Though the recent news of Bob Russell’s commitment to keeping Outerlimits Offshore Powerboats alive and well created most of the Outerlimits-related buzz during the Miami International Boat Show this week, the personal highlight for Rob D’Angelo, the owner of the new immaculate Outerlimits SL 44 V-bottom displayed at the docks, was his first ride in the boat he took this afternoon with Outerlimits’ Dan Kleitz. Dressed in a Stephen Miles Design paintjob, the 44-footer is powered by a pair of Mercury Racing 1100 engines.

Rob D’Angelo went for his first ride in his new Outerlimits SL 44 today (click image to enlarge). Photo courtesy/copyright Pete Boden/Shoot 2 Thrill Pix.

“It was unbelievable,” said D’Angelo, an eight-time Donzi owner and first-time Outerlimits buyer who lives in Novi, Mich. “Today, we ran it up to 111 mph—we’re expecting 138 mph—but with six people on board and a lot of boat chop we didn’t’ want to push it. It was unreal, just unreal. My wife, Laura, was in the passenger seat up front. It was such a comfortable ride.

“Stephen Miles did an unbelievable job,” he continued. “And Dan Kleitz—I cannot say enough good about what that kid has done given all he’s had to deal with this year. I wrote him a check a year ago and, as promised, they had the boat finished in a year and delivered to the boat show.”

Though D’Angelo, who has a second home in Fort Myers Beach, Fla., sold his last Donzi, and 38 ZR model, in 2014, he still owns a 38-foot Donzi center console. Yet the center console was never intended to be a replacement for his go-fast sportboat. To that end, he found exactly what he was looking for in the SL 44.

“We needed a little more boat, we needed something with a little more freeboard, so the next step up was an Outerlimits,” he said, then chuckled. “Unfortunately, I didn’t get to drive today as my insurance doesn’t kick in until Tuesday.

“Dan is going to come back Fort Myers Beach and run the boat with me for a few days,” he continued. “We’ll have it there till June 1. Then we’ll bring it up to Lake St. Clair.”

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