Own a boat? Or know someone who does? If you've ever been out to the lake and noticed that other boats have names on them on the haul or stern of the boat then you've seen custom boat lettering.
In this article we're going to talk about how putting boat lettering on your boat can personalize it to your own style along with looking really great.
Picking a Name Now you've decided that putting a boat name on your boat may be something you would like to do, first thing you need to decide is what name you want to use.
There are literally hundreds of names that are suitable for a boat.
Some people prefer serious, some prefer funny names.
Sometimes it just helps to see the names listed out so you can choose one of your own.
Include your Hail Port So what is hailport exactly? Simply put a Hailport is the home port or home town of the boat.
When you put a hail port name on your boat usually people put it above or below the name of the boat making it less prominent (smaller).
In typical fashion you will see the hail port displayed as City, State Abbreviated.
So for example someone with a home port of Lake Tahoe would use Lake Tahoe, NV.
Choosing the Right Color The great thing about using vinyl lettering to apply on your boat is that you have a wide selection of colors.
Pick a color that matches your boat.
Often times you may have a color that includes metal flake.
You can find vinyl that is similar to metal flake by using a metallic grade vinyl.
Use Effects to Spice Up the Design Using effects such as outlines and shadows help make the layout look better against the color of your boat.
Outlines are useful when the color you picked doesn't quite match the base color of the boat or blends in too much.
You can solve this by using an outline in the opposite color.
Shadows work great by themselves or when combined with an outline.
You can use arched text to help fit the letters on the stern of the boat.
Arch up or down depending on your needs.
Delivery and Application Often boat lettering can be ordered online allowing you to do all the above directly on a website.
Once your lettering is created and shipped out you now have the task of applying it.
Don't worry, take your time and read the instructions carefully, it will go on correctly.
Will it stick Okay? Most boats you won't have any issue at all with the letters sticking like they should.
In rare situations you may have a heavily weathered boat with a textured or wooden stern.
You will find the vinyl boat lettering does not stick very well in this situation, we recommend avoiding using the product in this case.