Seawater and Sawdust is a book about many things. Primarily it is the account of two pensioners building a wooden boat, but it is also a tale of life’s many adventures. Tom and Lorraine Owen were no beginners at boat-building when they set out on this mammoth project in 2015, but with a combined age of more than 120 years they certainly exceeded all expectations with such an exceptional build.
Instead of being a ‘how-to’ textbook, Seawater and Sawdust provides valuable lessons on pushing the bounds, keeping going when things don’t go right and trying not to kill yourself in the process. The couple’s remarkable story offers encouragement and inspiration to ‘never give up’, in their case to advancing age, challenging circumstances, injury and even major surgery.
Written in an easy-to-follow and amusing style, their two-year journey – from inception and planning to building and on to launch – is fully illustrated with step-by-step photographs, giving a wonderful visual insight into the intricacies and finish of their beloved 30-foot motorboat Thea, along with their celebrations and milestones along the way. Though, while Tom and Lorraine never doubted that they would complete their project, it wasn’t all plain sailing. Along with the many highs, they share their mistakes with honesty and openness and their low spots with humour. Each chapter focusses on a specific part of the boat-building process, with a charming sketch to introduce every theme. Additional chapters post-build describe the couple’s tricks to staying sane and keeping on track, and include reflections on how their bespoke, handmade boat is serving them now – a handful of years and many nautical miles later.
After 9, 000 ‘person’ hours of work, Thea was launched in December 2016 on the River Dart, and has ever since attracted the acclaim of the boating press and the public. She has featured in a number of boating magazines, including Motor Boat and Yachting and Practical Boat Owner, and is now well recognised along the Devon and Cornwall coast, including the Isles of Scilly.
For the nautical enthusiast, boat-building curious or southwest coast sailor, join Tom and Lorraine on their journey to success, in a world revolving around seawater and sawdust.
Available in hardback (great for gifting), paperback and e Book.
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Introduction
1 Decisions, decisions
2 Here we go again
3 Beams, frames, duck!
4 Thea’s skeleton takes shape
5 A different way to fit a stern tube
6 Thea’s shell is created
7 A crane, skill and cunning
8 Thea takes shape and I fall apart
9 Things to walk on
10 Wow – a wheelhouse!
11 Thea’s heart and lifeblood
12 It would be easy to give up
13 Getting back on our feet
14 Tanks, seats and the return of Hopalong
15 The all-important galley
16 The even more important heads
17 Our cosy cabin
18 Better weather – back to the outside
19 Ouch – the price of teak!
20 Paint, plumbing and squashy things
21 Bronze on blue
22 Thea passes with flying colours
23 Finally – the big day
That which kept us going
Afterword
Acknowledgements
Over de auteur
Tom Owen started his boat-building career aged 14 and hasn’t looked back. Entirely self-taught, he has designed and built three cruising boats from scratch and renovated countless others. His designs are eye-catching and his woodworking skills masterful. Originally from Cardiff, he has lived with his wife Lorraine in their cottage in Devon since the 1980s.
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