast to hang out. Beautiful water, and just plain fun.

The Emerald Coast Foundation received at least $150,00.00 for their charities and giving was the thing to do by this group of boaters who see to do the same thing over and over. Immediately upon walking into the evening event well know poker runner and incredibly generous Kenny Armstrong bought all the t-shirts and apparel on the table. Then he quickly gave it all away, the quickest 5K ever spent on event T-shirts I am sure.

Also in town supporting a fleet of boats was Jason Ventura and his team from BrandX Hi Performance Marine, When one his customers boats lost a transmission I was still flying into town and when I landed I found out my wife had met up with Mark Berman of BAM marine was was driving up to deliverer a brand new BAM transmission that was loaded up in the trunk of her BMW. How far will PBN go to help out a boater as far as we have too.

1 of 41

Northern California Big Cat Poker Run a Success

For those lucky enough to take in the Northern California Delta boating experience at the 14th Annual Big Cat Poker Run this past weekend were treated to a 70 plus boat count and over 125 miles of fabulous water and boating conditions.

This event draws far and wide from the West Coast and the range of boats involved in the last few years has grown exponentially. We know there were numerous PBN members on hand and special thanks Syd Smith and his 36′ Skater team for waving the PBN flag and supporting all of us with pictures from the Delta.

The Big Cat Poker Run is one of those special events where powerboating enthusiasts open their homes and enjoy a long weekend of boating and socializing with a great crowd.

Discovery Bay is a very unique and cool place to go boating and offers great diversity. You can stay in the delta, water ski, board and cruise around in flat protected water and if you want a longer run you can go all the way into San Francisco Bay and explore beyond into the pacific under the Golden Gate Bridge.

1 of 23

Devin Wozencraft and his Poker Run Team are on the road again working to bring their brand to Powerboating events around the country. With a hotspot powering a mobile office the team headed out to this weekends big Cat Poker Run on the California Delta at Discovery Bay, serving clients all along the way.

Brad and Kim Stewart of E Ticket Boats are trialering the WOZENCRAFT E Ticket from Lake Havasu to Discovery Bay for Devin and will be at the event all weekend to support their great brand.

Brad and Kim Stewart of E Ticket Boats are trialering the WOZENCRAFT E Ticket from Lake Havasu to Discovery Bay for Devin and will be at the event all weekend to support their great brand.

Devin is a powerboater as much as he is and insurance guy and really understands the market and his customers need to have quality insurance to cover their precious watercraft. “Boaters insuring Boaters” is the Wozencraft motto and they do the job better than anyone else making sure your needs are covered with the best possible products available. Good insurance is not measured by how cheap it is, good insurance is measured by how well it protects you and meets your individual requirements, and Wozencraft has me covered!

Thank you Devin for taking the time to send PBN coverage of the Big Cat Poker Run. A great event for everyone on the West Coast.

Mark Fischer has been a friend and fellow boating companion for years. Mark used to have other brands build his boats for him and now for a few years he has been building boats for others as the owner of Blackwater boats and Ocean Hawk. Mark and is wife Eileen are also the owners of the uber-successful Offlease Only car dealerships.

For sometime now the Miami rumor mill has been swirling about the opportunity of Deep Impact being for Sale. At the Lake Lanier Poker Run I spoke to Mark about it and kindly asked to keep it quite and he would call me to let me know when it was cool to let it out, but he had already at that time done the deal to acquire Deep Impact. He was running his 399 Deep Impact Poker Run Edition at Lake Lanier.

“Deep Impact was always one of my favorite brands,” Fischer said in a statement. “The opportunity to combine the customized beauty of Deep Impact with the fit and finish of Blackwater was like a dream come true.”

Mark owns the Blackwater and Ocean Hawk boat lines. The 33 Ocean Hawk’s are the familiar 33 Opens that were formally branded as Cigarettes as well as Ocean Hawks and were the first real Cigarette center consoles. The boats are fast and fit perfect with the Miami Powerboating Lifestyle. Blackwater fishing boats are tough, rugged and have incredible their fit and finish, quality construction and meticulous attention to detail. Ocean Hawk boats are associated with speed and pleasure cruising.

The Deep Impact production will be moved to the Blackwater facility here in Miami and all boats will be offered through Marks boat dealership BoatsDirect USA.

Mark and Eileen are certainly the couple to make this move. The are incredible business people, active boaters, and Mark definitely knows what it takes to build a great boat and make it work for every type of boating lifestyle.