Decal size and recommendations in Europe

[colombo]

Hi all,

I'm flying out to the boat (bavaria 40) in a couple of weeks and I have gone through the threads without total clarity of the rough size I should have for the decals.

The boat name is 5 letters long and it is just for the stern. Is 3 to 4 inches height about the right area?

Also can anyone recommend any European companies to get it done quickly please? I saw lots of shout outs stateside but none in the EU.

Cheers.

[Pandor]

No. Four inches height may be about right for the hailing port, but way too small for the name. Go big or go home.

[Tupaia]

It is not a "rough" size. The exact size, location and sometimes even fonts are specified depending on the country of registration.


What flag are you registering under?

[colombo]

For the name of the boat?

Its being registered under a British flag.

[Spot]

Google 'vinyl lettering' and the country. There may be some American entries with strong google-foo on top but a couple-few down you should see ones more relevant.

On my boat I cut stencils from common adhesive-backed shelf liner and painted the stern letters and bow numbers on the hull.

[John_Trusty]

I found the chart attached to this vendor helpful: https://www.boatus.com/boatgraphics/...?type=BoatName

Roughly, 4 inches / 10 cm will give you 40 feet / 12 meters of useful visibility, or 150 feet with binoculars - or one boat length. Seems not worth putting the letters on!

For my 36 foot / 11 meter boat, i put on 12 inch lettering for a name twice as long as yours. It's still hard to read over the water. Suggest you go to a marina or anchorage somewhere and look at names.

[dcarratt]

These guys in the UK have a lot of experience printing vinyl graphics for boats...I have used them several times successfully. https://grapefruitgraphics.com/

[George DuBose]

FWIW, I seem to recall that for a USCG documented vessel, the homeport must be at least 4" high. Ship's name, no requirement.

[Rickit]

Here is another recommendation from the UK, I and others have used them:
https://www.funkymonkeyboatnames.co.uk

[George DuBose]

I also had great work from Funky Monkey. The letters lasted 10 years until I had to paint the topsides again. They gave me a second set of lettering for free, so I am good to go.

[Tupaia]

Originally Posted by colombo

For the name of the boat?

Its being registered under a British flag.

Official Marking & Carving requirements are given here. Under Schedule 3.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1993/3138/made

[joelhemington]

Originally Posted by Rickit

Here is another recommendation from the UK, I and others have used them:
https://www.funkymonkeyboatnames.co.uk

A very cool website. Even a ludditite like me can do it - I just spent 10 minutes looking at all the choices you have

[joelhemington]

Originally Posted by Tupaia

Official Marking & Carving requirements are given here. Under Schedule 3.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1993/3138/made

You couldn't just tell us what size they require? I've had hemroids that were more fun than reading all that

[Montanan]

Originally Posted by Tupaia

Official Marking & Carving requirements are given here. Under Schedule 3.
https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1993/3138/made

Relevant part of the excellent reference link for UK flagged pleasure craft.

SCHEDULE 3
CARVING AND MARKING
1. Every ship is required, before it may be registered, to be marked permanently and conspicuously to the satisfaction of the Registrar in accordance with this Schedule.



4. A pleasure vessel which is under 24 metres in length is to be marked as follows:—

(a)the official number and registered tonnage are:—
(i)to be marked on the main beam or, if there is no main beam, on a readily accessible visible permanent part of the structure of the pleasure vessel either by cutting in, centre punching or raised lettering, or
(ii)to be engraved on plates of metal, wood or plastic, secured to the main beam (or, if there is no main beam, to a readily accessible visible permanent part of the structure) with rivets, through bolts with the ends clenched), or screws with the slots removed;

(b)the name and port of choice (unless an exempted ship), are to be marked on a conspicuous and permanent part of the stern on a dark ground in white or yellow letters, or on a light ground in black letters, the letters being not less than 5 centimetres high and of proportionate breadth, or, where this is not possible by the alternative methods given below:—
(i)by engraving on plates of metal or of plastic or by cutting in on a shaped wooden chock. Where a shaped wooden chock is used it should be secured to the hull through bolts, the ends being clenched, or
(ii)by individual glass reinforced plastic letters and numbers approximately 2mm in thickness. These to be fixed to the hull with epoxy adhesive, and painted with suitable paint and coated with translucent epoxy resin;
(iii)where metal or plastic plates have been used these must be fixed by the use of epoxy adhesives. Metal or plastic plates secured by adhesives should be coated with translucent epoxy resin after they have been fixed in position.


7. The name of a ship shall be marked in Roman letters and any numerals shall be in Roman or European numerals.

[wingssail]

Our boat came from the previous owner with large lettering, including the logo and the hailing port, on the sides of the hull. They were large.

We've repainted twice and replaced the name, logo, and hailing port, with LARGE letters, with vinyl stickers both times, applied ourselves. Cheap and easy.

Even though, as a US documented vessel, the hailing port is supposed to be on the stern, in block text 3" high, we did not follow that requirement and have never been bothered by any USCG or other authorities but we had to argue with the lettering vendor to get him to create it.