Inside SOTW Mag: The Gentleman Boatbuilder

In mid-September 2014, Paul Fiore, the founder of famed New York-based Hustler Powerboats walked the floor of a banquet hall in Fresno, Calif., with tears in his eyes. He was there to honor his 44-year-old only son, Mike, the founder of Outerlimits Offshore Powerboats, who had died less than a month earlier following an accident during the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout in Central Missouri.

More than a notable high-performance marine industry figure, Paul Fiore of Hustler Powerboats fame was a first-class human being. Photo from the 2019 Outerlimits Factory Fun Fun Run courtesy/copyright Halsey Fulton.

Paul Fiore’s soft voice was even softer that day, which began in appropriately somber fashion but morphed into a storytelling festival about his son that left most of the room laughing. Dustin Whipple, Mike’s brother-in-law—Mike was married to Whipple’s sister, Shonda, and they had two children together before he died—started what became a roast of sorts for a guy who would have loved it.

Because it was a true celebration of a life well-lived.

The senior Fiore found himself surrounded by well-known folks who adored and respected his son. A who’s who group of high-performance marine industry figures, the group included Rob Blair, Mark Boos, Tony Chiaramonte of DCB Performance Boats, Erik Christiansen of Mercury Racing, offshore racing great Steve Curtis, Frank Dagostino, Ron Duggan of the Lake of the Ozarks Shootout, Win Farnsworth, Mike Griffiths of Mercury Racing, Michael “Doc” Janssen, Jeff Johnston of DCB, Bob Leach of Eliminator Boats, Bob Nixon, Bob Russell, Dave Scotto, Joe Sgro, Bob Teague, Buddy Thomas, the Whipple family of Whipple Superchargers and many more.

Paul Fiore even managed a smile and a laugh or two during the afternoon.

To enjoy the complete feature, click the download link for the PDF of the November/December 2019 Speed On The Water magazine, and please share any feedback with us below, via email or on social media.