Boat lettering

jrc · 03-22-2006, 11:39 AM

I'm picking up a new boat this spring and I'd like to put a name on the stern. All over the internet there are companies selling vinyl lettering. But for all the fancy stuff they cost nearly $200 for a basic name. Plus there's the stress of not screwing up the install.

Does anyone have experience having a name painted? Any wild guesses on what it would cost? I'm talking about a simple name on the transom, not a big fancy paint job down the side of the boat.

joann721 · 03-22-2006, 12:09 PM

We bought ours at the Boat Show in Boston 2 winters ago and installed it in the spring... wasnt difficult... biggest fear was getting it straight

it went on very easily- tape measure and a pencil ... ours also is across the transom: "Just JoKen" ...

The following year we got a few shamrocks to accent the lettering and also applied those ourselves..

Total cost was about $150 if I remember correctly...

webmaster · 03-22-2006, 01:14 PM

Our friends over at Anchor Marine have an online design tool for boat lettering. There's more information here: http://www.anchormarine.net/lettering.htm

billhurley · 03-22-2006, 01:18 PM

We had ours done at Gator Sign next to Patrick’s. They came to our marina. He did a great job. They also do the bow numbers. I would highly recommend them

bdkkennedy · 03-22-2006, 05:06 PM

The trick to applying a decal is to wet the surface of the boat or whatever with soapy water. Set the decal in place, take it off, reset it, slide it around, whatever. When you get it where you want it use a squeegee and a damp sponge, working from the center out, to get the water out from under the decal. Once the water dries the decal will set normally.

Good N' You? · 03-22-2006, 05:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billhurley

We had ours done at Gator Sign next to Patrick’s. They came to our marina. He did a great job. They also do the bow numbers. I would highly recommend them

I also had ours done by Gator Sign....The guy is awesome, can come to where your boat is and he has a real knack for design ideas!
I went there for an idea, and maybe a price....30 minutes later, my boat was lettered!
Highly recommended!!!

tmm366 · 03-22-2006, 05:42 PM

I also had my boats name done at Gator sign. They had numerous choices of size, fonts,and colors etc. I think it's worth the money to have a pro do it. I was very happy with their work. Good luck with your new boat.

Paugus Bay Resident · 03-22-2006, 06:49 PM

We had our's done at Irwins. Jason, in the graphics dept. did a great job. We had a graphic design plus the name, etc.

Sundancer · 03-22-2006, 07:12 PM

Gator is definitely the way to go. Great service, and a great job. He did an especially good job helping us pick out the font and style!

Sundancer

jrc · 03-22-2006, 08:00 PM

I guess old fashoined hand painted lettering has lost out to vinyl. I've seen the vinyl being applied and I'm sure it's not that hard. As Don pointed out Anchor marine and many other websites can provide the lettering.

But do any of you that had Gator or Irwin do it, want to give me a ballpark hint what these cost installed on the boat?

SAMIAM · 03-22-2006, 08:08 PM

Also check Boatus.com.....they have a design service online.

fatlazyless · 03-22-2006, 08:39 PM

Whether you are boating on a budget or doing headway speed down the channel with 1240 horse power on-board, here's a retro method. At 44 cents each, Wal-Mart sells these three inch high, black on white, reflective letters & numbers that are easy to align since they are a square format and they have that mid-1970's el-deluxo look. Hey you know what they say; the richer you get-the cheaper one becomes!

Long live the 1970's! Boats are just like people; it's not the age, it's the condition that counts!

pmj · 03-22-2006, 08:50 PM

I bought my vinyl boat name at a sign lettering company in Concord,NH.
It was really inexpensive compared to Boat US or any of the other internet or marine lettering services.
One trick...if you use vinyl letters, wipe the lettered area with alcohol to remove any excess wax.
It's a piece of cake to do..if I can do it, anyone can!
PMJ

Just Sold · 03-22-2006, 10:41 PM

Don is right. Anchor Marine http://www.anchormarine.net/lettering.htm has great prices and quick turn around. Even if you want some fancy lettering etc. they can do it.

