Getting ready to paint the name of the boat and wonder if there is any special type paint to use on the fiberglass hull, any particular preparation to the surface other than washing it clean.
Painting a Name
- Thread starter Tony23670
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Forget paint
Use vinyl lettering. There are many vinyl lettering sources out there that can make custom lettering to the size, font, and color you specify. Very easy and attractive. Dave S/V Pas de Deux Catana 471-44
Use vinyl lettering. There are many vinyl lettering sources out there that can make custom lettering to the size, font, and color you specify. Very easy and attractive. Dave S/V Pas de Deux Catana 471-44
Vinyl letters
Vinyl ain't final! It's much easier to remove should you a) change the boat name or b) sell the boat. Check with a sign shop or a truck fleet shop for custom vinyl lettering. Also BoatUS.
Vinyl ain't final! It's much easier to remove should you a) change the boat name or b) sell the boat. Check with a sign shop or a truck fleet shop for custom vinyl lettering. Also BoatUS.
Fast Signs
http://www.fastsigns.com/locations.html FASTSIGNS® (850)894-2400 2096 N. Monroe Street, Suite 2 Tallahassee, Florida 32303 United States says not too far from you......or like the other posts say,,,look in the phone book under signs,,,vinyl lettering...easy to put on...a little soapy water in a spray bottle and a plastic spreader to sqeegy the water out....they will lay it out and it can be as easy as just letters or multi colors with palm trees!. have fun! dont paint, messy, non changable and the paint is at least the same $
http://www.fastsigns.com/locations.html FASTSIGNS® (850)894-2400 2096 N. Monroe Street, Suite 2 Tallahassee, Florida 32303 United States says not too far from you......or like the other posts say,,,look in the phone book under signs,,,vinyl lettering...easy to put on...a little soapy water in a spray bottle and a plastic spreader to sqeegy the water out....they will lay it out and it can be as easy as just letters or multi colors with palm trees!. have fun! dont paint, messy, non changable and the paint is at least the same $
If you really want to paint a name ...
use what a professional signpainter would. Artist's One Shot. Available at a sign shop or artist supply store. Also ask for a lettering brush and a quick lesson in how to use it. Don't use a brush designed for painting models or something that is a throwaway, this is just too important. Best yet ask for an artist to do it for you. They are starving to death in our computerized, vinyl stick-on world. Want it to really shine? Ask about goldleaf for an accent.
use what a professional signpainter would. Artist's One Shot. Available at a sign shop or artist supply store. Also ask for a lettering brush and a quick lesson in how to use it. Don't use a brush designed for painting models or something that is a throwaway, this is just too important. Best yet ask for an artist to do it for you. They are starving to death in our computerized, vinyl stick-on world. Want it to really shine? Ask about goldleaf for an accent.
Best Way To Paint a Boat Name
Hi Tony, if you're intent on painting your name on, your local sign franchise can also make you a stencil. This is basically a negative of the vinyl others have suggested. You apply the stencil and paint right over it, removing the stencil after the paint has dried. For best results apply a couple of thin layers. Your final result will be hand painted letters that have the precision of computer cutting.
Hi Tony, if you're intent on painting your name on, your local sign franchise can also make you a stencil. This is basically a negative of the vinyl others have suggested. You apply the stencil and paint right over it, removing the stencil after the paint has dried. For best results apply a couple of thin layers. Your final result will be hand painted letters that have the precision of computer cutting.
Advice from a sign guy
I own a sign shop and have both painted names on boats and laid vinyl on boats. Some people just like the look of a hand lettered name on a boat, myself included. However, with the thousands of stock fonts and the ability to tweak and personalize the font/design, the "signpainter" is becoming a thing of the past. Vinyl would be my suggestion for all of the reasons the others have stated, but to expand upon the stencil/ painting method, if you go this route, use One Shot lettering enamel but don't do several thin coats. The paint is meant to cover in one coat (One Shot). You don't need a lettering brush for this method, a 1 or 2 inch foam brush will work just fine. With either vinyl or paint, make sure you remove ALL of the wax from the surface. Otherwise you run the risk of the vinyl releasing prematurely or the paint having a fisheye pattern to it. One last thing...if you go with vinyl, make sure it is high performance vinyl. There has been recent complaints about the quality of lettering from some providers around here lately. Good Luck!
I own a sign shop and have both painted names on boats and laid vinyl on boats. Some people just like the look of a hand lettered name on a boat, myself included. However, with the thousands of stock fonts and the ability to tweak and personalize the font/design, the "signpainter" is becoming a thing of the past. Vinyl would be my suggestion for all of the reasons the others have stated, but to expand upon the stencil/ painting method, if you go this route, use One Shot lettering enamel but don't do several thin coats. The paint is meant to cover in one coat (One Shot). You don't need a lettering brush for this method, a 1 or 2 inch foam brush will work just fine. With either vinyl or paint, make sure you remove ALL of the wax from the surface. Otherwise you run the risk of the vinyl releasing prematurely or the paint having a fisheye pattern to it. One last thing...if you go with vinyl, make sure it is high performance vinyl. There has been recent complaints about the quality of lettering from some providers around here lately. Good Luck!
Just had transom lettering...
done by the Fast Sign store near me. A quality job done with 3M material in less than a week for a very reasonable price. Now, if it would just warm up long enough for me to get down to the boat and get the letters on and have them stick! A word of caution--keep power washers away from them no matter how long they've been installed. I've seen a guy peel his off with an inadvertent flick of the wrist last fall!
done by the Fast Sign store near me. A quality job done with 3M material in less than a week for a very reasonable price. Now, if it would just warm up long enough for me to get down to the boat and get the letters on and have them stick! A word of caution--keep power washers away from them no matter how long they've been installed. I've seen a guy peel his off with an inadvertent flick of the wrist last fall!
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