Gulfstar Yachts

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Lazzara 80 Sky Lounge enclosed bridge July, 2014 Lazzara 80 Sky Lounge enclosed bridge photo D Ramey Logan.jpg
Lazzara 80 Sky Lounge enclosed bridge July, 2014

Gulfstar Yachts was a large manufacturer of fiberglass sailboats and powerboats built in the Tampa Bay, Florida area from 1970 until 1990 when the Viking Yachts purchased the company's assets. [1] Vince Lazzara, one of pioneers of fiberglass sailboat construction, founded the company. Lazzara had previously been one of the founders of Columbia Yachts. [2] They produced both power from 36 to 72 feet and sailboats from 36 to 63. [3]

Contents

Gulfstar 50 Sloop Gulfstar 50 sloop.jpg
Gulfstar 50 Sloop

History

Gulfstar Yachts Logo Gulfstar logo.jpg
Gulfstar Yachts Logo

In 1970, Vince Lazzara emerged from a two-year non-compete clause, which had prevented his building fiberglass monohull power and sailboats. He had signed this clause when he sold his share in Columbia Yachts and had been biding his time by building houseboats. Immediately after the non-compete clause expired, Lazzara founded Gulfstar Yachts in the Tampa Bay area. He began building low-priced, low-quality, beamy boats. The hulls were even interchangeable as sailboats or trawlers, which minimized production costs. In the mid-1970s, Gulfstar was losing market share. Lazzara, not wanting to leave a legacy as a producer of poor quality yachts reorganized the company, contracted Ted Hood for a number of models and began to produce high-quality, performance yachts also updating and expanding its Sailmaster series. In 1984, Gulfstar began producing the Sailcruiser twin engine motorsailor series, producing yachts rivaling that of the best production yachts of the late 70s and mid 80s The early and mid 80's are now considered Gulfstar's 'Golden Era' of yacht production. By the mid-1980s, as sons Richard and Brad (powerboat fans) became more involved in Gulfstar, their production shifted towards powerboats and away from the performance sailboats. During the mid-1980s, Gulfstar also produced a number of performance sailing yachts for the CSY charter boat fleet in the Caribbean.

In 1986, Gulfstar and Viking Yachts, a powerboat manufacturer, started talking about a merger. In 1990, Viking purchased Gulfstar's assets. [1]

Sail

ModelDesignerNotes
61MSLazzaramotorsailor
60AUXR.C. Lazzaraperformance auxiliary sailboat
54SCLazzarasailcruiser
53MSLazzaramotorsailor
52INDLazzara52 Independence
50AUXVince Lazzaraperformance sailboat, comes in Mark II version, sloop/ketch, and two/three staterooms [2]
48HOODTed Hoodperformance sailboat
47SMVince Lazzarasailmaster motorsailor
45HirshR.C. Lazzarasailcruiser, performance auxiliary (built by Hirsh using purchased Gulfstar 44 plans)
44AUXR.C. Lazzaraperformance sailboat, comes in Mark I,II versions [3]
Gulfstar 43 Vince Lazzaracomes in Mark I, II versions [3]
41AUXVince Lazzaraperformance sailboat, start of sailing tradition in 1973 [3]
40HOODTed Hoodperformance sailboat
50SMVince LazzaraSailmaster - performance motorsailor
40SMR.C. LazzaraSailmaster center cockpit--performance motorsailor, 1981-82, same hull as 39SM, 12 hulls, primarily for the bareboat charter company, Moorings.
39SMR.C. LazzaraSailmaster - performance motorsailor, 1981-82, 60 hulls.
36AUXVince Lazzaraaft cockpit from 1984 [3]
36MSVince Lazzaramotorsailor

Power

ModelDesignerNotes
GS72Lazzaramotoryacht 1987-90 6 hulls
GS65Lazzaramotoryacht, extended aft deck 1987-91 6 hulls
GS63MYLazzaramotoryacht, 1987-90 28 hulls
GS57Lazzaramotoryacht 1990 3 hulls
GS55MYLazzaraViking 55 motoryacht, 1987-90 35 hulls
GS53TRWLazzaratrawler, same hull as 53MS, 10 hulls from 1975-1976 [3]
GS49MYLazzaramotoryacht, late 1980s, Mark I and II versions
GS48MYLazzaramotoryacht, 1981-82 23 hulls
GS44MYVince Lazzaramotoryacht, Mrk I 1985 Mrk II 1986 Mrk III 1987 Mrk IV 1988
GS44MCLazzaramotor cruiser 1975-80 90 hulls
GS43TRWVince Lazzaratrawler, Mrk I 1973-74 Mrk II 1975-77
GS38MCVince Lazzaramotor cruiser, 1980-84 30 hulls
GS36TRWVince Lazzaratrawler, Mrk I 1972-73 Mrk II (98) 1975-76 (35)same hull as MS36

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 GulfstarOC.org, Gulfstar OC, retrieved 2010-04-08
  2. 1 2 Kretschmer, John, Used Boat Notebook, pp. 221–226
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 GulfstarOwnersClub.com, Gulfstar Owners Club, retrieved 2010-04-08