It was the fall of 1962, and I had just started my junior year of high school. I subscribed to Popular Mechanics magazine and was always excited when each new monthly issue showed up in my mailbox, since it contained all kinds of stuff that was interesting to this 16-year-old technically oriented guy. The cover of the August 1962 issue pictured “The Supersonic Helicopter of the Future” (well, that didn’t happen) and teaser—“Build a 38 m.p.h. Fun-Boat—for $38.” The August 1962 issue of Popular Mechanics had 202 pages for just 35 cents. The top billing went to new cars and highlighted the '63 Studebaker Avanti.
SBM
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What a great story and so much fun! You made all the right choices in doing your redesign of the original. I have seldom seen so much utility in a 14 foot motorboat. Really nice job to involve your grandkids and Delta sports.
What a fantastic story. Once again I got caught up in the excellent writing and read from start to finish. My teenage dream of becoming an Engineer was squelched by my high-school policy of males only in the drafting classes. I’m now 91 years and have precious memories of the four years I was the Assistant to the VP of Engineering in a food processing machine manufacturing plant. I had the privilege of overseeing 19 Engineers and draftsmen and writing the Service Manuals for the machines. Never an Engineer, but always a thinker and tinkerer. Congratulations Terry on the publication and recreation of your dream boat!
Wow, this takes me back to those heady days of the sixties, reading Popular Mechanics and dreaming of building boats. What a great story!!!
Wonderful story!
Having been the owner of a rowing pram at age 11, the itch of having a boat again has always stayed in me. Last year’s lockdown was the perfect excuse to start building a Wee Lassie canoe that has performed wonderfully, but the itching doesn’t end. Maybe I need a new project? Thanks for sharing your story, so engaging and well written. Nostalgia is a good motivation.
Terry,
What a fabulous story. A brief glance brought me into a complete read. I noticed that you retired from the GE nuclear division. I am sure that you must have crossed paths with my father in law, Jack Williams. He was in the same division I suspect and stationed in your part of the world.
Boating is always in my blood. Helps to have an understanding wife who shares the experience. I should have been more discerning before I married. Anyhow, great story and great writing, Terry. Looking over some plans by Sam Devlin now.
Fantastic story! I grew up with a PM 38 in the family that my father built in ’63. Painted plywood, ‘glassed bottom and varnished interior, similar plastic wraparound windshield. Even our Tee Nee trailer looked similar to the one in your picture. Its first motor was also an Elgin and was ultimately replaced with ’64 Evinrude 28 HP Speeditwin. We all learned to waterski behind it, my dad included. That boat had a marvellous sliiiiiiiiiide/swish through turns at speed! The substantial flare of the hull sides certainly kept it from tripping on its chines. I don’t remember porpoising ever being an issue but it was prone to pounding hard on a choppy lake and large boat wakes could be quite the experience! Ultimately the family outgrew the boat and in 1974 it was replaced by a 67 Starcraft Jupiter that I still use today. I have many photos and the original magazine my dad built the PM 38 from and harbour thoughts of building one myself one day. It would be logical next step up from the Bolger row boat I did with my kids years ago. Funny enough I too am retired engineer…..I may have to connect somehow as your modernization certainly sounds like the way to go. Thanks for sharing your story and putting a smile on my face.
That was a beautiful article… my favorite ever
Wow, what memories you have unearthed for me! I too built a PM-38 in 1964 in our walk-out basement in upstate New York. I was 17 that spring and had no woodworking experience but followed the instructions to the letter. My Dad sprang for a 33 Johnson and wrap-around windshield.
The boat got its biggest test on Kipawa Lake in southwestern Quebec. It survived that and lasted quite a few years. Dad loved scooting along flat out. There’s a picture of that somewhere.
Thanks for the article and the link to happy times.