Building the TotalBoat work skiff - Q&A with shipwright Louis Sauzedde

We've been having so much fun building our TotalBoat work skiff we wanted to take a moment and answer some of your questions about the build. I hope you are all having as much fun as we are, it's so great to feel the enthusiasm for the skiff and series, please take a moment and subscribe to our Youtube channel "Tips from a Shipwright," take a look back through the earlier episodes and send in any other questions you have and we'll try to answer those as well. Keep watching and we'll keep rolling!

[reynoldsanabria]

Didactic. Well explained. Even sharing tips and motifs why it should be done in the way it is being shown. Work of patience but final result is more than worth it. Sure know how to keep it simple. Great job.
Reynold.

[jefferylewislittlefield]

I hope this comment finds you and your family in great health and happiness. I know this series is 2 years old, yet the lessons you teach are timeless. My brother and myself are getting a shop prepared to build this same boat. Your skills and knowledge are greatly needed and appreciated. We are from Western Kentucky and have 2 large bodies of water to fish and spend time with family. I could just go buy a boat. For the same purpose but building something from scratch seems more fun. And since I'm getting up there in age it's just another thing to leave my family. Again thank you for your love of boats and wood.

[raytheron]

Lou, words fail to describe how much pleasure your videos and your work have given me. I have loved boats since I was a ten-year-old in the arid centre of South Africa, and build a Percy Blandford "Foamcrest" (a 12' hard chine sailing dinghy in ply) for my brother in the early eighties. I would dearly love to build another wooden boat, finances permitting, since I am now retired. Thank you so very much for the wonderful, inspiring and informative videos. Listening to you, I can actually hear my woodwork teacher from the late 60s talking. Simply adore what you do!

[PaulCenac]

My Grand Father and his brother started C. Cenac and Sons Oyster Company just after the end of the Civil War in South Louisiana. As the seventh grandson I often loved to 'help' my Uncle at the family boat building shop. As teens, all of us spent Summers working on the Shrimp and Oyster Boats until we went off to college. Watching you obviously lovingly creating a hand built boat transported me back to those very happy memories...when I had worked extra hard on building a flat bottomed 14' motorized pirougue for duck hunting...Uncle Bill, who you remind me of, gave it to me! I have had boats my whole life since and still live on waterfront...now Mobile Bay in South Alabama. We love our 38' Sailboat, but now that I am retired I was looking for a Flat Bottomed Bay Boat project to build in my new wood working shop! May God Bless you for Inspiring many people to build their own boat and have a life long love for boating and enjoying their own creations!!!

[mikewalrus]

The thing I like about these video's is the fact that unlike a lot of people who do these video's who tend to say nothing or play loud unsuitable music. whereas you not only tell us what you are doing as you do it, you also explain why you are doing it! Thank you!

[tpace]

lou your a real master. Yourattention to detail, and skill with hand tools was a real treat to watch. Your willingness to teach a life time of tricks of the trade is much appreciated. Thanks

[shouldhaveknownbetter]

Hi Louis,
I am a blacksmith in rainy Wales UK and appreciate your fine skill and craftsmanship not only throughout the skiff build but all your projects. You have given me the confidence by watching your videos to take on my first boat project, a 1957 Folkboat. She is carvel planked with Afromosia on rock elm timbers, she has been out of the water for 10 years, so I got plenty of work to do. There’s so many tips tricks and ideas in your videos that will help me through the restoration. So, thank you for your great videos and please keep them coming. Happy Christmas and look forward to watching you in the new year. Regards Adam Greenwell.

[ClintGrantham]

I'm amazed at the number of people who commented on how your videos help their mood. I thought I was the only one. Your videos can really turn around a bad day. And it's not just the work. It's your style, your genuine interest in helping people understand and your authenticity. Thank you my friend!

[johnwilcox]

I just found your channel Lou and it is thoroughly enjoyable. I am a woodworker who makes furniture but it is so good to watch a wood craftsman, no matter his specialty, build beautiful things. I have no intention of building a boat, though I must say it is tempting, but I will watch all your videos.

[inthenameofjustice]

Merry Christmas Louis, to you and all who you love and also to the guy who is your apprentice. Thank you so much for this wonderful series. Craftsmen, no matter what area they work in are always a joy. I can watch a potter throw pots, a blacksmith work metal, a painter paint or, as in your case, a shipwright build boats and never tire of it. However, as an ex fisherman who worked the waters of off Cornwall in the South West of England for many years I carry a special place in my heart for the skills of men like you that kept us safe out there on the wild Atlantic and insanely busy English Channel. I was often staggered by the punishment the sea threw at our vessels but by the skills of men like you who knew where to put the strength into them, they carried us home, so thank you.
God bless you Louis and I look forwards to many more videos. I feel like I am making a new friend.

[jamesmarinelli]

The boards on bottom swell and become water tight now you just taught me how a wood barrel works, wondered why they would use barrels many years ago to hold liquids without them leaking out. I have plenty of free tree wood and want to make a huge barrel to collect rainwater for my garden so your boat building has taught me how to improve garden with free water.

[TheBRMueller]

I'm not a wood worker or a boat builder by any means. I'm a machinist by trade . What drew me to your videos is the professional craftsmanship involved. It always impresses me that no matter what trade you ply the most successful are thorough, patient and methodical. Nothing is hurried. Nothing is rushed. Thank you very much for these videos.

[RobertJohnson-KLFK]

Lou, I've endured a lot of "how to" videos, but your videos are fun and interesting (along with teaching us "newbies" the right way). You make it easy to understand the differences between woodworking and boat-building. And I applaud how you blend in the "shop safety tips". Outstanding job! You and I appear to be about the same age and you have inspired me to start building my own skiff, Thank You.

[rogerbayzand]

It's lovely to see a craftsman who really knows what he is doing, like you I grew up repairing boats with my father as you say that's the way we learnt. Your explanations of the process of boatbuilding and tricks of the trade bring back very happy memories, I am now retired and not physically capable of boatbuilding any more but your films have me itching to get back on the tools. I still have a couple of pre WW2 Diston saws and wonder if yours are too?

[gregmcgowan]

LouisYou are a natural communicator and teacher. You waste no words in your explanations and the editing of the videos is fantastic. How many apprentices have you mentored in your career? I'll bet you have some very good stories you could share with us in your videos as well. Thanks
Greg

[macdp]

Thank you Lou! It's pure pleasure to see an experienced man share his skills with newbys. I've enjoyed these very much, and look forward to the rest of the build!
-Bill

[Melthornal]

I love these videos. I love this long project, and I love the shorter videos as well. It is all great. I don't have any questions to ask, I just want to express how much I've enjoyed watching it all.

[khaledj]

And I am 72 years old and I am interested to build my own boat in the old days but I do really appreciate you you are a very good man and very good builder

[mercoid]

Who the heck needs television with content like this?!

[galland]

Eye opening for me and how you applied your years of experience was truly enlightening. This is a work of art as well as heart. Many thanks from across the Pond.