Yacht Art
11/29/2006 2:40:58 PM by Sandy Lindsey
If you want to deck out your yacht with artwork, there’s certain things you have to keep in mind. We break down the essentials for you so all you have to worry about is choosing the right art.
We’ve all seen them — the multi-million dollar yachts that line the country’s intricate waterways. Inside those masterpieces of naval architecture are often masterpieces of a different kind — paintings, sculptures, art objects and collections that can rival the cost of the yacht itself. Many pieces must be protected against the pounding seas and rising waves that megayachts can encounter. Virtually any art can be placed on board a yacht, but it must be done right.
The Yacht Owner
The first fundamental issue after deciding upon placement is to secure the artwork down properly. “Most large yachts have well-tinted windows, so light (on, say, a painting) is not usually a problem,” says Chris Robinson, project manager at Belina Interiors, Inc. “The air conditioning on these boats is almost always on, so temperature and humidity are less of a concern. So the main key is to secure the artwork properly. Wire and a painting hanger won’t do. In most cases, we use four brackets that attach to points on the painting and points on the wall. To take the painting down, one has to reach up behind it to unlatch the brackets. The yachts we work on need really secure artwork as they encounter high seas.”
Sculptures are another matter entirely. For smaller pieces, the rule of thumb is to use museum/earthquake putty to secure them to a table or shelf. The same goes for other small decorative objects, which the crew can store, well-cushioned, in lockers and cabinets/drawers in cases of long voyages in rough conditions. Larger works, however, require mechanical fastening.
“We bolt a lot of onboard sculptures through the furniture,” says Robinson. “You don’t want to damage a piece of art, but it does have to be mechanically fastened down so it doesn’t get greater damage from the pounding a yacht can take. We normally come up through the bottom of the piece and bolt it down just as we bolt the couches and chairs into place.”
A particular case in point comes to Robinson’s mind. “On Laurel, there was a large 6-foot by 6-foot or so coffee table in the main salon. It was bolted through the deck, which was critical as water came over the pilothouse window on one occasion.” Belina Interiors and other yacht interior designers fall back on their imagination and experience. The goal is to find the best way to fasten an artwork so that the mechanical fasteners are secure and, equally important, unseen.
One notable yacht that Robinson worked on, whose owner wishes to remain anonymous, contains “a ton of art.” “The owner is a big-time collector,” says Robinson, going on to add that some of the yacht detailing was taken out to make space for the owner’s art collection of sculpture and paintings. “Art,” Robinson adds, “is always a last-minute push to get it on as the boat gets finishes. The owner traditionally decides on placement down to placing tape on the wall to signify ‘put the corner here.’” In the case of the collector’s vessel, the crew has a constant focus of maintaining the artwork aboard.
But fine art isn’t always in the form of paintings and sculpture. “When we did the Life of Riley refit at Delta, the owner had an antique bowsprit (the traditional lady on the bow),” says Robinson. “The owner wanted it mounted in the salon. It was rotted on the bottom, so we had to be very careful with it. We ended up fabricating a custom bracket.”
The Average Boater
Artwork aboard is not just for the megarich. Your average Sea Ray may boast a painting or two or several sculptures to add class and distinction to the salon, master stateroom, and guest quarters. As on its larger sisterships, all art aboard should be secured by a bracket or, in the case of a large or heavy sculpture, bolted to the furniture.
Sculpture is a low maintenance item — just dust it occasionally and you should be fine. Paintings, sketches and prints, however, are another matter. Ideal climate conditions are 65-70 degrees Farenheit temperatures and a relative humidity of 40-45 percent in the winter with a summer range of 70-75 degrees Farenheit and 45-55 percent relative humidity. If the air conditioning is not run constantly, you may want to reconsider putting a work of art of extreme cash or sentimental value aboard.
There are plenty of paintings and prints at most boat shows that will do just fine and add a sophisticated flavor to your time aboard. An alternative to running the air conditioning constantly is to place a dehumidifier in the cabin. While not as effective as full-time A/C, a dehumidifier will not only help conserve artwork, but will help keep the cabin free of mold and mildew, and the inside air fresher.
As the windows on smaller boats do not necessarily have the necessary level of tinting to protect fine art, it’s important to close the curtains and blinds when the vessel is not in use.
Once all the aforementioned considerations are taken, all that’s left is finding the right art to display, which will probably prove to be a more difficult task to accomplish — even for the most seasoned art lover.