These representations of classic yachts can be in either half hull form or as a
marquetry sail plan using carefully selected veneers. Alternatively the two can
be combined which provides a unique way of appreciating the skill of the designer
in a single 'picture'.
Hand crafted in natural woods, almost any design can be reproduced provided a lines
plan of the hull and a sail plan are available - this ensures true scale.
A clear advantage is that these can be mounted on a wall or bulkhead, thereby taking
up much less room than a traditional model.
The Half Hull
In the early days of shipbuilding the design originated with the shipwright carving a
half hull model. Once he was satisfied with the form he scaled this up to build the full size hull. Although this method of design has long gone, model half hulls are
recognised as having a beauty of their own.
These half hulls are hand carved from solid wood, usually with a thin layer of
contrasting wood introduced at the waterline. Templates are taken from the lines
plan of the yacht which ensures that the hull is an accurate representation of the original. Deckhouses and hatches are not usually included or only represented in
block form, as the intention is to draw the eye to the graceful lines of the hull form.
The finished hull can be painted, but if the wood is given a clear finish the beauty of
the wood grain can be seen.
The Sail Plan
Marquetry or inlay has long been used as an art form drawing together the subject of the picture and the beauty of natural wood grains and shades. This is the method
chosen to represent the yacht with full sail, either using thin veneers as marquetry,
or if the base board is made from solid wood the sail plan would be inlaid into the surface
of the board. The cream colour of sails can be well represented in holly or walnut
sapwood. The only exception to using natural wood shades would be if the sail
or hull colour is a particular feature of the yacht, in which case an appropriate wood
dye would be used. Examples would be the green hulls of the Shamrocks, the
America’s Cup challengers, or the red/brown sails of the Brixham trawlers, which were often raced as yachts. In the combination picture the sail plan is usually reproduced at
half the scale of the half hull.
The Background
Continuing the theme of using only natural woods, the background can be either finished with veneer or of solid wood. In either case the marquetry sail plan would be set in a contrasting wood. Cherry provides a warm colour and gentle grain pattern,
but many other woods can be used such as oak or mahogany. The background can be framed, again in natural wood, or finished with a chamfered edge. Hand carved lettering
can be included in a solid wood base board.
Finishing
Both half hull and background are finished with a clear coat and then waxed which brings out the beauty of the wood grain.