First 39-Foot Outerlimits Pleasure Catamaran in Production

When Michigan performance boater Burton Kirsten decided he was going to order the second 39 SC catamaran from Outerlimits Offshore Powerboats in Bristol, R.I.—the first one is the Spirit of Qatar team’s canopied offshore raceboat powered by twin Ilmor Marine engines (read the story)—he was all in on an open-cockpit version of the company’s new 39-foot cat.

Stephen Miles Design is handling the paint on the first pleasure version of the new 39 SC catamaran from Outerlimits.

That was until Kirsten, who does most of his boating on Lake St. Clair and ordered the boat through American Custom Marine in Kimball, Mich., took a ride in a canopied Outerlimits SV 43 offshore V-bottom with American Custom Marine’s Mike Knoblock and changed his mind.

“When we rode in the canopy boat last winter, Burton liked how quiet it was,” Knoblock said. “He also liked that he’d probably be able to use the boat more often and that the canopy would keep his crew out of the weather if it’s a cloudy or rainy day, or a hot one for that matter.”

Kirsten’s new boat, which he’s hoping to have complete by the end of May in time to run it in the inaugural Lake Erie Poker Run in June, is going to be powered by twin 1,100-hp turbocharged Mercury Racing engines with No. 6 drives and features a fully loaded six-seat cockpit and two quick-release hatches in the canopy—a smaller one for the two seats up front and a larger one above the four rear seats—so he can open the top if he wants.

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Check out the slideshow above for early production photos of the Outerlimits 39 SC.

“The boat, which is an all-carbon boat, is being painted by Stephen Miles Design and is getting a custom trailer from MYCO,” Knoblock said, adding that Kirsten has previously owned two Outerlimits, a SV 40 and a 37 Stiletto. “The guys at Outerlimits have been great to work with. Burton and I were there on Monday to go over a few things and make sure the boat is coming together exactly how he wants it. He’s really excited about the new 39.”

According to Knoblock, who said the hull and deck should be bonded this week, the catamaran is expected to reach a top speed of at least 160 mph.

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