Undocumented Australian Outboards

[AusAnzani]

G’day all,

I’m sure many of you would have found the same in that there are numerous outboards brands and models not documented or discussed in Peter Hunn’s “The Old Outboard Book”.

My aim here is to list 3 Australian Outboards falling in to that category in the hope that some of you may be able to provide information additional to that listed below.

At this stage, I don’t have approval from the owners to post pics, so text and clues to image locations is all I can provide at this stage. Hopefully that will suffice.

Undocumented Outboard No.1: Saito FA-120S
Comprises a vertically mounted Victa Tiger 125cc air-cooled single, mounted on top of what appears to be a generic leg. This outboard has has separate drive and exhaust tubes, with the exhaust ducted through the cav plate which forms part of the gearbox casting. The fuel tank is cylindrical (juice can style) but significantly larger than those normally found on Victa 125cc mowers.

Search Saito FA-120 on Guntree.com.au for images.

Undocumented Outboard No.2: RAWCO
R.A. Wisely Co. (RAWCO) of Melbourne produced mowers and outboard conversions circa 1956. The engine and leg RAWCO products and the RAWCO name forms parts of the transom bracket casting. The lower features an interesting gearbox without cavitation plate.
I am aware of two RAWCO outboards, one in Swansea Tasmania and another in Gorokan NSW.

Search Google for RAWCO Outboards to see the RAWCO in Swansea and an advert for the RAWCO mower and outboard conversion.

Undocumented Outboard No.3: Brand/Name TBA
This was essentially an Inboard/Outboard unit which attached directly the inner and outer sides of a transom. Power was via a horizontally mounted Victa Tiger 125cc air-cooled single. The engine was of course mounted to the inboard side of the transom. Attached to the outboard side was a professionally cast V-shaped leg that housed steering assembly, gearbox and rather large rudder similar to those seen on early ELTO’s. The engines drive shaft and the prop shaft are fitted with sprocket, and hence drive to the propeller is via chain.

It is not known if this inboard/outboard unit was produced for the commercial market or by a boat builder in NSW exclusively for his production timber boats.

Google searches won’t help find this particular inboard/outboard unit. Once I have the owners approval I will post an image and details of the boat builder here.

Any information about the above-mentioned outboard units would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks & regards,

[Collector Inspector]

Undocumented Outboard No.1: Saito FA-120S

Forget the sticker as it applies to model aircraft engines. Looks nice but has thrown off the track what this is.

Forget the Victa motor as the stud pattern has been adapted.

The exhaust has also been adapted along with the Victa top at the same time.

The cav plate and exhaust outlet shape is the key as to what it started out in life as. The rear loading gearcase also.

Hang five.

B

[AusAnzani]

Undocumented Outboard No.1: Saito FA-120S

Forget the sticker as it applies to model aircraft engines. Looks nice but has thrown off the track what this is.

Forget the Victa motor as the stud pattern has been adapted.

The exhaust has also been adapted along with the Victa top at the same time.

The cav plate and exhaust outlet shape is the key as to what it started out in life as. The rear loading gearcase also.

Hang five.

B

Well there you go. When I spotted the advert on Gumtree, the first thing that popped in to my mind was that name Saito did not reflect Australian, but I neglected to check further. My bad

[Collector Inspector]

A bit more than five sorry.

It is whats left of an Australian "Simplex". Very hard to find a complete one now.....the carb should be Norson Amal.

The gearbox is desirable for someone who needs parts.

B[/color]

And Side on is.....take careful note of the power head by the way.

[AusAnzani]

You are good B.

You absolutely nailed that one.

Thank you.

[Collector Inspector]

Undocumented Outboard No.2: RAWCO

Nothing appears before 1962 in my collection of Australian spark plug books. (Lodge) Plug is CN - MR14-50

There is no listing of the same brand name same book under lawnmowers which by itself is interesting.

Sadly all I can add to this one at the moment.

Watching this topic like a Henry Hawk Aye.

B

[Keith.P]

Nothing in my 1955 Lodge book, except the Simplex.

[Collector Inspector]

Undocumented Outboard No.3: Brand/Name TBA

I doubt.

B

[AusAnzani]

G'day B & K. Interesting use of the spark plug guides to research outboards.

I've done the same many time before to determine the manufacturing year range of known outboards/models, but hadn't heard of others doing that.

I have lucked out on the RAWCO also. Next series of checks will be via business registrations etc. I suspect however they were not around too long, which may explain the limited available information.

Anyway, I know have owner approval to post image of Undocumented Outboard No.3:

For further research, known search references include Regcraft Boat, Regcraft Dinghy and Regcraft Overdrive circa 1963

Super rare I dare say, and a lovely addition to any Australian Outboard collection no doubt. Note also the forward pointing prop which I neglected to mention earlier. Here she is........



Needless to say, owner (and I and I'm sure others here) would like to know as much as possible about this wonderful piece of Australian Outboarding history.

Any and all information, would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,

[AusOB_Collector]

Spiro

Don't know about others but the image ain't showing up on my computer...

Might be time to get a new one anyway!!

Cheers
BP

[Collector Inspector]

Image?

B

[Collector Inspector]

Image?

B

[AusAnzani]

Image appears fine on my computer.

Let's try again:

[Collector Inspector]

Ahhhh

This will keep everyone occupied for awhile.

I shall stand by and watch.

Original Victa = No.

Anyone collect period Australian boating magazines?

B

[AusAnzani]

You are on the ball again B. Others have indicated the Victa pictured is not correct, however the original did come with a Victa of earlier vintage.

This is fun aye