Quarterboards for Whisper: Gold Leaf on Carved Teak Boards

We made this pair of hand-carved teak quarterboards for Whisper, a Fleming yacht outfitted by Burr Yacht Sales in Edgewater, Maryland. These gold leaf quarterboards carry the yacht’s name on both sides of the bow. Each board starts as raw teak. We cut it to shape, bevel the edges, and carve the letters by hand.

How We Gild the Letters

Next, we prepare the carved letters for gilding. We sand them and seal them so the surface is smooth. Then we apply the gold leaf by hand. The leaf dries slowly. After it sets, we polish the letters with soft cotton. Finally, we paint a dark outline around each letter with a fine lettering brush. The outline sharpens the edges and makes the name easy to read from the dock.

Marine Varnish Protects the Wood

The finished boards then go back for varnish. We apply several coats under the lettering and more coats above it. For this step, we use TotalBoat Lust marine varnish. The varnish seals the teak and protects the gold leaf from sun and spray. With regular upkeep of the varnish, the boards stay in good condition for many seasons.

Order Quarterboards for Your Yacht

Would you like quarterboards for your own yacht? Send us a message or give us a call, and we will talk through the name, the size, and the lettering style. We also offer custom boat lettering, custom life rings, and many other signs and services.