And make it like any other adventure novel on the high seas?

Avoid at all costs. It's torture porn that sinks into hilarity. Orphaned? Yes. Physically disabled? Yes. Molested by orphanage monks and truck drivers? Yes. Every traumatic thing that could possibly happen to him does, as if he personally upset the Murphy of Murphy's Law. https://archive.md/aiXrg puts it best with
>The first time he cuts himself, you are horrified; the 600th time, you wish he would aim.