Building the Popular Mechanics Hasty Hydro (hydroplane boat build)

Popular Mechanics magazine August 1960 plans built Hasty Hydro 8 ft.
When I was much younger someone on the lake I hung out on had one of these so when I found the plans online I thought it would be fun to build it.
muskokaseaflea...

[@369dusty]

I have memories from the same era. I bought a similar model already built for $15. It was a blast ! Thanks for stirring up some fun old times !

[@cjwhite1758]

Glad to take you down memory lane... ( the $15 bucks dates you a bit though LOL)

[@larryhoban8050]

Built one in ‘63 and had a great time in it. Took it down to the lake in a red radio flyer wagon! I still have the plans and might build one with my grandsons! Thanks

[@cjwhite1758]

Around 63 would have been the timeframe when my friend had the one that inspired my building this one…. I had fun building this one. Go for it….

[@cracab1988]

I built this boat as a 10th grade woodshop project in 1965. We ran it on Cheat Lake in WV, Bala Lake in Ontario and on one of the TVA lakes in TN. Some very fond memories. I have a photo from the day if interested.

[@cjwhite1758]

Sure, lets see it…

[@cracab1988]

@@cjwhite1758 not sure how to send it. Got an email address?

[@cjwhite1758]

@@cracab1988 I didn’t think of that. Sorry I don’t want to put my email address here. If you built it in 10 th grade shop class your shop class was a whole lot better than mine…

[@cracab1988]

@@cjwhite1758 I understand. Back then, most guys attended shop just to pass the time and get out of class, but I really enjoyed building things. My shop teacher was a great guy and let me do projects others wouldn't think to take on.

[@gregtaylor1820]

Nice work!... and a great video! - We just finished building one too! After testing we decided to add back top decking to keep the water out.

[@cjwhite1758]

I know exactly where you mean. when you slow quickly and turn it really comes in the rear corners. for what it’s worth after I tested it I found that when on plane it didn’t track straight ahead, it seemed the stern would skid a little left and right. I put a small ( 1” tall by 4 “ ) skeg at the rear bottom. it helps keep the boat going straight.

[@Rlip]

I had one of these as a kid and ran an old Mercury on it green top motor from the 50s. Had so much fun!!

[@jamesday7930]

I never built this boat, but when I started working at this garage in Houston there was one completed except for paint. It had a wooden B29 steering wheel, but no steering cables or pulleys. I wound up buying that garage then later selling out to my partner and part of the deal was I got to keep the boat. I glassed and painted it, installed a 35 HP outboard, took it to the boat drags in Waco circa 1980. I was in college at the time and failed to register it before slipping it into the river with the rest of the race boats. I ran it up and down the "track" several time before I attracted the attention of the Fish and Game officers who liked it, but made me take it out of the water for multiple violations. It also had a gunwale around the cockpit, but he 35 HP motor was way above the rating for the boat and the weight would almost sink it until it was moving, and MAN did it MOVE! In a straight line... I eventually attached 2 metal skegs to the length of it and it helped, but not much. College fun.

[@cjwhite1758]

Holy s**t... 35 HP!!! Mine has an 8 HP and I'm not using full throttle because my bow is only a few inches above the water and I figured if I were to bury it in a wave I would be launched over the bow.... you have my utmost respect ( ie I think you were crazy )

[@slakjawnotsayin5451]

That's awesome!!! I had a tough time finding the original magazine though, because it turns out that it wasn't "Popular Mechanics" it was actually "Science and Mechanics" that had it. AND flipping through the Science and Mechanics magazine looking for the "Hasty Hydro", it was interesting to see on Page 70, "Convert your boat to Water-Jet Power", as I didn't think that was tried and talked about much until the mid 70's, so that was pretty cool as well. Found the Hasty Hydro on Page 146 too btw. Thank you for the great video of your build and taking the time to explain things in detail about the build, it's greatly appreciated! This is the one I want to build as well, so this is extremely helpful.

[@cjwhite1758]

Sorry I steered you in the wrong direction. I used the information on the muskaseaflea site. Glad you found the right one. It’s a fun boat to drive but it doesn’t handle like a normal boat… good luck with the build…

[@slakjawnotsayin5451]

@@cjwhite1758 Sorry, I wasn't trying to troll you either by pointing that out, I just wanted to clarify incase anyone else tried to find it after seeing the video and couldn't. I think I also read that on their site as well, and couldn't find it then either, but this time when I looked for it, I stumbled onto the search results that found it, and you can DL the whole magazine PDF as well. Maybe that's why their site had it wrong LOL I was hoping to see a follow-up video where you tried out the boat to see how it worked out. When you say it doesn't handle like a a normal boat, do you mean it's difficult to handle or that it's just different, like it slides around more? One thing that terrifies me about these mini boats, is that I only see them being used on super calm and glass like waters, and I'm really wondering about the front being so low to the water, thinking what if the front hits a wave or wake from another boat, and does a lip stand? I can't help wonder if the front shouldn't stick out further, and up continuing the angle, to get the top front higher outa and away from the waters surface. Maybe not though, but freaks me out watching these little boats ripping around. LOL

[@cjwhite1758]

No offense taken… like I said, I used the article on the site. By handles different I mean that after it’s up on plane it doesn’t lean into a turn like a standard v bowed boat. It will turn but it sort of skids a bit towards the direction you are steering it and then heads in the right direction. When plowing ( and with a flat bottom sheet it really plows) it handles like a regular boat. As to the bow chopping into the waves I actually worried about that too when I first started to drive it but found that the sponsons would bring the bow up as they hit the waves. Make no mistake, it definitely is not a bad weather boat and might be dangerous in heavy swells. Hope that answers your question.

