The beginning

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 The plans for our boat the Departure 35 were ordered and received in December 1986 from naval architect Charles Wittholz, USA.  John wanted a steel hull and a wood deck, so he began by going on a welding course, and it all started in the garage of a little house in Malvern.  When the structure needed more space we moved to a small farm in Grassmere.  There the 35ft framework took shape, John working weekends and evenings.  After a year of commuting to work in Johannesburg we decided to move, boat and all, to a plot in Olifantsvlei.  There from 1989, the steel sheets were added and time for the wood deck.  John needed to learn woodwork so he decided to learn by doing and made a few pieces of furniture.  Touch Wood Garden & Patio Accessories was born specialising in fine outdoor furniture, crafted to withstand the harsh South African weather (and possibly the sea!)

Then we happened upon a lovely plot down the road which we decided to buy, and so we moved, boat and all, in January 1993. The boat moved several times around our property as our furniture workshop grew, but it was rather neglected, until early 2019.










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