I've named my boat. Now, what is the best way to apply said name and the best material? Does anyone have a good contact for this in the Atlanta area? Thanks!
Putting the name on a boat
- Thread starter Micklejester
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Fast Signs or equiv....
Our company has a vinyl sign division so I conned the guys here into cutting our name,,,and they gave me tips on installing. You will need minimal tools,,,an exacto knife, a small squeegee or putty knife, masking tape, and a spray bottle. Find a local sign shop...Like David said,,,,Quick signs, Fast signs, etc,,,they are everywhere...most will work with you on the design....and show you on the computer screen before cutting....after they cut the logo here's my tip and from our companies sign guys.....clean the area to be applied....reg soap and water is fine......fill a clean spray bottle with a mixture of dish soap and water...not too much ,,maybe 2 squirts for a 10 oz bottle.. you want a silky mixture...shake....spray the area on the boat,,,but do not soak it...a slight mist. ...take your sign from the shop...it will be on a self adhered release sheet.....tape the top edge to line up with the boat rail...(if you want it parallel..an angle well place it where you want.).....Now starting from the top pull the release paper back and start applying the logo to the boat from the top....move slowly...the idea of the soap water is that it will give you a little wiggle room if you mess up......continue pulling and use the squeegee to remove any water/ air bubbles...and the exacto knife to help in case you fold part of a letter...its easier to use than your fingers....Keep pulling until the entire paper has been released...its easier and you will get less accidental uplifting if you pull the paper at almost a 180 degree angle keeping the release paper close to the boat and not pulling away from the boat..... go over the letters and make sure you have no air bubbles or soap bubbles...if so squeegee them out if you can't take the exacto knife and pop the bubbles and then squeegee the liquid or air out....Most important ...take your time ....Its definitely easier on the hard but I have done it on water also.....just watch the wakes. Good Luck!...don't forget to perform Vigor's nameing ceremony!
Our company has a vinyl sign division so I conned the guys here into cutting our name,,,and they gave me tips on installing. You will need minimal tools,,,an exacto knife, a small squeegee or putty knife, masking tape, and a spray bottle. Find a local sign shop...Like David said,,,,Quick signs, Fast signs, etc,,,they are everywhere...most will work with you on the design....and show you on the computer screen before cutting....after they cut the logo here's my tip and from our companies sign guys.....clean the area to be applied....reg soap and water is fine......fill a clean spray bottle with a mixture of dish soap and water...not too much ,,maybe 2 squirts for a 10 oz bottle.. you want a silky mixture...shake....spray the area on the boat,,,but do not soak it...a slight mist. ...take your sign from the shop...it will be on a self adhered release sheet.....tape the top edge to line up with the boat rail...(if you want it parallel..an angle well place it where you want.).....Now starting from the top pull the release paper back and start applying the logo to the boat from the top....move slowly...the idea of the soap water is that it will give you a little wiggle room if you mess up......continue pulling and use the squeegee to remove any water/ air bubbles...and the exacto knife to help in case you fold part of a letter...its easier to use than your fingers....Keep pulling until the entire paper has been released...its easier and you will get less accidental uplifting if you pull the paper at almost a 180 degree angle keeping the release paper close to the boat and not pulling away from the boat..... go over the letters and make sure you have no air bubbles or soap bubbles...if so squeegee them out if you can't take the exacto knife and pop the bubbles and then squeegee the liquid or air out....Most important ...take your time ....Its definitely easier on the hard but I have done it on water also.....just watch the wakes. Good Luck!...don't forget to perform Vigor's nameing ceremony!
Boat Name
Mizell Graphics did ours. Specify outdoor vinyl. We played with different type styles and sizes on the computer then told him what type face and size, 3 years later it still looks like new. Mizell Graphics 770 998 1541, in the Roswell area John
Mizell Graphics did ours. Specify outdoor vinyl. We played with different type styles and sizes on the computer then told him what type face and size, 3 years later it still looks like new. Mizell Graphics 770 998 1541, in the Roswell area John
Forgot to say
If you have a lot of wax on your boat in that area,,,,,you may want to wipe with acetone first,,,lightly to remove the wax then use the guide I gave...then rewax when the logo has dried. Rob
If you have a lot of wax on your boat in that area,,,,,you may want to wipe with acetone first,,,lightly to remove the wax then use the guide I gave...then rewax when the logo has dried. Rob
Be sure you get UV stabilized vinyl
On my last boat, I went to a local sign shop and had them make the name as other have described. Went on really easily, and looked great. I was very happy for about 18 months. Then the bright red vinyl began to fade, and the adhesive began to peel off in the hot summer sun. Be sure you let the sign maker know what you plan to do with the graphics, and the conditions (i.e. hot sun, salt water) it'll live in.
On my last boat, I went to a local sign shop and had them make the name as other have described. Went on really easily, and looked great. I was very happy for about 18 months. Then the bright red vinyl began to fade, and the adhesive began to peel off in the hot summer sun. Be sure you let the sign maker know what you plan to do with the graphics, and the conditions (i.e. hot sun, salt water) it'll live in.
