Popular Science and Popular Mechanics were both regular reading. I built a couple different Popular Mechanics hydroplane designs, had a 15hp Evinrude, till I went out when I shouldn't have, they were meant for mirror smooth water, a slight ripple at most. I was 14 or 15 at the time, the thought of 15hp bolted to a sheet of 3/8 marine plywood scares the hell out of me now, come to think of it, mighta been 1/4" plywood