Gold leaf – any experience?

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PhillM

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OK so I know it’s a really silly idea, but the boats name “Paean” and place of build “Cowes” are chiselled into the stern. Last year we used a small tin of gold paint to pick them out, but for no other reason than somebody in the office offered me some cheap (apparently), I was wondering about using gold leaf instead.

I know it’s probably a waste / a bad idea / a bit too super yacht for a MAB – but has anyone actually got any experience with gold leaf on topsides and can you think of any downsides (no pun intended).
 
PhillM said:
OK so I know it’s a really silly idea, but the boats name “Paean” and place of build “Cowes” are chiselled into the stern. Last year we used a small tin of gold paint to pick them out, but for no other reason than somebody in the office offered me some cheap (apparently), I was wondering about using gold leaf instead.

I know it’s probably a waste / a bad idea / a bit too super yacht for a MAB – but has anyone actually got any experience with gold leaf on topsides and can you think of any downsides (no pun intended).
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Whoops! Lucky it's not the other thing cows do a lot! :rolleyes:

Sorry - I'll get my coat....
 
Very traditional on name boards and on caveta lines along dark hull topsides.... Never done it myself though.
 
Never done it personally. But from what ive been told I think the preparation is quite important but otherwise it's not as hard as some would have you believe. Just be careful. Failing that, if its just a name and port then it probably wouldn't cost the earth to get someone in to do it for you.
 
Re Gold Leaf

In a moment of weakness I tried it on GRP. It looked great but by the end of the season green streaks appeared running from it and that was the end of that.

However if I had a wooden boat I would try again but I would varnish over it. I think that might work.

Good luck
 
Hostage said:
In a moment of weakness I tried it on GRP. It looked great but by the end of the season green streaks appeared running from it and that was the end of that.

However if I had a wooden boat I would try again but I would varnish over it. I think that might work.
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Sounds like it might not have actually been gold :). Isn't gold supposed not to corrode or tarnish? So shouldn't need coating with varnish for protection - which I think would ruin the look anyway.

Pete
 
prv said:
Sounds like it might not have actually been gold :). Isn't gold supposed not to corrode or tarnish? So shouldn't need coating with varnish for protection - which I think would ruin the look anyway.

Pete
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I am in the sign business and trained as a traditional sign writer back in the 70's.
we often wrote lorry cabs in gold leaf and they were always varnished afterwards.
I think this is because the gold leaf is very thin and the varnish is more of an abrasion protector so it can be washed/wiped etc without concern.
It always had to be left a couple of days for the gold size to cure properly before varnishing.
Goodness knows how much a book of leaf costs now.
 
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