User:R Jordan/Gulfstar Yachts

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. Vince Lazzara, one of pioneers of fiberglass sailboat construction, founded the company. Lazzara had previously been one of the founders of Columbia Yachts. . They produced both power from 38 to 55 feet and sailboats from 36 to 61.

History
thumb| Gulfstar Yachts Logo In 1970, Vince Lazzara emerged from two-year noncomplete clause from 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, 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-1970's, Gulfstar was loosing market share and decided to switch tacks and produce high-quality, performance yachts. 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.