I opted for simple lettering http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...o=9067&cat=502
The instructions with the lettering was excellent. 2+ years later it still looks great. Putting it on yourself save alot of $$$.

Paugus Bay Resident · 03-23-2006, 07:06 AM

Irwins did mine for me when I bought my boat, so it was a "freebie" courtesy of my salesman. The also did the graphics and lettering for my truck, both doors and tailgate. Around $200, but again, 3 color graphics, lettering and installation.

ApS · 03-23-2006, 07:41 AM

Shhh.

I bought my sailboat's pre-cut, pre-spaced, self-adhesive, vinyl name "Wind Tax" for my un-powered sailboat? (With an arrow pointing to the registration number).

Thirty dollars at PegasusAutoRacing! (Race-car graphics).

Don't tell anybody.

Shhhh.

ACutAbove · 03-23-2006, 08:19 AM

if you are looking for the good old fashion paint,there is a guy in Meredith that still does hand lettering. And he does awesome work. I dont have his # but if you want it I will be seeing him later today. He is making a sign for my buisness. Just let me know...

03-22-2006, 11:39 AM	#1
jrc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NH Posts: 2,689 Thanks: 33 Thanked 439 Times in 249 Posts	Boat lettering I'm picking up a new boat this spring and I'd like to put a name on the stern. All over the internet there are companies selling vinyl lettering. But for all the fancy stuff they cost nearly $200 for a basic name. Plus there's the stress of not screwing up the install. Does anyone have experience having a name painted? Any wild guesses on what it would cost? I'm talking about a simple name on the transom, not a big fancy paint job down the side of the boat.

03-22-2006, 12:09 PM	#2
joann721 Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Salem, MA & Meredith, NH Posts: 116 Thanks: 3 Thanked 24 Times in 7 Posts	Boat Lettering We bought ours at the Boat Show in Boston 2 winters ago and installed it in the spring... wasnt difficult... biggest fear was getting it straight it went on very easily- tape measure and a pencil ... ours also is across the transom: "Just JoKen" ... The following year we got a few shamrocks to accent the lettering and also applied those ourselves.. Total cost was about $150 if I remember correctly...

03-22-2006, 05:06 PM	#5
bdkkennedy Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 6 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Applying Decals The trick to applying a decal is to wet the surface of the boat or whatever with soapy water. Set the decal in place, take it off, reset it, slide it around, whatever. When you get it where you want it use a squeegee and a damp sponge, working from the center out, to get the water out from under the decal. Once the water dries the decal will set normally.

03-22-2006, 07:12 PM	#9
Sundancer Junior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Gator signs Gator is definitely the way to go. Great service, and a great job. He did an especially good job helping us pick out the font and style! Sundancer

03-22-2006, 08:39 PM	#12
fatlazyless Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 8,526 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 295 Thanked 957 Times in 698 Posts	.....& for that classic mid-1970's look! Whether you are boating on a budget or doing headway speed down the channel with 1240 horse power on-board, here's a retro method. At 44 cents each, Wal-Mart sells these three inch high, black on white, reflective letters & numbers that are easy to align since they are a square format and they have that mid-1970's el-deluxo look. Hey you know what they say; the richer you get-the cheaper one becomes! Long live the 1970's! Boats are just like people; it's not the age, it's the condition that counts!

03-22-2006, 01:14 PM	#3
webmaster Moderator Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 2,434 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 440 Thanked 3,726 Times in 824 Posts	Our friends over at Anchor Marine have an online design tool for boat lettering. There's more information here: http://www.anchormarine.net/lettering.htm

03-22-2006, 01:18 PM	#4
billhurley Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: St. Augustine FL. Posts: 86 Thanks: 2 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	We had ours done at Gator Sign next to Patrick’s. They came to our marina. He did a great job. They also do the bow numbers. I would highly recommend them

The Following User Says Thank You to billhurley For This Useful Post:
GodSmile (04-27-2014)

03-22-2006, 05:42 PM	#7
tmm366 Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Laconia, nh Posts: 31 Thanks: 1 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	I also had my boats name done at Gator sign. They had numerous choices of size, fonts,and colors etc. I think it's worth the money to have a pro do it. I was very happy with their work. Good luck with your new boat.

