In 1970, Jim Betts founded James Betts Enterprises with the dream of building racing sail boats. As the company grew and developed, our commitment to fine craftsmanship became known and the projects diversified. While Jim has enjoyed every project, his passion for building race boats has only grown.

In 2000, Jim had an idea for a high-tech race boat. He teamed up with Nelson Marek Design Firm to build the Sierra 26’s, Uno and Dos. Though built in Lake Tahoe, California, Uno and Dos were ultimately moved up to the Northwest and have dominated the racing scene in this region for years.

After working closely with Paul Bieker during the construction of Longboard, MK2 of the Riptide 35 fleet and Blue, a Riptide 41, Jim saw the potential in the design. To demonstrate what is possible in modern ultra-light composite construction with advanced features, we have commissioned the build of Riptide 35 MK3.

To learn more about the upgraded features and to follow along with the build process, please click on the link to see our website dedicated to the Riptide 35.

In 2020, we partnered with Bieker Boats to build a Riptide 30, a smaller version of the Riptide 35. The hull was recently laminated and we are adding the structural members to the interior.

Check out the current construction photos and videos below. You can also follow along the build process on our Instagram or Facebook page.