Switzer-Craft Boats was in the business of creating outboard family boats for over 30 years, yet many people here probably remember the company for its sports boat line that boasted exaggerated and distinctively ‘50s styling – the Shooting Star. 

Built in Crystal Lake, Illinois, these sport boats took many of their design cues from the popular sport car designs of the day.  Various models incorporated tail fins, contemporary color schemes, and characteristically ‘50s/’60s windshields.  As Gary points out though, there was one significant problem with these sport boats – their performance didn’t live up to what their looks promised.

Outboards at the time didn’t have nearly enough horsepower, although this improved over time.  In addition, the plywood hull and flat bottom didn’t help with either maneuverability or speed.  As Switzer-Craft moved into the ‘60s though, they began to address these issues.  As outboard engines improved, Switzer-Craft instituted their own changes.  Fiberglass replaced plywood as the hull material in 1963, and V bottoms gained in popularity.  Sadly, these changes coincided with changes in styling, so there was never really a “stock” ‘50s Shooting Star that could be considered a performance boat.

Gary MacNorius (who was kind enough to share this information with us) decided to modify an old Shooting Star into what could be considered a “Lake Rod.”    As he points out, “Street rodders have been taking older cars and updating them with larger engines, modern suspension, and creative comforts for years.  I’m not aware of anyone doing the same with boats, but that’s what I did.”  Gary was fortunately able to acquire two vintage Shooting Stars, both with the unique ‘50s styling that characterized this line for a time.

The first was a 1956 Shooting Star that was in good original condition.  The second was a 1957 Shooting Star that would become, after years of work, a true original – a heavily modified “Lake Rod” that would finally live up to its hot looks. 

The most drastic alterations were to the structure of the boat.  Although the styling remains the same, Gary took an 18’ Action Marine Hi-Performance V-bottom and cut it down to fit the 15’ Shooting Star.  He also encapsulated the boat in fiberglass, making it “a fiberglass boat built over the original wooden one.”  Gary maintained the original color scheme for his “Lake Rod” (with a completely new paint job over the fiberglass, of course), and had the originally clear twin windshields reproduced in smoke tint Lexan.  Most of the other changes were under the hood, so to speak, and we’ll let Gary detail them here….

“Gauges are white faced Farias.  A gas foot pedal is used for the throttle control.  Steering is a Mercury Dual-Ride Guide, a rack and pinion system using twin cables, one down each side of the boat to the engine.

The engine is a 1977 Mercury 150XS.  This is the Hi-Performance version of the 150 horsepower inline 6-cylinder.  The XS has higher porting, short shaft, and low water pick-up.  It also has Keikhaefer power trim with the rams transom mounted…..The XS is mounted high on the transom.  The prop shaft is just two inches below the bottom of the boat.  A stainless steel 14 x 26 Mazco 3 blade surfacing propeller turns 6,800 rpm.  With two people aboard, speeds are in excess of 70 mph.”

This three-year restoration created a unique sport boat that fuses classic looks with modern performance.  As Gary puts it, “Fifties styling combined with modern handling, speed and safety has produced an aquatic counterpart to the street rod.”