Cliff Martin made a patent application in February 1959 through Patent Attorneys EDWD WATERS & SONS Melbourne. This was accepted on the 24th December 1962. After experimenting with several prototypes made from whatever scrap materials Cliff could get his hands on.
The following is a transcript of the first sales brochure produced by Cliff Martin:
Seamartin Surf Reels are made only by Clifford Martin, of Lambert Street, Lakes Entrance, Victoria. These reels are handmade and are produced in limited numbers only. Seamartin surf reels were first marketed in 1964 to surf fisherman on Victoria’s 90-mile beach. The reel was developed on this beach over a period of years for shark and salmon fishing, etc. The principle design is somewhere between that of the side-cast and the spinning reel. The spool size of 4¼ inches diameter x 1½ wide has proved ideal for a wide range of fishing conditions. This size spool has double the area on which line is wound than that of a spinning reel spool with the size of 3-inches x 1 inch. This larger sized spool will handle heavier lines without trouble and will always give a greater casting distance. The gearing of 2 to 1 doubles line retrieve to 25 inches per turn of the handle, this being the measured retrieve with 100 yards of line out.
The Seamartin is fixed facing forwards as for a spinning reel and there is no swivelling forward and back again to make a cast. The spool revolves to retrieve line as for a side-cast, but not in and out as for a spinning reel. The Seamartin reel is mounted up the rod as for a spinning reel or near the butt of the rod as for a side-cast. The line is lifted off the pick-up hook by hand to cast. This is actually a fast operation as the cast is made with the pickup in any position, or wherever the handle is stopped at. There is no mechanical noise or wear at all.
The cedar wood body of the Seamartin reel has long bronze bearings and is put together as a completely sealed unit. The heavy brass bevel gears are taper pinned to 5/16th- inch diameter stainless steel shafts and there are the only parts in the body of the reel. Neoprene external seals are used on the shafts to positively keep out sand and water- this is the only sealed reel made. The spool of the reel is of cedar and alternatively a cedar wood centre with marine plywood on the front and back faces. Nylon and stainless steel is used for the line guiding mechanism and has proved most satisfactory and long wearing. A long life can be expected as reels well used for 3 years and more are showing virtually no wear, with the exception of handles which are the only replacements. A feature of the Seamartin reel is the manner in which the line is cross wound on to the spool. This gives a better casting distance than any other winding pattern and also prevents line slip off and tangles. The line crosses from one side of the spool to the other in one revolution line which the shallow spool holds. It can be seen that the line cannot bite in under heavy winding and thereby restrict the next cast. The claim that the Seamartin reel casts better and winds and handles a fish better can be only appreciated after the use of the reel.
In 1970 he sold the patent rights to Wallie Bambit of Oakley Agencies in Tararalgom while he redesigned the Seamartin with a die-cast body and a ratchet. In 1976, F&T Mouldings of Melbourne acquired Seamartins and renamed it Seamartins Mark 2. The manufacturing of these reels was then taken over by Neptune Tackle in South Australia and marketed under Seamartin Mark 2.