Pilot Wheel Lithograph

Level of Detail: Low

Project Overview

The goal of this project was to create a custom helm for a 50 foot yacht owned by family friends. The couple had purchased the yacht some time ago as a restoration project and the time had finally come to install the ships wheel. They commissioned me to create an original pilot wheel for there newly refurbished vessel. They wanted something bold and beautiful, and something that captured a piece of seafaring history. My solution was a wheel with the feel of a 19th century sailing vessel. This oversized wheel contains the original map of the world as seen in the late 1800Õs. The next band contains the phrase “It's not the destination, but the journey” inscribed in a brass ring. The following ring contains a series of coins, each with the inscription of a single word from a prayer to bless the ship. Finally, the outermost part of the wheel is inscribed with the zodiac symbols (a tribute to early navigation) with the corresponding month in roman numerals. This wheel is slated for construction some time next year.

Time and Cost Analysis for Project:

Digital Model Construction Time: 5 Hours
Rendering and Finishing Time: 2 Hours
Total Time: 7 Hours
Total Cost: $595.00