The Page family purchased a new speedboat and motor which they intended to use on pleasure outings on the bay. Little did they know but this was a boat with magical properties.
The boat was able to talk and listen but only with Jake who, after initial amazement, named the boat "Merlin" after the famous magician.
This story describes the first trip the family undertook on Merlin and how the boat was able to give Jake information to help his father to manage the first trip successfully. The problem was that none of the family, other than Jake, could hear the boat talking so they were understandably amazed at the boy's knowledge of the boat and its operation.