Adding name decals

[longterm]

I'm happy to say that I bought 3 decals (2 name, 1 home port) from BoatUS, and put them on my Cat 30 today. I sat on the edge of the dock, measured carefully to make sure they were straight; the first took maybe 15 minutes, then the other 2 maybe 10 minutes each.

Looks fantastic! Very easy, looks perfect. Anyone thinking of doing it shouldn't be concerned about its being difficult. Pleasantly surprised.

I've angered Poseidon, but the Harmony now has a name...

 

[Lost Parent]

How did you remove old name was it a decal or paint

 

[longterm]

How did you remove old name was it a decal or paint

I had a bottom paint job done and he removed the decals for me...

 

[Bad Obsession]

Good luck. I kept the name on my Catalina 30 that she had when I bought her. She had a different name from a previous owner but wasn't involved in the name change. I hope that it was done right!

I have had a string of bad luck aboard my boat but it was from a particular flag that I was flying. I was flying a Viking war flag for a week. During this week I lost a piece of my grill overboard and had a bunch of other issues come up. When I took the flag down the string of bad luck stopped. Turns out that the flag that I was flying was flown by various Viking commanders and they were always victorious in battle when the flag was flown. The only problem is that the commanders were victorious but they died in the battle!

Superstition may be odd, but there is a reason that there are superstitions. My advise would be to do some sort of ceremony, posthumously, just to be safe. You can make up your own, say a prayer, or something like that. Either way, it can't hurt anything to do that!

 

[rbmcintire]

The old name was off the hull when she went back in? Hopefully, no docs or paperwork with the old name (that shall not be named) on board then? You should be OK for now, but I would follow Bad O's advice. Ol' King Neptune is probably just a little confused temporarily, which is to your advantage. Being inland a bit, the comm link to the lake nymphs is muddled and there's probably still a bit of a window to get it done this weekend. Generally, chicks like the bubbly for memorable occasions, but if they're like the ones I know, a good beer buzz works.

 

[longterm]

Good luck. I kept the name on my Catalina 30 that she had when I bought her. She had a different name from a previous owner but wasn't involved in the name change. I hope that it was done right!

I have had a string of bad luck aboard my boat but it was from a particular flag that I was flying. I was flying a Viking war flag for a week. During this week I lost a piece of my grill overboard and had a bunch of other issues come up. When I took the flag down the string of bad luck stopped. Turns out that the flag that I was flying was flown by various Viking commanders and they were always victorious in battle when the flag was flown. The only problem is that the commanders were victorious but they died in the battle!

Superstition may be odd, but there is a reason that there are superstitions. My advise would be to do some sort of ceremony, posthumously, just to be safe. You can make up your own, say a prayer, or something like that. Either way, it can't hurt anything to do that!

Superstitions are just that; as to doing a ceremony, that's just nonsense and I won't be taking part in such lunacy.

Superstitions started with people who thought that the earth was flat, who thought the sun revolved around it, who did things like ritual sacrifice. It amazes me that people consider themselves Christian, yet they believe in Greek gods? Hmm...

The day I start practicing goofy superstitions will be the day I believe in Bigfoot, the Loch Ness monster, and certain religious nonsense.

You can always find an event to coincide with some ancient superstition; when I got in a car wreck, I'm sure I could've read a horoscope afterward and figured out some sort of "sign;" it's just silly.

I decided that rather than endure what I considered an awful boat name and subscribe to ancient pagan beliefs, I'd change the name.

Gotta go, just spilled some salt and have to throw some over my shoulder.

 

[longterm]

The old name was off the hull when she went back in? Hopefully, no docs or paperwork with the old name (that shall not be named) on board then? You should be OK for now, but I would follow Bad O's advice. Ol' King Neptune is probably just a little confused temporarily, which is to your advantage. Being inland a bit, the comm link to the lake nymphs is muddled and there's probably still a bit of a window to get it done this weekend. Generally, chicks like the bubbly for memorable occasions, but if they're like the ones I know, a good beer buzz works.

In a word, that's just IDIOTIC. You guys really need to quit believing in fairy tales!

So how does believing in Greek gods jibe with other religious beliefs? Just curious.

