You need carved quarterboards!
Carved quarterboard signs are just what your luxury yacht needs to look its best! Carving quarterboards for your ship with teak or mahogany; it’s what we do best here at Designs & Signs in Edgewater, MD. We cut each letter with care, by hand, the old-fashioned way. After carving, the letters receive a delicate treatment of 23 karat gold leaf. Then, to create additional contrast, we paint the black outline by hand with a fine lettering brush.
Once you commit to working with us, we provide you with a custom portfolio for review. Once you choose a font we will send you a drawing for review and revision as needed. We select your exotic lumber when the final drawing has been approved and begin shaping and carving your boards. The process requires three weeks to complete. When the boards are ready to ship, we collect the balance due and send them to you with insurance.
Let’s start a Carved Quarterboards project together – Call (410) 798-5115
23 karat XX gold leaf and palladium leaf provide you with the most traditional style and finish. We protect all of our hand-made quarterboards with spar varnish and spar urethane. We use six coats of varnish to start. Then after the gold leaf is ready, we apply the black painted outline with gloss lettering enamel. We use only premium paints for maximum outdoor exposure. Finally, completing your boards is possible with ten more coats of spar urethane which is also an oil-based product.
Oil-based spar urethane & spar varnish
Our spar urethane is compatible with the spar varnish. You should maintain your boards with light sand and a fresh coat of varnish or urethane. Again, be sure to use an oil-based product. If you try to use a water-based clearcoat, you might run into some compatibility issues. Contact your local canvas shop to purchase custom covers for your boards. Covers will protect your boards from unnecessary UV exposure when not using your yacht.
Watch videos – how to make carved quarterboards
Quarterboard History
Every ship since 1815 must have its name on the stern. This old maritime law also states that boat owners should place a board for the title (or quarterboard) on the ship bow or quarter panel.
As such, the ship’s captain would call upon their woodworker to carve the ship’s name onto the stern and bow of the vessel. Carved lettering needs gold leaf too. Dimensional letters reflect light and dance in the sun, with decorative gold-leaf. We use the same process to create traditional quarterboards for modern vessels today. Gold leaf and carved letters were stylish and distinctive, and the ship’s name was easier to read from further distances and stood out from the other decor and designs of the boat.
More quarterboards from our shop
Carved Quarterboards, Life Rings & Gold Leaf Lettering.
- Carved Teak Quarterboards – Mallard
- Teak Name Boards with Gold Leaf – Island Time
- Hand Carved Teak Boards for Spirit
- Carved Quarterboards with Gold Leaf – Remedy
- Mahogany Quarterboards – Mystic Lady
- Carved Quarterboards – Ravello
- Teak Side Boards – Carinya
- Carved Boards – Otter
- Carved Quarterboards – Aquarius
- Quarterboards – Lady K
- Carved Quarterboards – Belle Aurore
Frequently asked questions about carved quarterboards:
What material can I pick from for my carved quarterboard signs?
We offer mahogany and teak wood.
Do you ship worldwide?
Yes, we ship quarterboard signs worldwide.
How long does it take to make a quarterboard sign?
It depends on the design, but the usual time needed to produce your boards is three to four weeks.
