Stencil For Painting On The Name

[Chasing Summer]

I know I'm jumping the gun just a little, like about a year, but I want to put the name on the boat. I've search google for re-usable vinyl stencils and find nothing. Does anyone have any sources they'd like to share?
Thank you

[Hudson Force]

It seems as though you would gain a step in the process by simple appying vinyl letters. Do you have an opinion about that?

[jcapo]

Originally Posted by CaptForce

It seems as though you would gain a step in the process by simple appying vinyl letters.

Indeed! There are sites on the web where you can design your letters, font, size slant, etc., and have them in your hands in a few days. A lot of sign painters are now out of work. That's good for us, bad for the sign painters. :-(

John

[zeehag]

there is a graphic arts place in shelter island that does that --makes the name--just apply to boat--for not much money--i paid 150 for 6 letters for another boat. isnt individual letters--is spaced and professionally measured name in one piece.

[JPA Cate]

On our first "Insatiable", we made up a stencil from a stencil kit like children have in school, taped the letters together with masking tape. Worked fine, for years! Later, Jim made a new one, had the computer print out the letters, then made the stencil from that. He used a scalpel to get the edges "crisp" when cutting them out. If there were overspray, he cleaned it off the fiberglass with acetone.

Having said all that, now we go with a boat lettering specialist, which means for us that we can pick a font that is slightly fancier than what is easy to cut out with the scalpel.

Have fun with it, whatever you decide to do.

[bobconnie]

Theres a couple of stencil makers down here, heck they not only make your vessels name, but will make a stencil for your whole boat!! even camo if ya want !!LOL

[David M]

Vinyl lettering is so much quicker, inexpensive and better looking. It's also really easy to apply if you read the directions.

[bobconnie]

Woops, I goofed again! O well Im old lol, I ment Vinyl letters or full names or a full boat vinyl paint job ! don't know how the big boat full wraps work but our 18ft inshore fishing boat has a full sized boat vinyl wrap thats been in use for 5 yrs now and except for a scratch or two looks like new !! We have orderd a new name vinyl wrap, and we look forward to seeimg how it looks! But im sure it will be a improvment over the painted on one we have now ! If I can ever figure out how to post I will try to put a pic or two up !!

[knot smart]

Originally Posted by CaptForce

It seems as though you would gain a step in the process by simple appying vinyl letters. Do you have an opinion about that?

+1

that's the way to go.. that's what im doing , its quick , its cheap , easy to go on ..and if you get bumped or rubbed, scrape it off and put on another..

jason

[Chasing Summer]

Well, ... not actually in the water yet ... not even have the finish paint on yet ... just wanted to start looking at my boat with the name on her.
Maybe I'll just pencil the letters and hand paint them that way I can sand them off when I put on my finish paint coat.
I do like the idea of vinyl letters rather than paint for the very reason Knot Smart mentioned ... you get rubbed or scuffed you just peal it off and apply another letter.
Thanks for all the good comments

[jeremiason]

Go to a local sign shop and ask them to make you vinyl letters in reverse. Just explain to them you are using the vinyl for a stencil.

It is an easy process and we have done it a couple of times for eching glass with the boats logo.

[Andy73]

I made some easy stencils from some semi transparent report binders (like you may have used in school) and traced out printing jobs with an exacto knife.
Worked very well and is great for a quick job like you are describing.