Riptide
Riptide is a bridge-deck cruiser built in 1927 by the Schertzer Brothers Boatshop on Lake Union in Seattle. Her exact design lineage is a bit of a mystery; the Seattle-based firm of Lee, Brinton and Wayland may have contributed, as may designer Otis Cutting, who produced a number of boats for the Schertzers during that era. Owner Pete Leenhouts has cared for Riptide since 2015, spending summers living aboard and taking her on extended family voyages from Olympia to Juneau. Over the decades she has hosted countless cruises through the San Juan and Gulf Islands and has served as the setting for three weddings, carrying her history in both her hull and her logbook.
In the mid-1960s, Riptide spent three years stationed exclusively in Southeast Alaska, visiting nearly every navigable anchorage in the region. Since that time, she has made dozens of passages through the Strait of Georgia and the Broughton Archipelago, continuing a long pattern of steady, well-seasoned cruising. Her longevity is due in large part to a succession of dedicated stewards who have maintained her carvel-planked wooden hull, extensive varnish work, and systems.
Today she is powered by a single Cummins B210 diesel, a 210-horsepower engine maintained by PTSC’s marine mechanics as part of her ongoing care. Member-owner Jeff Galey has been project lead for the majority of the restoration woodwork.
Canvas and upholstery have also played a significant role in Riptide’s preservation. PTSC canvas worker and upholsterer Maggie Day has produced a wide range of custom pieces for the vessel, including a transom cover designed to protect the large expanse of brightwork, along with bunk cushions, a diamond-tufted salon bench, cockpit cushions, and coverings for the hatch, windlass, searchlights, and windows. Together these elements give Riptide a level of comfort and protection well suited to her age and character. Nearly a century after her launch, she remains an actively cruised wooden boat with a strong community of care behind her, and we are proud to support her ongoing life on the water.
