Got my first boat, 12ft plywood homemade with chine strips and a 16 HP Scott Atwater that ate plugs like I ate M&M's (and I loved M&M's
). Had friends of my folks that had a boat shop down in Mass and gave me a 25 HP Johnson. We took brass strapping and secured the sides and bottom to the transom and then fiberglassed the bottom and sides. It was like a hydroplane when we got finished. Took it down to the measured mile by Rattlesnake (yeah, that long ago) and it was between 45 to 50 MPH. Not a boat that you wanted to be out in if I was anything but a very light chop on the water. So much fun, easy to snorkle or SCUBA out of, and great for fishing. And at about 35 or 40 cents per gallon, cheap entertainment for a couple of friends on a weekend. Thanks, Misty....oh the memories.