Switzer Wing

The 4 point hydro Switzer we named the "Hydro Cat"! Shortly after June of 61 the year U-4 was
built in 8 days flat, and went on to win the Winabago marathon. We kept on developing that concept
of boat. I think 6 wood models in all were developed including the # 7000, and one just like it.
A year of so after we sold the U-4 to a guy out in Ca. it was returned for some repair work.
We made a deal with the owner of the U-4 to cast a mold off of his boat in exchange for replacing
his wooden hull with a glass hull. He agreed, that was the beginning of the first 18ft. Switzer Hydro Cat,
soon to be renamed the Switzer Wing.

As I said, we built a few of them and they were doing so good that Mr. Kiekahafer, wanted to control
who they were being sold to. He offered to purchase the molds in exchange for an initial order for
30 boats. So, I figured, we must have made about 10 before we sold the molds to Mercury,
hence 40 18's in all.

Now, we were being asked to supply the OMC camp with Wings, and we couldn't, because of our deal.
So we developed the 20 footer, and I will be the first to admit it was probably years ahead of it's time.
We used a wing foil that was good for higher speeds than the engines of that day were capable of.
Hence, we only made 20, 20 footers. One of which was fitted with 3 Merc engines that won the
unlimited class in the Miami Marine Stadium. My guess would be in the early 70's. Funny thing,
that boat with 3 motors clocked out at 102 mph and with the center engine removed, she hit 112 mph.
Show's to go ya! how much a clean hull shape may mean more than just brute H.P.
Bob Switzer 14Oct2003

Mercury (Kiekhaefer) owned the rights to all 40 18 foot Switzer Wings produced.
He did, in fact, have them in a warehouse....... but that cache is long gone.
Back then after 2-3 years Mercury basically wrote off and destroyed all
hulls in their possession...from hydros to Offshore hulls. The exceptions were
those that Merc employees and friends were able to get out the back
door...or buy outright. These 18 footers that are appearing here
and there and a few others are probably from that stash.
The 20 footer wings were produced and sold to racers by Switzer directly.
( those highlighted in red have been restored and running )
( click on #) to go to photos of this boat )

#)	Boat Name / Race #	Owner / Driver	Location	Length	Color(s)
1)	El Diablo III T119	Ted Boyd Originally run by Ken Kitson	Canada	18'	Black
2)	"Dust'n the Wind"	Darren & Rich Luhrs	New Jersey	20'	Black
3)	Boynton Beach Wing	Boynton Beach Wing, previously owned by Ted Miller, now in a midwest collection		20'	Cream yellow
4)	UU16 Thunderball	Ted Boyd originally run by Ed Doyyat	Canada	20'	Black
5)	#T135	Tim's Marine Jerry Jackson / Valley Supply	Minnesota	20'	Black & gray primer
6)	U-4, T-140	Rick Connolly	Arizona	18'	Red
7)	T-140	John Sherlock's "Wing on a Stick".... Now owned by Rick Connolly	Arizona	18'	White / Red
8)	#T20, T140, T-199	Rick Connolly (located by Ron Hill in SoCal ) Bob Massey Bellflower Marine	Arizona	20'	Yellow
9)		In a collection in Dayton, Ohio	Ohio
10)		In a collection in Dayton, Ohio	Ohio
11)		In a collection in Dayton, Ohio	Ohio
12)	#94, UU23 Redbird	Ted Boyd originally run by Gene Lanham	Canada	18'	Red
13)	#326	Mertens family Wing....................		18'
14)	#T414 Jelly Bean	Now owned by Ed Brown		18'
15)		Barry Cohen's Wing .. now gone..		18'
16)		Wing in New Mexico rigged with 2 x 65's.....	New Mexico	18'
17)	108 T	GEORGE GUSTAFSON owner who had it stolen from Austin,Tx .. search continues (bought from Pete DeLackner in Ft. Worth)	unknown	20'
18)	JJ 88	Steve Cox's Wing The boat came from Ohio. Purchased from Jerry Book, before him the owner was Richard Clark. Known as the Valley Supply "Double Eagle"	Tenn.	20'	Red
19)		Fort Lauderdale area Wing........	Florida	20'
20)	X199	Ted Boyd, gray/silver wing with enclosed canopy driven by Ken Kitson & others . rigged with 3 engines at one point. under restoration	Canada	20'	gray/silver
21)