03-22-2006, 06:49 PM	#8
Paugus Bay Resident Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Gilmanton, NH Posts: 754 Thanks: 136 Thanked 92 Times in 51 Posts	We had our's done at Irwins. Jason, in the graphics dept. did a great job. We had a graphic design plus the name, etc.

03-22-2006, 08:00 PM	#10
jrc Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: NH Posts: 2,689 Thanks: 33 Thanked 439 Times in 249 Posts	I guess old fashoined hand painted lettering has lost out to vinyl. I've seen the vinyl being applied and I'm sure it's not that hard. As Don pointed out Anchor marine and many other websites can provide the lettering. But do any of you that had Gator or Irwin do it, want to give me a ballpark hint what these cost installed on the boat?

03-22-2006, 08:08 PM	#11
SAMIAM Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Moultonborough Posts: 2,836 Thanks: 326 Thanked 1,626 Times in 562 Posts	Also check Boatus.com.....they have a design service online.

03-22-2006, 08:50 PM	#13
pmj Senior Member Join Date: May 2004 Posts: 240 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I used our local sign shop I bought my vinyl boat name at a sign lettering company in Concord,NH. It was really inexpensive compared to Boat US or any of the other internet or marine lettering services. One trick...if you use vinyl letters, wipe the lettered area with alcohol to remove any excess wax. It's a piece of cake to do..if I can do it, anyone can! PMJ

03-22-2006, 10:41 PM	#14
Just Sold Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Suncook, NH, but at The Lake at Heart Posts: 2,612 Thanks: 1,082 Thanked 433 Times in 209 Posts	Anchor Marine Don is right. Anchor Marine http://www.anchormarine.net/lettering.htm has great prices and quick turn around. Even if you want some fancy lettering etc. they can do it. I opted for simple lettering http://www.winnipesaukee.com/photopo...o=9067&cat=502 The instructions with the lettering was excellent. 2+ years later it still looks great. Putting it on yourself save alot of $$$. __________________ Just Sold At the lake the stress of daily life just melts away. Pro Re Nata

03-23-2006, 07:06 AM	#15
Paugus Bay Resident Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2003 Location: Gilmanton, NH Posts: 754 Thanks: 136 Thanked 92 Times in 51 Posts	Irwins did mine for me when I bought my boat, so it was a "freebie" courtesy of my salesman. The also did the graphics and lettering for my truck, both doors and tailgate. Around $200, but again, 3 color graphics, lettering and installation. Last edited by Paugus Bay Resident; 03-23-2006 at 04:21 PM.

03-23-2006, 07:41 AM	#16
ApS Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Florida (Sebring & Keys), Wolfeboro Posts: 5,788 Thanks: 2,085 Thanked 742 Times in 532 Posts	Pssst: Fatlazyless Shhh. I bought my sailboat's pre-cut, pre-spaced, self-adhesive, vinyl name "Wind Tax" for my un-powered sailboat? (With an arrow pointing to the registration number). Thirty dollars at PegasusAutoRacing! (Race-car graphics). Don't tell anybody. Shhhh.

03-23-2006, 08:19 AM	#17
ACutAbove Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Holderness Posts: 219 Thanks: 7 Thanked 9 Times in 8 Posts	if you are looking for the good old fashion paint,there is a guy in Meredith that still does hand lettering. And he does awesome work. I dont have his # but if you want it I will be seeing him later today. He is making a sign for my buisness. Just let me know...

The Following User Says Thank You to ACutAbove For This Useful Post:
GodSmile (04-27-2014)