Use these methods to create boat letters that will stand out and stand up to the harsh seas for years to come.
Boat owners are required to display boat names, hail ports, and registration numbers on their boats. Most importantly, beautifully designed boat names add flare, flavor and character on the open seas.
Let's examine 3 ways to create boat lettering and the benefits of each.
Cut Vinyl Letters
Create boat letters from cut vinyl letters in solid or specialty colors. Design and cut the individual letters on your plotter, weed, mask and apply them to the boat exterior.
The vinyl has to withstand harsh weather and constant exposure to water and salt spray. You want a long-lasting vinyl with outstanding durability.
1. Avery Dennison® SC950 Super Cast Series
Avery SC950 is a super cast vinyl with a huge variety of 133 vibrant colors in Opaque, Metallic and Ultra Metallic.
Specifically designed for the outdoors including marine applications, Avery SC950 vinyl is resistant to humidity, UV rays, water, and most important- salt spray.
It has excellent durability and conformability to complex curves and industry-leading weeding capabilities.
3. Avery Dennison® SC900 Supercast
Avery SC900 is a high-gloss flexible super cast film, designed for extreme conformability on many surfaces. It offers the best performance on rivets, channels, deep recesses, concave, convex and complex curves.
Due to its high resistance to UV, temperature, humidity, and salt-spray it is ideal for outdoor marine applications.
The opaque high gloss vinyl comes in many colors and finishes for a wide range of attractive outdoor graphics.
Printed Vinyl
Photo source: Avery Dennison® Supreme Wrapping™ Film for Marine Applications
Full wraps, partial wraps and vinyl decals are a cost-effective way to brand a boat. Use white printable digital vinyl to create elaborate graphics and text for your customers.
Print vinyl in any color and cut into many shapes.
1. Avery Dennison® MPI 1105 SuperCast Series
Use Avery Dennison® MPI 1105 SuperCast Series for fleet and vehicle graphics and marine applications. It is super conformable to irregular surfaces with compound curves and corrugations.
For long-term removability and easy application process, go with the MPI-1105 with Easy Apply™ technology. It ensures a smooth application and prevents wrinkling and trapped air bubbles.
The Avery MPI 1105 vinyl is compatible with Latex, inkjet, Eco Solvent, and Solvent ink.
Use with Avery DOL 1000Z, 1300Z, or 1400Z overlaminates.
2. Avery Dennison® MPI 1106
MPI-1106 is a Hi-tack gloss premium cast film specifically designed for low energy substrates such as painted metal and fiberglass. Boat decals and wraps will benefit from its weather and salt spray resistance.
The air egress technology aids in a smooth, bubble-free application. The hi-tack adhesive adheres to difficult substrates.
White solid opaque accepts UV, inkjet, Solvent, and Eco Solvent ink.
Use with Avery DOL 1000Z, 1300Z, or 1400Z overlaminates.
3. Avery MPI-2126 Calendered Permanent Vinyl
For a budget-friendly option, Avery brings a calendared vinyl that performs well on difficult substrates.
This opaque solid color, flexible vinyl film is designed for use in low energy substrates such as plastics, powder coat paints, fiberglass, clear coats and painted metal surfaces.
It has good UV, temperature, humidity, and salt-spray resistance and is ideal for a variety of outdoor projects including marine applications.
Hand Lettering
The art of hand lettering is not dead. Some owners prefer their boat names to be painted by hand as it adds to the spirit and aesthetics of their vessel.
The best paint for boat letters is:
1 Shot Lettering Enamel
Superior quality 1 Shot Lettering Enamels are oil based, high gloss enamels for interior or exterior use. Compatible substrates include metal, glass, wood, Masonite, MDO and enamel receptive banner & vinyl materials.
1 Shot Letting Enamel provides superior vibrancy and flexibility in fine lettering on boats, store fronts, vehicles and other surfaces.
It has outstanding hiding, durability, and excellent resistance to sagging, and superior flow characteristics. 1 Shot paint leaves no brush marks, and provides a clean, sharp edge every time.
Product Features:
- Single stroke coverage
- Outstanding hiding, durability, and fade resistance
- Superior flow characteristics assure the virtual absence of brush marks and provide a clean, sharp edge
- Excellent weathering properties
- Vibrant colors can be intermixed
- Use for fine lettering on boats, store fronts, vehicles and other surfaces.
Gold Leaf Lettering
Image source: Designs & Signs
Gold leaf is a surface decoration made from gold that is beaten into thin sheets. It comes in a few forms, including loose leaf, and patent leaf. Loose leaf or surface leaf is more fragile and harder to handle in the field, while patent leaf sheets come in a book and are easy to transfer to the surface of choice.
Gilding is the process of applying gold leaf to any surface. An ancient technique used in Egypt and other countries for thousands of years, gilding is done by applying gold leaf to an adhesive that is first painted onto the surface. The adhesive, called size, can be applied to most surfaces including wood, glass, and metal.
Gold leaf gilding was introduced to the sign industry in the early 1920's, and used everywhere from store windows to delivery trucks. Today it is popular on boat transoms and creates a beautiful, glorious effect.
Application:
Australian 23-karat Patent Gold leaf sheet is a delicate high-karat gold material with a signature deep-yellow color ideal for boat lettering. Apply it directly from its protective paper backing to the intended surface.
Apply yellow ochre before sizing to hide any flaking or scratching of the gold.
To apply, first paint the target area with dry gold size adhesive, then press the leaf to the area and lift the paper away, leaving the metal leaf in place. Use a gilding brush to remove the excess gold leaf..
Next, apply a clear varnish coat to protect the gold leaf from scratches. This will extend its life for many years.
Since gold leaf is expensive and difficult to work with, reserved for experienced gilders, there is another economical option that will produce the same results.
Quick SignGold
SignGold is available in 22-karats, and a printable 23.5-karat yellow gold.
Artists around the world use SignGold to create beautiful graphics, signage and vehicle lettering without the time and cost of traditional gilding.
It has a 10-14 year outdoor life expectancy, and is resistant to graffiti, stains, salt water, and UV fading.
Get the brilliance of genuine gold with considerable savings and without the special skills required in gold leaf gilding.
Conclusion
Take pride in your boat lettering as it sails on the open seas. Whether your customer wants vinyl letters, a full or partial boat wrap, or more artistic hand lettering, we have all the supplies you need.
Avery Dennison® is the industry leader in performance vinyl and has a few lines of vinyl with the quality and durability needed for boat letters.
1 Shot Lettering Enamel has the high standard paint you need to create polished and classy letters anywhere.
For clients who want something a little "extra", use gold leaf or SignGold for the flash and flare that only real gold can give.
Boat owners are preparing their boats for the season. Help new and existing owners prepare their boat lettering for a fresh and fun season ahead.
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