Shooting Star

1938 28’ Hacker-Craft Runabout

Hull Number 625

            Shooting Star is a one-of-a-kind design built as a special order for a Seattle buyer.  Due to World War II, the deal fell through and the boat remained in storage at the factory in Mount Clemens, Michigan.  In 1946, Fred Main, from the Tahoe Boat Company, found the boat on a trip to Michigan along with a new WWII-era Scripps engine still in its crate.  Fred bought the boat and engine and had them shipped to Lake Tahoe, California.

            Dick Clarke installed the V-12 engine in August 1946 and Fred Main raced the boat, called The Hacker in Tahoe Yacht Club races in 1946 and 1947.  Brad Baruh purchased the boat and named her Shooting Star in 1948 and raced her from 1949 to 1951.  Lowell Berry purchased the boat in 1953 and raced her extensively until 1959.  In 1954, Shooting Star won the TYC Commodore’s Trophy for most points in the season in TYC races.  In 1960, Dick Clarke purchased the boat and then sold her to Bob and Andy Williams in 1961, who renamed her Horrido!.  Tom and Polly Bredt purchased her in 1996 and restored the Shooting Star name.

            Shooting Star was restored by Tony Brown at Western Runabouts in Auburn, California.  The Scripps engine was restored by John Allen at Allen’s Marine Engines in San Jose, California.  In 1998, Shooting Star was awarded numerous awards at the Tahoe Yacht Club Foundation Concours d’Elegance including Overall Best of Show, Best Engine of Show, Best Professional Restoration and Best Hacker.  She was also awarded the Peoples Choice and Skippers Choice awards at the 2001 ACBS Tahoe Keys Show. 

            In July 2014, the owners, Tom & Polly Bredt, who grew up in the Detroit area, purchased a lakefront home on Walloon Lake, Michigan.  In October, Shooting Star was moved to Michigan where she is cared for by William Dreyer at Frontier Classics and stored in the off season.

            In August 2015, Shooting Star was entered in the Les Cheneaux Islands Antique Wooden Boat Show in Hessel, Michigan.  She was awarded a first place in Class 5 Runabouts, Best Hacker-Craft and Best of Show.  Shooting Star was a featured boat in Les Cheneaux Islands Antique Wooden Boat Show in 2016 and 2017.

 Scripps Marine Engine

Scripps Motor Company

Detroit Michigan

This engine was made in 1942 for the U.S. military. Little is known about how they were used during the war. We believe this engine was never used until it was installed in Shooting Star in 1946 by Dick Clarke at the Tahoe Boat Company.

Model: 302HQ

Code: YAQVL

Serial Number: 42940

Cylinders: 12

Displacement: 894 cubic inches

Horsepower: 316

Carburetors: Holley Two Barrel Downdraft (2)

Bore & Stroke: 4 1/4 inches by 5 1/4 inches

Maximum rpm: 2400

Weight: 1885 pounds

Reverse Gear: Snow & Nabstedt

Main Bearings: 4

Thrust Bearing: S.K.F. Industries, Inc.

Starter: Bendix or Delco Remy - 12 volt

Voltage Ignition System: Delco Remy - 12 volt, double

Piston Material: Aluminum

Piston Rings: Perfect Circle (4)

Flame Arrester: Protecto Seal

Fuel Pump: Candler Hill or Evans

Spark Plugs: Champion 7 Metric

Engine Oil: S.A.E. 50