Information please for Century Seamaster Jet Outboard.

[Monte NZ]

Hi all. As per the above request, I think this motor was produced in the 1960s and has a Tecumseh engine with Engine number 4253639 on it.  Any further information  would be much appreciated.

The only information on it, says 3.5hp Manufactured by Leeders Pacific Ltd. products division, Leeder Drive, New Minster BC Canada.

Below is a link to photos of the motor.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/K2uJD75WEbmCTX1V7

Thanks very much for any help you can provide.

Monte NZ

[Waunnaboat]

I don’t see the photos since that app is probably for your drive.  You probably will have to resize them and then upload them using the “Select file” button on the bottom.  2Mb is the maximum size allowed.

 

To my knowledge (based on your description)  a lot of similar jet motors were produced, and most had extremely similar power heads and lower units.  Apart from mechanical info, there is probably not a whole lot more information out there because a lot of the small jet propelled motors from the 60’s (and there are quite a few brands) were potentially produced for the most part by a few companies and were sold under private labels with tiny little changes in design to slightly differentiate them from their other jet-propelled cousins.

 

When I asked chatgpt, it told me to ask outboard forums as you are doing, so I doubt there is much information to be had about this brand in general beyond what you have provided.

"Outboards seem to multiply exponentially..........I find that for every finished project, there are two more waiting to be completed."

[labrador-guy]

Hello Monte How’s the weather down there?  Plenty cold up here.  I got your pictures just fine.  I know nothing about your motor but it is good to hear from you again.  Do the motors spin to the left down there?  Just asking!

dale

[Tubs]

Believe this will do more to confuse the issue than be of any help. To add to the confusion the face plate in the add looks to say 4400? Not mine, I just have pictures.

A "Boathouse Repair" is one thats done without having tools or the skills to do it properly.

1 user thanked author for this post.

Sam M.

[Sam M.]

What a cool motor!  The recoil starter looks Tecumseh to me, with its destinct starter handle shape, however I haven’t seen a cylinder with cooling fins like that on a jet-thrust outboard like this before.

Is there any chance it says New Westminster BC, because that is near Vancouver and I’m pretty sure the 3rd edition of The Old Outboard Book by Peter Hunn says something about a 1960s jet-thrust outboard being made over there.

Lots of 1960s jet-thrust outboards used a simillar jet pump housing, with differences above that.  Examples of brands include Cary Jet, Starling Jet and Cal-Jet.  Yours appears to have the lower half of the jet housing the same as many others, but with a different top half.  For example, compare yours to the Cal-Jet shown above, though you may need different to look at other (lower) angles than in Tubs’ post, especially from the back.  Searching up something along the lines of ‘1960s jet-thrust outboard motor’ will give you other perspectives.

[Sam M.]

Here is an example of one that appears the same as yours on the lower half of the jet housing (though this example has part of the skeg broken off), with most everything above being different.

https://www.aomci.org/forums/topic/can-you-identify-this-jet-motor/

[Monte NZ]

Thanks Waunnaboat, Dale, Tubs and Sam M very much for your replies……very interesting and much appreciated!

In reply Dale, thanks for your welcome. Yep, summer is on it’s way with  higher temps than this time last Christmas. Just to cheer you all up, I often think of you guys with frozen lakes and test tanks iced over while we will be sweltering here in Jan and Feb.. … and by the way I just checked the sink outlet after doing the dishes tonight and the water still turns to the right…..ha ha!

I wasn’t expecting any replies as jet outboards appear to be fairly rare, so it was a nice surprise to see your posts.

It certainly looks like there were quite a few manufacturers churning them out, but not a lot produced.

I have now given the motor to a friend of mine who was quite taken with it, when he visited me recently.

He is a brilliant engineer and was a big help when I restored my 1924 2hp BNL Johnson last year and I am sure he will make a great job of restoring  this little jet. He has already dismantled the motor anbd has managed to pick up a set of rings. ….a good start!

He also restored a 2hp BNL Johnson. His is a 1923 model……it was a real mess and he made a beautiful job of it!Well thanks once again for  all your help and may I wish you all “A VERY HAPPY  CHRISTMAS and BEST WISHES for 2026”!

Keep up the good work……It’s a great club!

Monte NZ

PS Stay safe and warm!

 

 

 

1 user thanked author for this post.

labrador-guy

[Tubs]

Lincoln demonstrates a Starling 5 hp jet drive. https://youtu.be/pII1ApFhOrY?si=5-7G5NAPNBkmqsVa

 

 

A "Boathouse Repair" is one thats done without having tools or the skills to do it properly.

[Monte NZ]

Thanks Tubs for that youtube……very interesting. It certainly is a good demo of the jet working

It certainly has that Clinton styling……..interesting comment regarding the jet with 5hp and saying that the performance was about that of a conventional 1.5hp motor. I think it would be an ideal trolling motor.

Monte NZ

[Author]

Posts