It hangs on its four brushed-steel standoffs, one screw in each corner, so the panel floats a finger's width off the wall and throws a soft shadow behind the boat. A hallway, a study or a saloon bulkhead suits the 30 cm piece; a sofa or sideboard wall suits the 50. Keep it out of hours of hard sun.
How do the standoffs work?
Each corner of the panel has a hole through both acrylic sheets. A threaded steel post goes through the hole into a cap on the front; the base of the post screws to the wall. Four of them hold the piece flat and clear of the wall, which is why the boat seems to hang in the air. They come fitted, with the screws and plugs in the box.
- Hold the piece against the wall where you want it and mark the four corner holes with a pencil
- Drill the four holes and fit the plugs the box gives you, or drive the screws straight into timber
- Screw the four standoff bases to the wall
- Offer up the panel, thread the four caps on from the front, and tighten them by hand
Which wall suits it?
A plain, light wall with the light coming from the side, so the glass throws its shadow. The piece is clear around the boat, so what is behind it shows: a limewash or painted wall reads best, a busy wallpaper fights it.
| Wall | Size | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Hallway or landing | 30 cm | Seen close, passed often, the light moves along the hull |
| Study or office | 30 cm | Sits well at eye level above a desk |
| Saloon bulkhead on board | 30 cm | Four screws into timber; keep it out of a hatch's sun |
| Above a sofa or sideboard | 50 cm | Holds its own from across the room |
| Clubhouse or chandlery wall | 50 cm | Reads from the door |
| Bathroom or galley | Neither | Steam and grease cloud the acrylic over time |
What should it be kept away from?
Hours of hard direct sun every day, which is hard on acrylic over the years; steam and cooking grease; and anything that will knock the corners. The glass inside is sealed and takes no harm from any of these, but the acrylic is the surface you see through, and it wants to stay clear. The routine for keeping it so is in the care guide.
Can it stand on a shelf instead?
The 30 cm piece can lean on a deep shelf or a mantel with the standoffs acting as feet, and many do; the 50 cm piece is better on the wall. Either way, choose the size on the create page with the spot in mind, and the sizing guide goes through the two.
Questions this leaves
Do I need a drill?
For a plaster or masonry wall, yes: four holes and the plugs from the box. For a timber wall or a bulkhead the screws go straight in. The caps thread on by hand; no tool touches the acrylic.
How heavy is it?
Light for its size: the 30 cm piece is under a kilogram, the 50 cm piece a little over two, and four fixings share it. Ordinary plugs and screws in sound plaster are enough.
Can it hang on a boat?
Yes, the 30 cm piece, on a timber bulkhead with four screws, out of a hatch's direct sun and away from the galley. The glass is sealed and the acrylic shrugs off damp, which is more than a framed print on board can say.
