If you're in or on the water near Mara­thon, Florida, and happen to spot what appears to be a sea monster bearing down, don't die of heart failure—it's probably nothing more than Al Bayles' Thing. All who see it say it's the darndest boat ever built, but they have to admit it performs. The Thing has great maneuverability and literally flies across the surface. Under full power of a 10-hp motor, little more than the prop and the keel remain in the water.    And 10 hp is all that Al recommends—any more and The Thing assumes control!

Al built his unusual boat for $60 and it weighs just about the same in pounds. Though the bend in the ¼-in. plywood hull planking may appear extreme, it is not difficult to accomplish. The nature of con­struction, with the transom angled and beveled, is such that the curves are of large radius and the plywood can be fastened in place with no more than the usual amount of soaking with hot water. In doing this, the sheer assumes its own contour and the addition of a few knees and braces makes the boat.

Unconventional? Yes. But it really does perform and it costs only $60 to build. The transom is braced inside and out since the skin extends beyond the keel with a cutout for the motor.

For Al, The Thing was an experiment and he didn't span the hull with seats be­cause he felt this would make it too rigid. He also was afraid the outward pressure would create a tendency for the hull to pop apart. However, the boat has carried five people with a gross weight of 800 pounds without any sign of undue stress.

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