Thomas Austin Isaac

Thomas Austin Isaac (82) passed away peacefully in his sleep on January 10, 2025. He is survived by his sister, Katherine Werner, brothers Robert (Dolly) and Greg, nephews Frank (Ivy) and Mitch, and nieces Pamela (Daniel) and Melissa. He was born on May 25, 1942, in Baltimore, Maryland, where he spent his childhood and early adulthood. He graduated from Glen Burnie High School. He lived briefly in Denver, Colorado, but eventually made his home in Brandon, Florida. He worked in marine sales for Viking Boat Works.

From his early life, Tom was enamored with speed, especially on the water. He lived within a stone’s throw from Stoney Creek, allowing summers to be spent boating, swimming, and with other aquatic activities. Tom learned sailing at the nearby Magothy Marina, a hobby he continued long into adulthood. Tom also became interested in outboard boats, repairing and building his own craft to race on the creek. This grew until Tom bought an inboard hydroplane. When he brought it home, his dad looked at it and said it was junk. Eventually, Tom’s dad bought him a race boat to compete in the local boat club. This was the beginning of a lifelong love of racing that completely engulfed Tom.

Through the years, Tom built and repaired many boats, some for himself and others for his brothers and friends. He built two 145ci hydroplanes for himself with his father that won races and Regional High Point Championships. He built a Lauterbach design 280ci hull that won Regional High Point Championships and many races over a period of years in three different classes. He rebuilt another Lauterbach hull into a very competitive boat that was a tremendous force to be reckoned with in the 6-liter class. Sadly, this hull was destroyed in an accident where it lost a rudder and hit the shore at a high rate of speed. Tom was thrown clear and unhurt, but that was the end of his racing career. He then threw his energy into building and repairing boats.

He designed and built a boat for his brother Bob, Paper Cup, that was way ahead of its time. This hull won many races. He built a radical hull, Blitzkrieg, for brother Greg that won Regional High Point Championships, North American Championships, and numerous other races.

He repaired and drove boats for Chris Oliver, once breaking a longstanding world speed record in Every Penny that was attempted dozens of times by others in one of Chris’s boats. He repaired and drove boats for Jim Apply and Bob Hudgins out of Florida winning Divisional Championships. He designed and built a boat with Larry Pound which unfortunately only ran a couple of times and went into storage. Tom made repairs and modifications galore for others like Bruzz Ritter, Jim Batchelor, Charles Miller, Ted Baker, Ed Perry, Jack Van Deman, Tom Amatucci, Barney Fielding, and many more. He designed and taught others how to build inboard hydroplanes, including Jim and Bob Wilson and Dennis Fowler, initiating them into racing.

He built recreational hulls too. Tom built a small runabout that he later gifted to his neighbor’s young son to share his fondness for boating. Tom just loved boating and building; it was his life.