 

[rbmcintire]

LOL, get a sense of humor, Francis. It's idiotic to be literal. It's idiotic to thumb your nose at thousands of years of sailing heritage. Join in the fun, the comaraderie. Havin' a beer for Christ's sake, or for the lake nymphs, or just because it's the weekend, for that matter, is a good reason for havin' a beer, IMHO. Smile, fellow sail-boater. No offense intended. Not really trying to indoctrinate you into a cult or anything. Well, maybe a little bit...

Rob

 

[GorillaToast]

And here I thought this was gonna be a how-to thread about decal application.

If anyone wants to go there...

Should I compound and polish the hull before or after applying the decals?

 

[longterm]

And here I thought this was gonna be a how-to thread about decal application.

If anyone wants to go there...

Should I compound and polish the hull before or after applying the decals?

Me too!

The guy who painted the bottom also removed the old decals and painted the spots where the decals' removal left an off-white ghost of the old name. He also waxed the hull, which doesn't seem to have prevented the new decals from sticking.

By the way, all that gets applied are the letters themselves--each is separate--as opposed to the rectangle on which the decals are shipped.

Here's how BoatUS said to do it, and which I followed:

1. Clean the area with window cleaner; wipe thoroughly;
2. Put masking tape on 4 corners, put decal sheet on hull; I measured from the tops of letters until I had it just right;
3. Put a long strip of tape vertically in the middle of the decal, with plenty above and below the decal;
4. Pull backing off 1 side all the way to the middle strip of tape, tear it off (it's paper);
5. Starting at the middle, smooth out the decal, working outward;
6. Using incl. squeegee, smooth the side down--really easy to do;
7. Repeat #4-6 on other side, pull tape off so you can remove remaining paper backing
8. Starting at one end, SLOWLY peel off covering plastic, making sure you're leaving the letters on the hull;
9. Use squeegee and make sure letters are firmly attached.

Takes maybe 10 minutes; the longest part was getting the decal level...

Bob
Defies of gods

 

[longterm]

LOL, get a sense of humor, Francis. It's idiotic to be literal. It's idiotic to thumb your nose at thousands of years of sailing heritage. Join in the fun, the comaraderie. Havin' a beer for Christ's sake, or for the lake nymphs, or just because it's the weekend, for that matter, is a good reason for havin' a beer, IMHO. Smile, fellow sail-boater. No offense intended. Not really trying to indoctrinate you into a cult or anything. Well, maybe a little bit...

Rob

I have a huge sense of humor! It's just interesting how many times I've read about praying to the gods, from otherwise sensible people...

When a mermaid pops up at the side of my boat, I'll think about saying a prayer to Poseidon. Then I'll put my wine down, grab my boat hook, and see what happens...

Bob
Defier of mighty Poseidon

 

[rbmcintire]

OK LT, I give up. You win. I'm heading down to the marina this evening for the prayer service at the T-head. I'll put in a good word for you and Harmony, just in case... A HeavySeas Crossbones Oyster Stout might accidently get knocked over and spilled. It'll have to do. Just know you have friends lookin' out.

 

[longterm]

OK LT, I give up. You win. I'm heading down to the marina this evening for the prayer service at the T-head. I'll put in a good word for you and Harmony, just in case... A HeavySeas Crossbones Oyster Stout might accidently get knocked over and spilled. It'll have to do. Just know you have friends lookin' out.

You're a good man, and I salute you from my place on the couch...

And if I go to the marina and find Harmony at the bottom of he harbor, I'll loudly proclaim my error!

 

[jrowan]

Hate to keep building this thread, but Rob I'm with ya on this one. I don't feel that its my place to disrespect thousands of years of sailing tradition. Its bad luck to thumb your nose at it. With my first boat I didn't repsect the naming traditions, & had all kinds of troubles, beyond my control. Ever since, I've been religious about re-christening my boats in proper tradition & have been thankful for it. As for tips on re-lettering, I like to use a little windex on the surface of the hull before applying the vinyl letters. It lets you slide them around a lil to get perfect placement before committing yourself. Then use a hard squeegy to push out the moisture after placement. That's how window tinting guys install plastic film without any air bubbles trapped behind it. Cheers.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Very good advice on "how to do it" right.

