Transom lettering style

[Brncman]

Staring at the transom of Intent brings a question to mind:  Is there a particular font for boat names on the transoms of Herreshoff designs?  Most photos I have seen seem to show a style of gold letters with red border.  Is is a Herreshoff - only style, or simply one typical of the era?  Does the font have a name, and is it still available from lettering suppliers?

Thanks.

[Steve]

Brncman: Real good question.  Hopefully somebody can answer.

Usually, the transom is either finished bright or painted the hull color (we all know NGHs comments on white boats).  That itself is a tough decision (at least it was for me).  Often, a white hull has hand-painted black lettering while bright transoms have gold-leaf lettering with a black shadow.

Adam L -- do you know anything regarding the specifics of the lettering on INTENT?

[Adam]

This is a good question and would like to hear from Adam as well.

I can tell you that I have always preferred gold letters with a thin dark green border - White or Bright. This is due to the fact that ALL my sailboats have had a dark green (Bristol or Herreshoff Green) bottom. I'f I had a red bottom - I'd probably go with a matching red border. I've always thought the small border matching the bottom looked best.

L. Francis wrote a short chapter ( in "An L. Francis Herreshoff Reader" I believe) on naming boats, I'll re-read and see if he says anything on colors.

[Adam]

On the Font - I almost always use New Times Roman.

[John Hutchison]

Funny that this topic has come up as I was today looking up the number for my artist to do CRUSADER's transom.  CRUSADER originally (as I recieved her that is) had a bright transom with gold letters with a red outline.  Her hull and transom will now be white and I'm not decided on gold or black lettering.  Decisions, decisions.  If there was an HMC standard, I'd go with that.  I'll stay posted...

[HerreshoffHistory]

I am not sure if there was a standard lettering method.

Unfortunately, period photos seldom show the transom and if they do, then of course only in black and white.

Capital letters, sans-serif, arched downwards was usually used.

Here are a few examples.

All these photos were taken fairly shortly after the boat was built.

#446s Alerion


#490s Wanda


#648s Minx


#711s Ventura


#725s Resolute

[John Hutchison]

Thanks HH,
Appreciate the photos.  I'm going with what was on the boat, gold letters (with red outline and bootstripe later).  I think it will look correct for a FI23. Launching in 10 days!

[Steve]

John:  She looks GREAT.  Very, very nice job !!

[dan shea]

INTENT's transom name outline is in red as she flies a red spinaker.

[Adam]

Gosh she's like glass John! Fab job!