Look for vinyl auto sign shops
I've attached the link to the shop I used in NJ, which did a great job, but I would recommend seeing if there is a local shop that you can go to and see the various type and design treatments and colors. Most places will either give you directions on how to install the graphics yourself, or will do it for you for an extra fee (which can depend on how far they have to travel to do the work). If you want to do your own design on a home computer, you can see if the shop needs a specific file format for you to give it to them so they can open and print it out on the vinyl. That's what I did, and I got some samples of different colored vinyls to decide on the type and the graphic I had designed. Otherwise, you can look at samples of things they've already done and have them do the same for yours. One thing I found helpful was making a printout of a few different sizes of the design and went to the boat and taped them up to see what looked good. I ended up using type a little thicker than I originally designed and put a black outline on the type so it would be more visible. Originally, since the transom is too crowded with the swim ladder and the outboard, I was going to place the name centered on each side, but as I was playing with the placement the marina owner walked by and mentioned that most people put them away from the midsection of the boat so that fenders don't end up rubbing on the vinyl—so I moved them further aft. If you decide to do the install yourself, give yourself a nice warm, dry day to do it slowly and carefully, and you'll be fine. I was against doing it myself, also against paying $100 for the shop to do it, and have the curse of working with typography and design and being a perfectionist (my husband has another word for it.... and he's a designer too). But I got everything together, tape, ruler, spray bottle of soap water (you put it under the vinyl so that you can slide them around into position), a folding table, and left the kids home so they wouldn't fidget and make me crazy, and it ended up being just fine. It's a year later and they still look beautiful.
I've attached the link to the shop I used in NJ, which did a great job, but I would recommend seeing if there is a local shop that you can go to and see the various type and design treatments and colors. Most places will either give you directions on how to install the graphics yourself, or will do it for you for an extra fee (which can depend on how far they have to travel to do the work). If you want to do your own design on a home computer, you can see if the shop needs a specific file format for you to give it to them so they can open and print it out on the vinyl. That's what I did, and I got some samples of different colored vinyls to decide on the type and the graphic I had designed. Otherwise, you can look at samples of things they've already done and have them do the same for yours. One thing I found helpful was making a printout of a few different sizes of the design and went to the boat and taped them up to see what looked good. I ended up using type a little thicker than I originally designed and put a black outline on the type so it would be more visible. Originally, since the transom is too crowded with the swim ladder and the outboard, I was going to place the name centered on each side, but as I was playing with the placement the marina owner walked by and mentioned that most people put them away from the midsection of the boat so that fenders don't end up rubbing on the vinyl—so I moved them further aft. If you decide to do the install yourself, give yourself a nice warm, dry day to do it slowly and carefully, and you'll be fine. I was against doing it myself, also against paying $100 for the shop to do it, and have the curse of working with typography and design and being a perfectionist (my husband has another word for it.... and he's a designer too). But I got everything together, tape, ruler, spray bottle of soap water (you put it under the vinyl so that you can slide them around into position), a folding table, and left the kids home so they wouldn't fidget and make me crazy, and it ended up being just fine. It's a year later and they still look beautiful.
Vinyl
The vinyl lettering is the way to go. I bought mine on ebay, two years ago. Still look like brand new. Being somewhat frugal, this is the best price I could find anywhere. Seems like it was about 50 bucks, for boat name and home port. Guaranteed for five or more years, and I think it is ten, but not sure where info is right now.
The vinyl lettering is the way to go. I bought mine on ebay, two years ago. Still look like brand new. Being somewhat frugal, this is the best price I could find anywhere. Seems like it was about 50 bucks, for boat name and home port. Guaranteed for five or more years, and I think it is ten, but not sure where info is right now.
get a local
outdoor sign shop to do it for you they have the right materials. the local guy Dan the Sign Man, was veery helpful in how to clean and line everything up so it would look balanced. The Admiral and i put the whole thing on in about 1/2 hr. it's been on for 3 years now.
outdoor sign shop to do it for you they have the right materials. the local guy Dan the Sign Man, was veery helpful in how to clean and line everything up so it would look balanced. The Admiral and i put the whole thing on in about 1/2 hr. it's been on for 3 years now.
I got my names
From an online vinyl graphics site, the following is the email I got from them.....with a link to the website. They turned out real nice I think. *************** Ok the 2 boat names will be 6" x 36". And you also want the port of call as a separate decal at 4" x 24". If this is correct than the price would be: $19.99 Side Lettering $10.00 Port of Call $ 5.00 S&H $34.99 Total
From an online vinyl graphics site, the following is the email I got from them.....with a link to the website. They turned out real nice I think. *************** Ok the 2 boat names will be 6" x 36". And you also want the port of call as a separate decal at 4" x 24". If this is correct than the price would be: $19.99 Side Lettering $10.00 Port of Call $ 5.00 S&H $34.99 Total
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