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Gulfstar Yachts was a small manufacturer of fiberglass sailboats 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 38 to 55 feet and sailboats from 36 to 61.
[3]
History
In 1970, Vince Lazzara emerged from a two-year noncompete 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.
[2] Immediately, 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 and decided to switch tacks and produce high-quality,
performance yachts.[2] By the mid 1980's, Gulfstar had switched again and was producing powerboats.
In 1986, Gulfstar and Viking Yachts, a powerboat manufacturer, starting talking about a merger.
In 1990, Viking purchased Gulfstar's assets.[1]
Sail
| Model
|
Designer
|
Notes
|
| 61MS
|
Lazzara
|
motorsailor
|
| 60AUX
|
R.C. Lazzara
|
performance auxiliary sailboat
|
| 54SC
|
Lazzara
|
sailcruiser
|
| 53MS
|
Lazzara
|
motorsailor
|
| 52IND
|
Lazzara
|
52 Independence
|
| 50AUX
|
Vince Lazzara
|
performance sailboat, comes in Mark II version, sloop/ketch, and two/three staterooms [2]
|
| 48HOOD
|
Ted Hood
|
performance sailboat
|
| 47SM
|
Vince Lazzara
|
sailmaster motorsailor
|
| 44AUX
|
R.C. Lazzara
|
performance sailboat, comes in Mark I,II versions [3]
|
| 43MS
|
Vince Lazzara
|
motorsailor
|
| 43AUX
|
Vince Lazzara
|
comes in Mark I, II versions [3]
|
| 41AUX
|
Vince Lazzara
|
performance sailboat, start of sailing tradition in 1973 [3]
|
| 40HOOD
|
Ted Hood
|
performance sailboat
|
| 40SM
|
Vince Lazzara
|
sailmaster
|
| 39SM
|
R.C. Lazzara
|
sailmaster
|
| 36AUX
|
Vince Lazzara
|
aft cockpit from 1984 [3]
|
| 36MS
|
Vince Lazzara
|
motorsailor
|
Power
| Model
|
Designer
|
Notes
|
| GS55MY
|
Lazzara
|
Viking 55 motoryacht
|
| GS53TRW
|
Lazzara
|
trawler, same hull as 53MS, 10 hulls from 1975-1976 [3]
|
| GS49MY
|
Lazzara
|
motoryacht, late 1980s, Mark I and II versions
|
| GS48MY
|
Lazzara
|
motoryacht
|
| GS44MC
|
Lazzara
|
motor cruiser
|
| GS43TRW
|
Vince Lazzara
|
trawler
|
| GS38MC
|
Vince Lazzara
|
motor cruiser
|
See also
References
External links
