Riptide

In 1956 Leonard Frederick Sheltrum, owner of Industrial Automotive Engineering P/L purchased a small outboard motor, because he had found it difficult in the face of the tide to row across Crookhaven Heads to Nowra NSW where he fished most weekends. That small outboard was in fact a 4hp twin opposed Verity, one of Australia’s earliest documented outboard brands, manufactured by A.V Sale of 3 Mill Lane Hurlstone Park NSW.

Not long after, Sheltrum purchased the rights to Verity, simplified the design and renamed it Riptide after his experiences at Crookhaven Heads. In June of 1956 Sheltrum registered the 'Riptide' trade mark and established the Riptide Outboard Motor Company, a division of Industrial Automotive Engineering Pty Ltd, 715 Forest Rd, Bexley, New South Wales, Australia.

The Riptide Fisherman as it later became known was the foundation of the Riptide Outboard Motor Company,

Under Sheltrum’s leadership, the Riptide Outboard Motor Company produced 4 ‘advertised’ outboard models. These include the Boatman, the Fisherman, the Fisherman De Luxe and the Sportsman with general specifications as follows;

·        Riptide Boatman:
Water-cooled single cylinder outboard.
2 ½ hp at 3,000 rpm (max 3,500 rpm)
2” bore, 1 ½” stroke, 78 cc
12:23 gear ratio
2 blade weedless propeller, 7 ½” diameter x 6 ½” pitch
4 ½ pint fuel tank
Trolling to 6 mph
Approx. weight 30 lbs

·        Riptide Fisherman:
Water-cooled opposed twin cylinder outboard.
3 ½ hp at 3,000 rpm (max 3,500 rpm), later upgraded to 4 hp
2” bore, 1 ½” stroke, 156 cc
12:21 gear ratio
3 blade propeller, 8” diameter x 6” pitch, OR
2 blade weedless propeller  8” diameter x 7 ½” pitch
6 ½ pint fuel tank
Trolling to 8 mph
Approx. weight 44 lbs

·        Riptide Fisherman De Luxe:
Water-cooled apposed twin cylinder outboard.
Essentially a Fisherman with cast aluminium cowl, inbuilt fuel tank and recoil starter.
3 ½ hp at 3,000 rpm (max 3,500 rpm), later upgraded to 4 hp
2” bore, 1 ½” stroke, 156 cc
12:21 gear ratio
3 blade propeller, 8” diameter x 6” pitch, OR
2 blade weedless propeller  8” diameter x 7 ½” pitch
6 ½ pint fuel tank
Approx. weight 48 lbs

·        Riptide Sportsman:
Water-cooled, vertical twin cylinder outboard with styling similar to that of the Mercury Mark 30.
7 ½ hp at 4,000 rpm (max 5,500 rpm), later upgraded to 8 hp
2 1/8” bore, 1 3/4” stroke, 200 cc (note some documents on file state 242 cc)
17:28 gear ratio
3 blade propeller, 8” diameter x 7” pitch, OR
2 blade weedless propeller  8” diameter x 8” pitch
3 ½ gallon remote fuel tank
Trolling to 18 mph
Approx. weight 73 lbs

Between 1956 and 1959 Sheltrum joined the Australian Outboard Association to learn more about outboard motors, and began racing. In 1959, lightweight, Sportsman powered runabouts took out firsts in the Australian and NSW A-class championships and under the supervision of the APBA (Australian Power Boat Association), set an A-class speed record of 28.631mph.

It has been said that several thousand Riptide Outboard Motors were manufactured during the Sheltrum years, with the Fisherman proving to be the most popular of all Riptide models ie reflected by the numbers known to exist today.

In 1959, the production of Riptide Outboard Motors transferred to Westcott Hazell of 29 Mavis Street Reversby NSW, where it is said production continued until approximately 1962 or 1963.

Via the serial number associated with any Riptide Outboard Motor it is possible to determine who it was manufactured by ie either the Riptide Outboard Motor Company or Westcott Hazell. Through this it becomes apparent that in the months prior to the transfer of manufacturing rights, Sheltrum further refined the Sportsman, and developed the Sea Scout, a would be successor to the Fisherman and Fisherman De Luxe. It appears the Seascout was manufactured in very limited numbers only, with Westcott Hazell continuing to manufacture and promote the Fisherman after manufacturing rights had transferred.

In addition, there is evidence (2) of an un-named/un-advertised Riptide outboard motor, potentially a proto-type that was not released for general sale. This particular unit comprises the powerhead from the Sportsman sat atop a Fisherman mid and lower unit.  It is not unreasonable to speculate that this may have been conceived as a light weight and low cost alternative to the Sportsman intended to counter the flood of imports during the early 60’s. 

Seacraft December 1956 – Riptide Fisherman 3 ½ hp Editorial
* The outboard is referred to as Riptide only. The Fisherman name may have been added as other models were introduced.

Seacraft December 1957 – Riptide Fisherman 3 ½ hp Advertisement

Seacraft December 1958 – Riptide Fisherman De Luxe 4 hp Advertisement
* Photo of Sheltrum with the first Fisherman De Luxe to come off the production line.
* Tank testing of all riptide outboards
* Boatman 2 ½ hp, Fisherman 4 hp and Sportsman 7 ½ hp also mentioned

Seacraft March 1959 – Sportsman 7 ½ hp Editorial
* Demonstration day. Single and twin rigged Sportsman powered runabouts and cruisers of varying size on display and available for water testing. 

Westcott Hazell – Riptide Sportsman Advertorial
* FIRSTS - 1959 A Class Hydroplane Championships of both Australia and New South Wales
* RECORDS -  Australian A Class Speed Record. Speed 28.631 mph. Light-weight runabout hull. Conducted under the supervision of the Australian Power Boat Association. Easter 1959.

* BRDGE TO BRIDGE - Three Riptide  Sportsman powered boats entered in the 68 mile Bridge to Bridge race. All 3 completed the course, two of them at an average speed of exceeding  20 mph.

Sydney Morning Herald – July 1963
* Article on Len Sheltrum - Fisherman now top outboarder

More to follow.