 

[Brad on Vashon]

I'm coming to LTs defense her-- not that he needs it-- I've renamed three boats and a fourth this weekend. Never felt much need to spill bubbly-- but if that's your thing don't let me stop you. I just don't thing it makes a bit of difference. We have done a LOT of stupid things over the centuries cuz it was tradition. This is pretty innocuous, but no one should be pressured into something they don't believe in.

Thanks for the tips on the winded though. I'd forgotten about that.

 

[longterm]

Hate to keep building this thread, but Rob I'm with ya on this one. I don't feel that its my place to disrespect thousands of years of sailing tradition. Its bad luck to thumb your nose at it. With my first boat I didn't repsect the naming traditions, & had all kinds of troubles, beyond my control. Ever since, I've been religious about re-christening my boats in proper tradition & have been thankful for it. As for tips on re-lettering, I like to use a little windex on the surface of the hull before applying the vinyl letters. It lets you slide them around a lil to get perfect placement before committing yourself. Then use a hard squeegy to push out the moisture after placement. That's how window tinting guys install plastic film without any air bubbles trapped behind it. Cheers.

You're kidding about the name thing, right?

It amazes me how many people will buy into some idiotic ancient superstitions; now really, if you were REALLY respecting ancient "traditions," you'd stay away from the edge of the earth lest you fall off; you'd watch as the sun "circled the earth;" you'd watch out for the Kracken; you'd chant similarly idiotic incantations to make your crops grow, to give you a male child, and so on. You guys chide ME about taking this seriously but wow, you guys are the ones who take this stuff seriously!

I know better than to believe that a prayer to a nonexistent god makes any difference whatsoever. Why it is that so many of you buy this one is beyond me, really...

As to using Windex, the BoatUS instructions did suggest cleaning the surface with window cleaner, which I did, but alcohol-based cleaners evaporate quickly and do not allow the decal to slide. What's more, if you follow their instructions, you won't NEED to slide the decal; the idea is to place it exactly, tape it in place, using a long vertical piece in the center, and put a half of the decal in place before you do the other half.

I've put countless iPhone and iPad protectors on, and they are different; you use water with a few drops of dish soap, so that you can slide the cover around. Then you squeegee the liquid and bubbles out.

With a name decal, you're not fastening a sheet, you're applying a set of letters that aren't connected to each other. When I put mine on in 3 places, there were NO bubbles o remove with the squeegee, and the placement was perfect becausevI took my time getting it taped exactly where I wanted it.

As to the boat gods, you guys have been drinking too much port!

Bob
The Happy Heretic and Captain of the newly-renamed Harmony

 

[Stu Jackson]

Gee, Brad, why discourage anyone from having a party?

 

[longterm]

I'm coming to LTs defense her-- not that he needs it-- I've renamed three boats and a fourth this weekend. Never felt much need to spill bubbly-- but if that's your thing don't let me stop you. I just don't thing it makes a bit of difference. We have done a LOT of stupid things over the centuries cuz it was tradition. This is pretty innocuous, but no one should be pressured into something they don't believe in.

Thanks for the tips on the winded though. I'd forgotten about that.

At last, a voice of sanity! I was really starting to worry about you guys!

I was given a bottle of champagne for christening the boat, but I'll probably let some lovely lass drink it instead and keep the glass off the lake bottom.

Can't speak for other brands, but BoatUS decals are made to go onto a DRY surface. If you really do want to slide the decal, which I don't recommend, Windex won't do it for you; take a spray bottle, fill it with water, then put about a half-dozen drops of Dawn in it, spray that on. That's how smartphone protectors are put on.

Here's the problem with that: spray your hull and tape won't stick, and you'll have a hell of a time. Trust me, the method BoatUS recommends, and which I outlined, is a breeze, and you won't need to move the decal if you measure 10 times, peel once.

By the way, I had a black cat for 15 years; who knows how many times he crossed my path. OH NO!

Bob
Flaunter of Tradition

 

[longterm]

Gee, Brad, why discourage anyone from having a party?

Champagne IS best smashed on a hull... I hate the stuff!