[@slakjawnotsayin5451]

@@cjwhite1758 Oh wow, ok. Yes that was very helpful. Thank you for the replies.

[@christopherjones7191]

Thanks for the video, its always nice to see various people building watercraft.

[@cjwhite1758]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@justinlaplante7453]

I also built one and put an 18 horse Evinrude on it (way too heavy). The 9.9 hp Mercury was the right motor to use ( lighter and probably closer to 20 hp. Even today they are 1,500 if you can find one)

[@kitwalker520]

Ran one on the Potomac circa 1972 with a Mercury 7.5 - early morning smooth water screaming

[@cjwhite1758]

sounds like great fun. it’s definitely a smooth water boat.

[@daves4386]

Great video! I loved the old Popular Mechanics stuff. How about a video of it in the water?

[@cjwhite1758]

I used to read them and dream of all the stuff I would build when I grew up.Good times. I tried to get a video of it but to be honest I didn’t want to get too close and a video from a safe distance isn’t very interesting. Not much of the boat shows up.. maybe I’ll try again next summer..

[@groceryfiend]

This looks great! Thanks for sharing it

[@cjwhite1758]

Thanks for watching!

[@troymattingly3071]

This video is informative and enjoyable. Thank you for the good instruction!

[@cjwhite1758]

Glad it was helpful! I had fun making it

[@paulr.3220]

I had one of these back in the mid 60"s. I paid $30 for it and first put an old 18 hp Johnson on it. Wish I still had it for my grand kids.

[@cjwhite1758]

Ahhh yes, the sixties.

[@paulr.3220]

Mine had a 4" skeg mounted in the middle. I flipped at wide open throttle when one side of the steering came off. It floated real nice with the bow pointing skyward. So much fun!

[@cjwhite1758]

how did you get it back to shore?

[@paulr.3220]

@@cjwhite1758 Friends saw me and jumped in their boat and came to tow me to shore. I was back on the lake in an hour.

[@PaulGager-oi5jx]

This was a Science & Mechanics plan, by William Jackson. Never in Popular Mechanics, as Jackson was the boating editor of Science and Mechanics. Please give credit where it's due.

[@SaltyMechanicsJunior]

NICE WORK👍

[@cjwhite1758]

Thanks, I appreciate the compliment.. I did have fun building it.

[@cjwhite1758]

thanks i appreciate the compliment

[@guysmalley]

Thank you

[@cjwhite1758]

No worries…glad you enjoyed it

[@tonweya3615]

Thank you very much for sharing your building and improving the Hasty Hydro! I got inspired for a "Buddy" to our Minimost "Hetty". I cannot avoid to ask what you have for a car in the background at 06:45?

[@cjwhite1758]

It was fun to build, The car in the background is my recent project. A 1972. Opel GT. I’ve had it for several years decided it needed a total rebuild. As of now the bodywork is finished and will get painted this spring when it gets warmer. Last month I finished the engine, transmission rebuild so it’s ready to install when the body is ready

[@tonweya3615]

@@cjwhite1758 cool! It is like the Hasty Hydro on the road, isn't it? With the 1.9l engine it will beat every Corvette regarding "Smiles to the gallon" ;-)

[@chrisambrose8838]

Looks great ! What size outboard are you using? 🇺🇸💙👍🙋‍♂️🖖🏻

[@cjwhite1758]

I had an 8 hp Johnson but it was borrowed. I’m currently trying to sell it..

[@chrisambrose8838]

Very nice ! I think I need to build one too ! Thanks for the info ! 👍🙋‍♂️🖖🏻

[@jrdjunior]

By the time I pulled this stunt I had 60+ sport skydives had been a licensed scuba diver since I was old enough to obtain a dive card and had been diving in Belize and was 20 and believed I was Bullet proof. Sorry too many ands

[@cjwhite1758]

I was indestructible when I was younger too. Now I'm just old and wiser ( my wife might not agree )

[@chriscoker7794]

Would like to see it in the water.

[@cjwhite1758]

Hi Chris, I’ve tried to get some video of the boat in action but there really isn’t much to see. Even up on plane not much of the boat shows up. I’m not very good making videos and am not inclined to get close enough with another boat while going that quickly to be interesting. maybe I’ll try again.

[@chriscoker7794]

@@cjwhite1758 hey I truly understand and appreciate the fact that you even thought about it. Apparently a lot of people on utube have some pretty nice camera setups, but not me either. Very nice build by the way.

[@cjwhite1758]

thanks, I had a good time building it. ( my video camera is a GoPro hero that’s 1 1/4 inch cube. amazing but not very easy to use well)

[@justinlaplante7453]

Water had to be smooth or the nose would just slice the water and hit you at 30mph!

[@cracab1988]

That happened on our maiden voyage. Sliced through a wake from another boat, almost knocked me out of the boat, filled the cockpit with water and swamped the boat. The motor had to be purged of water in the cylinders. It didn't sink however, i guess the captive air in the sponsons kept it afloat. Fun stuff.