Vince Lazzara founded Gulfstar Yachts in 1970, in St. Petersburg Florida, building sail and powerboats of up to 65 feet.
In 1989, Gulfstar merged with Viking Yachts.
By 1991, the shipyard was closed.
Lazzara was involved with AeroMarine & Pearson/Grumman Industries in the mid to late 50s - this was his first connection into his long association with boat designing & building, etc.
Lazzara owned 1/3 of AeroMarine, which built the 40 Foot Bounty. Grumman bought Pearson and then bought AreoMarine.
After selling AeroMarine he joined Dick Valdes & Maurice Threinen, both in there twenties (Lazzara was in his late 40s then).
Lazzarra purchased a majority interest in Glas Laminates, renamed it Columbia Yacht Corporation, and went public. He chose Columbia after the America's Cup Challenger - "Columbia".
Lazzara sold out of Columbia in 67. Lazzara was forced to sign a non-compete contract for building power/sailboats for 3 years.
So three months later he started a houseboat company selling SeaRover - all fiberglass houseboats - Sea Rover was sold to Apeco, 2 & ½ years later, Apeco folded shortly after the sale and Lazzara resold the molds/tooling for the Sea Rover line to Holiday Mansion, which still builds houseboats in Kansas.
In January of 1970 Lazzarra broke ground on his next company: Gulfstar, Inc.,
In the early 90s Lazzara's sons, Dick and Rich, started Lazzara Yacht Corporation, building large motoryachts.
This ad’ claims the boat was designed by Designed by Richard (Dick) Lazzara: 1985 Hirsh 45 Center Cockpit - Boats.com