Global Warmer Heating Up Southwest Florida

Dan Davies vowed not to lay eyes on Global Warmer, his canopied 2008-model-year Outerlimits Offshore Powerboats SV 43 sportboat, in person until its total renovation was complete. He didn’t visit Stephen Miles Design in Owensboro, Ky., while it was being painted in late 2024 and early 2025. He didn’t head to Grant’s Signature Racing in Bradenton, Fla., where the 43-footer was being rigged with its Mercury Racing 1100 engines during the past three months.

Powered by a pair of 1,100-hp turbocharged engines installed and rigged by Grant’s Signature Racing, the Global Warmer Outerlimits aced its first test-session yesterday. Photos by Pete Boden.

Good to his word, the former offshore racer who ran a 42-foot Fountain Powerboats V-bottom of the same name, will see and run the boat this afternoon in Sarasota Bay and beyond on Saturday and Sunday. Thanks to photographer Pete Boden, however, he did see a few images of the V-bottom running yesterday during its first test session.

“It turned out excellent,” said Davies, who lives in Chicago but has a winter home on Marco Island. “It’s perfect. It’s exactly what I wanted.”

As previously reported, the SV 43 began its life a Holy Smokes III and was painted by Dean Loucks of The Art Of Design in Elkhart, Ind.

Stephen Miles Design handled the 43-footer’s paintjob.

According to Grant Bruggemann of the famed rigging shop, yesterday’s test session went flawlessly. Bruggemann ran the boat, which is set up for acceleration rather than top speed, to 130 mph.Mike Griffiths of Mercury Racing and Roy Mitchell of Mercury Racing were there to provide technical and setup support if needed.

It wasn’t.

“There was no drama at all—it was almost a non-event,” he said, then chuckled. “It did everything the way it should.

“We worked our tails off on it,” he added. “We’re very pleased with the finished product, and we think Dan will love running it.”

Come this afternoon, Davies will get his first chance.