1968 Switzer Shooting Star
 

Please don't jump me for being an old guy with an old boat but I got what I had been searching for for 35 years. We ran it today,what a trip.Takes forever to get on plane,then a wild porpoise until about 65 mph then the 125 Merc with SSM lower unit kicks in, the stern raises, the bow drops and it is a ride I have never experianced in all my boating years. The 10 minute ride was worth the high price I paid for a piece of history.Boat did maybe 80 but it felt like 120. Karen will post some photos later

Old boats rule!Glad you found your dream boat!Can't wait to see the pictures.

Switzer photos

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Very Cool :D :D :D :D

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I should put the photo of Dano out of gas paddling, we saved him
with the Tige.

83.7 GPS but got a few more props to try. I am in strange territory here,this boat and engine is 35 years old and I can't remember all the stuff I knew in 1968,heck,I can't remember what I had for lunch today . I'm calling in some of my buddiies from the old days but I figure they won't remember any more than I do. Old age is a mess.

That things needs an older 2.5!

It's great to see someone that deals with boats everyday of his life still have the excitement hit him!:) Good luck with it, and be careful.

No,no ,there are a few guys out there with V-6's on a Star,best speed I heard was 120 but BoB and Dave Switzer did not design this boat for that much horsepower,the boat was designed in the early 60's when the best we had was 100 hp Mercs. After running the boat today I did not think about more horsepower, I just thought how lucky I am to have a 35 year old boat that can run this fast with no power trim,no bilge pump,no stereo,no amenitiies.The Switzer brothers are the design genuises as far as I am concerned even today.

That is a cool boat. Switzers used to be made not too far from where I live currently. Don't change that combo--it looks matched.

What he said!:D

We ran the first Shooting Stars we sold with Merc 1250 BP's. They barely nudged eighty on their best day although Merc tested one at Lake X that ran 81+ as I recall. The 1250 BP was essentially the for-runner of the Merc 1350. The BP lowers were less than dependable and Merc, recognizing the problem after 2 attempted upgrades, offered free adapters for anyone that wanted to buy a Speedmaster at cost and install it. That gave you a GREAT (though non shift-able) lower with that really wild megaphone style exhaust housing. Now THAT combo REALLY made those rigs come alive!! I remember the rush of running those babys in the late 60's - early 70's and kinda wish I could do it again. Congratulations!! --- Jer

Jer my other Star that needs extensive restoration is a 1967 with a 1100SS and Quincy stacks. Will be awhile before I splash it. Might not be as fast as this one but the sound of a Quincy Stacker at full song is a sound that most have never experienced. It will also probrably get me arrested cause the Marine police decible meter will not read that high. It may shatter the windows in my house :)

Very cool, thanks for sharing!!!

Magic..get in touch with T2x...he's a big fan of rigs such as this...he's restoring a Switzer Wing...

Congrats...cool ride!!

:cool:

The Switzer Flying Wing is a different breed of cat (bad pun :) )Problem is there are maybe 5 or 6 left and in really bad shape plus you have to find not one but two matching motors which is tough.I found one I was going to buy until Karen said the divorce will cost more than the Wing. :)So I will settle for my pair of Shooting Stars. I cannot wait to see T2x's Wing when it is finished. I expect it will be an absolute masterpiece.

Hey Magic, Thats a sweet looking ride. I first saw it when it was posted for sale on the Fiberglassics site. He must have posted it on several sites.

Congrats on the find!

We took all the yellow tape stripes off,looks like 1968 again,all original. No photos yet we leave in the AM for the Donzi then the Formula dealer meetings. Found a blast from the past, a racer I had not seen in 35 years, he has about a dozen SSM props sitting in his basement since 1974,this is going to be fun, Dano is going to run the cleaver Sat. Will update next week.

Magic:

Ya gotta love it........

Okay ...Here's my recollections.......

Speedmaster props....earliest were round ear..with variable cup.... Your boat was designed in that era.....

But......next generation were low rake two blade cleavers....lots of stern lift...... might be the ticket...

But......next generation were low rake 3 blades...... my pick in this lottery......

But next generations...up to today offered more rake....multiple pitch.... and more blades......

There is a good chance that the latest ....will be the best.....

Does your SM have a splined shaft?......... a crescent housing.... What ratio?

Later

T2x

P.S. The Wing restoration starts in earnest next week...... The deck is coming off.

T2x,my SSM has patent pending cast in the side of the housing,doesnt that mean it's a 14/15 or 1/1? My memory is gone here.

As I recall all originalSSM's had patent pending on casting side........ 14/15's had ratio stamped on housing.... If yours doesn't it's probably a 1:1.

T2x