T&T: Teak name boards

[Faure, Marin]

>I'd like to have name boards made - one for the transom, and one for
each side of the bridge. Any recommendations on where to get these,
particularly in the Annapolis, MD area?

We made new transom and flying bridge name and hailing port boards for
our GB when we got it ten years ago.  The flying bridge boards also
incorporate the running lights.  We simply copied the basic
configuration of GB's factory-installed name boards.  We bought some
teak planking from a local marine wood supplier, had it milled to the
desired thickness, and then I cut out all the pieces and
glued/screwed/plugged them together.  Finish-sanded them and then put on
about ten coats of finish and then took them to a local sign shop where
we had the boat's name and hailing port made up in "gold leaf" vinyl
with a gray drop shadow.  We had the sign shop apply the lettering to
the boards so I wouldn't screw it up.  Since then we give the nameboards
a coat of finish every year including over the lettering.  My wife made
fitted Sunbrella covers for the flying bridge boards and the boat has a
full-size transom cover, so the boards and lettering have remained in
great shape for the past ten years.

The only thing to make sure you do when installing name boards is to use
nylon spacers behind them to stand them off a bit from the transom or
cabin side.  If the boards are flat up against the surface moisture will
become trapped behind them and eventually lift the finish at which point
the lifting will migrate around to the front and the boards will have to
be refinished and new lettering applied (unless the lettering is
carved).

______________________________
C. Marin Faure
GB36-403 "La Perouse"
Bellingham, Washington