History of Gulfstar

Vince Lazzara was one of the pioneers in building boats out of fiberglass and help found Columbia Yachts in 1962 which became one of the largest builders of sailboats. He left and founded Gulfstar Inc in 1970/1. The first boat it produced was a 36-foot motor-sailer. In 1973 it built the Gulfstar 41 center-cockpit sailboat and in the next year began private labeling boats for others, including yachts for charter companies that included CSY, Bill Stevens, the Moorings, La Vida, and Bahamas Yachting Services. Gulfstar added motor yachts to the lineup in 1977 and ten years later, ceased building sailboats altogether. That same year, Gulfstar merged with motor yacht manufacturer Viking to form Viking-Gulfstar.
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Gulfstar production history (approximate/estimated):

Model	Years produced	Number produced
Sail:
36 auxiliary sailboat	1983-85	23
36 salon motorsailer	1971	3 or 4
36 motorsailer	1971-72	???
37 aft cockpit sailboat	1976-79	154
37 center-cockpit sailboat	1986	10-12
39 center-cockpit sailboat	1986	10-12
39 SailMaster	1981-84	57
40 center-cockpit SailMaster	1982	12
40 custom sailboat	1977-78	2
41 auxiliary sailboat	1973-75	160
42 CSY	1986	42
43 auxiliary sailboat	1976-78	80
43 motorsailer	1971-73	10
44 auxiliary sailboat	1978-82	70
44 auxiliary sailboat West Indies	1982-83	10-12
44 MK II	1983-84	10
44 motorsailer	1974-75	79
45 Hirsch	1985-87	30
47 SailMaster	1978-81	79
50 auxiliary sailboat	1975-80	172
50 CSY	1986	???
50 SailMaster	1982-85	17
52 motorsailer Independence model	1975-76	12
53 motorsailer	1971-75	27
54 SailCruiser	1985-86	23
60 auxiliary sailboat	1981-84	???
60 MK II	1985-86	12
62 SailMaster	1982-85	6
63 SailCruiser	1985-86	2
80 auxiliary sailboat	1986	1
Power:
36 trawler MK I	1972-73	98
36 trawler MK II	1975-76	35
38 motor cruiser	1980-84	30
43 trawler MK I	1973-74	64
43 trawler MK II	1975-77	90
44 motor cruiser	1978-80	105
44 motor yacht MK I	1985	???
44 motor yacht MK II	1986	???
44 motor yacht MK III	1987	12
44 motor yacht MK IV	1988	2
44 motor yacht OPAD	1987-88	1
48 motor yacht	1981-82	23
49 motor yacht MK I	1983-84	26
49 motor yacht MK II	1985	10
49 motor yacht MK III	1986	10
49 motor yacht MK IV	1987-88	12
49 motor yacht EAD	1987-88	6
53 trawler	1975-76	6
55 motor yacht	1987-90	???
63 motor yacht	1987-90	28
72 motor yacht	1987-90	???

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Gulfstar 50: This information is accredited to John Kretschmer and his wonderful book, Used Boat: Notebook. The Gulfstar 50 was introduced to the market as a 1975 model and somewhere around 1977 the G50 evolved into the MKII model. The G50 was offered in two layouts: the two and three cabins. The 3 cabin layout was designed for the charter industry but actually became the desired layout of the owners. The standard engine was a Perkins 60-62hp which is considered to be under powered for this size boat and an optional 85hp engine was offered later. The early models had about 60 gallons of fuel & 200 gallons of water and the later models had about 100 gallons of fuel with an additional 65 gallons of water reported to be in hull #124-143. Some common issues that were found were leaking ports, hatches and stanchions but it is pretty hard not to find these items on any 30+ year old sailboat. Blistering and some delimination have also been reported. John Kretschmer credits the cockpit being drier on the G50 going on the wind compared to other center cockpit designs of the day. The Gulfstar 50 was popular in its day is and is still popular on today’s brokerage market. http://books.google.com/books?id=jUYzDQaiZhUC&pg=PA221&lpg=PA221&dq=%22gulfstar+50%22&source=bl&ots=Etprt78Fin&sig=9bWSp_xhJ6XWmQ–gh5Ugia53ag&hl=en&ei=_FMES6KgN9SonQev_rRs&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CBYQ6AEwBDge#v=onepage&q=%22gulfstar%2050%22&f=false

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