Name, Fonts, Name Boards and Installation

Working on name boards and figuring out how to make them conform to the sheer plank may be getting ahead of myself.

Naming a boat may be easier than figuring out how to display that name. Indeed, the name, “Gardens of Fenwick,” came to me before I began building.

Deciding on a font for displaying the name on the boat is much more difficult. There are a MANY fonts to choose from - one site lists over 10,000! - so deciding on a font took some time.

Here are the font finalists:

CF Boston

CF Boston with unsuccessful attempts to improve the capital G and F

Gothic Ultra OT

Papyrus

And the font we chose is… Gothic Ultra OT

As for installing on the boat, we have two options. First, the name can be painted directly on the sheer plank in a contrasting color. However, my artist/sign painter-in-residence prefers a more controlled painting environment than the side of a boat in the barn...

The second option is to create name boards, paint the name on a flat, well-lighted (and warm) room, and install those on the sheer plank. Kerf-cut bending of solid wood works, but left me searching for another method of creating/installing name boards. On a whim, I cut a 5”x28” piece of 1/4” okume ply to test for fit… and was pleased to see it conforms to the sheer plank with minimum effort. The ply creates enough of a shadow line around the name board for the look I want. The name boards have been cut out, coated with epoxy, and will be faired and painted with the color of the hull. The name will be the same color as the sheer plank. The name boards will be through-bolted with round-head bronze machine screws.

Of, course, the painting and installation has not taken place. Updates as they occur.

Three Things

Tiller Modification: Conventional Rigid to Hinged Tiller
The stub end is still a work in progress and is hidden a bit by the mock-up hinge-fitting-thingy.

A cut down and trimmed 2x4 is serving as a mock-up handle end.

Some refinements are needed but the basic concept and configuration are there.

Shinto 11" Saw Rasp
I’ve read good things about the Shinto Saw Rasp over the years but I never ordered one - until last week. I’ve been using it on the tiller modification and I have to say, I am favorably impressed. Why did I wait so long to buy one?

Name and Registration Boards: Kerf-Cut Bending Test
Following my recent Project Ideas post, Joel suggested kerf-cutting the boards to bend flat boards to contoured surfaces (like the sheer plank). A YouTube search provided a few how-to videos. Yesterday’s test cut and demo using 1x8 cedar was successful! The 1x cedar (7/8" thick) is too thick for my purposes so I'll experiment with 1/2" and 5/8" stock for the name boards.

Still considering design details (size, placement, fonts, colors, etc.) - but those details give me something to work on when I can't work in the shop.

Winter-Lite and A Tiller Modification

Winter-lite is definitely here but the holidays are behind us. We've had three light snows (no more than 4" each) - all of which disappeared within a few days of falling, but nothing catastrophic (that will come soon enough). The not-so-bitter cold weather allowed me to cobble together a few Christmas presents in the shop and get them mailed before Christmas. The winter-lite conditions allow me to work in the shop for short periods of time.

The list of tasks, projects, modifications and 'new' ideas for Gardens continues to grow. And, in typical fashion, I began work on the latest addition to the list: A Hinged Tiller. A hinged tiller offers two improvements over Gardens' current set-up: 1) I won't have to crouch or bend over when standing at the helm (surprising how often I like to stand when sailing...); and, 2) Less clutter in the cockpit at the dock or when anchored with the tiller swung up to vertical. I'll keep the existing tiller as a spare.

Having asked for suggestions on the John Welsford Small Craft Design page on FaceBook, I'm basing my new tiller on John Welsford's design for his current build, Long Steps .

Beginning with a mock up of the butt end, based on the existing tiller, I'll work my way up/out to a new, longer hinged tiller with a slightly improved shape.

There should be a suitable piece of ash from the milling of an ash tree taken down on our property a few years ago. Hardware (Jan thinks bronze would look great; so do I, but bronze isn't very likely) similar to what John is using for Long Steps will have to be sourced. The new hinged tiller is far from done but at least this modification has begun.