posted
Hi, I have two (probably dumb) questions. 1. Will a graphic of a flower or palm tree printed on the Gerber Edge in high performance vinyl and covered with clear UV light protection film be durable enough to install on the side of a boat? 2. Any suggestions on how to apply a factory made boat stripe which is approximately 5' long and a sort of sideways Y shape. It begins as a single 2" stripe for a few feet and then splits into two thicker stripes. Part of the stripe is that frosty, brilliant, sparkly type metallic. I always do wet applications for boat names but not sure what to do with this because it is so long and in one piece. Thanks.
-------------------- Dawn Ellis Signs by Dawn Long Beach, CA signsbydawn@aol.com
Trust yourself. Listen to the voice within. It is always right. Posts: 456 | From: Long Beach, California | Registered: Jan 2003
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posted
is the liner cut to the odd, lond, sideways Y shape? or is it sandwhiched between a big sheet of liner & app. tape that can be hinged? If it can be hinged I would hinge it & have an extra set of hands, if needed, to help keep one end off the boat while squeegeeing the other end.
if it is all di-cut through the liner I would either make a few registration marks with masking tape just outside a few areas where the stripe should go, pull off the backing liner & then get it wet with Rapid-Tac. You can float it into position before squeegeeing.
Your edge prints should do fine on a boat. The UV guard is a good idea.
posted
In answer to your 2nd q, here's what I'd do, if I understood correctly. Tape the stripe thing in place where you want it applied. Untape the single end & peel backing & apply either wet or dry (your preference). When you do this, peel past the yoke. This should leave 2 separate paths of stripe to choose from. I'd pick the lower one, especially if doing it wet, to apply 1st. Then do the top one. If you make marks on the ends it'll line up easier. Did that make any sense?
[ March 25, 2003, 10:35 PM: Message edited by: Bill Cosharek ]
-------------------- Bill Cosharek Bill Cosharek Signs N.Huntingdon,Pa
bcosharek@juno.com Posts: 703 | From: N.Huntingdon, Pa, USA | Registered: Dec 1999
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posted
Dawn..If it doesn't have to match up with anything else....centre hinge it..apply the single stripe part..then cut between the two parts of the "vee"...and apply each part individually. Hope this makes sense!!! LOL
-------------------- Dave Grundy retired in Chelem,Yucatan,Mexico/Hensall,Ontario,Canada 1-519-262-3651 Canada 011-52-1-999-102-2923 Mexico cell 1-226-785-8957 Canada/Mexico home
posted
Thanks everyone. Yes the liner is di-cut to the Y shape so I'll do as you, Doug, suggest and Rapid Tac. By the way I really enjoyed the metamorphasis of Earl's Trucking and loved it from beginning to end. Bill, what you said makes perfect sense and I appreciate the specific details. Dave, the hull of this power boat is molded and curved and the V part of the Y shape fits along the outside of the curved inset shape. I really appreciate your suggestions. Thanks again. Doug, if the client asks how long the gerber graphic should last what do you think should I say? (2 months? LOL!)
-------------------- Dawn Ellis Signs by Dawn Long Beach, CA signsbydawn@aol.com
Trust yourself. Listen to the voice within. It is always right. Posts: 456 | From: Long Beach, California | Registered: Jan 2003
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posted
Dawn, we at Rapid Tac sponsor raceing boats every year, we sponsor two different types.
The DRAG boats are fiberglass, and don't stay in the water long, but they move at about 180 miles per hour, this is a strong force of water which sometimes hits the vinly, the graphics last all season (unless the driver hits something other then water).
The RIVER racers, are aluminium boats, they travel about 100 miles per hour,and often hit trees,rocks,debri. They race in "rough water rivers" and get blasted with water at every angle, these too last all season (3 months or more).
Use Rapid Tac to clean and apply (no other chemicals for cleaning) and yours should last at minium 3 months.
Roger
-------------------- Roger Bailey Rapid Tac Incorporated 186 Combs Dr. Merlin Oregon 97532 Posts: 3020 | From: Merlin Oregon | Registered: Dec 1998
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posted
Thanks for the Earl's comments. (I'm doing an unexpected second truck now)
I forgot to mention the surface prep, but Roger's got that in his post. If the boat is not subject to the racing abrasion Roger mentions the vinyl should last years. The edge print in constant reflected sun may not last as long as usual, but with UV protection I would still be comfortable saying a vague "few years"
posted
anyone up for using an EDGE SEALER on a boat?
I've used 3M Edge sealer around nautical graphics with great success---helps protect the edge from lifting that much more. Maybe Frogjuice or something too. Guess it's going to depend on the finish of the boat if you can slap this stuff on over top.
posted
Ted, the only problems I have had to deal with in regard to poor adhesion on fiberglass, is not preping it right in the first place.
I once had my own "paint failure" years ago, and learned quickly that fiberglass or plastics products will "soak-up" the likes of many solvents such as lacquer thinner, enemal reducer, wax and greese solvent cleaners, etc.. Most solvents in the auto body, or paint industry are oil derivitave (not all) and soak into some surfaces, only to outgass(exit surfase) sometime later, at the expence of your paint work or vinyl work.
Be safe and use a strong prep product like Rapid Prep, sometimes all that is needed is Rapid Tac or Tac II.
Roger
-------------------- Roger Bailey Rapid Tac Incorporated 186 Combs Dr. Merlin Oregon 97532 Posts: 3020 | From: Merlin Oregon | Registered: Dec 1998
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posted
Thanks again. I'm set to do this installation in the morning. All ready with Rapid Prep and Rapid Tac App. Fluid, my friends! About the durability, thanks for the "few years" suggestion, I'll go with that. I usually say something like that even for the high performance vinyl, just to be safe. I've wondered about edge sealing too but thought it might be overkill? I've used that edge sealer that's like a felt tip pen on the Signgold projects I've done. It worked great until the pen ran out and without warning the nylon nib scratched the edge of the Signgold. AaaaaH. So the next time I have a Signgold job I'm going to look for a different edge sealer, or learn how to prevent that from happening.
-------------------- Dawn Ellis Signs by Dawn Long Beach, CA signsbydawn@aol.com
Trust yourself. Listen to the voice within. It is always right. Posts: 456 | From: Long Beach, California | Registered: Jan 2003
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posted
Thanks for the "nib" warning. I've got a seal-it pen on order & will be going back to Earls' job with it. Any approximation how many linear feet to expect out of one? Do they dry up over time if stored with cap?
posted
I was using a new pen on the name "TRIUMPH" which was approx. 9 feet wide. Letters were on an arc with largest about 14-15 inches high. The pen ran out somewhere between the P and the H. Hope that helps. It's a great idea especially where I was using it - lying down on the swimstep on the back of a 65' boat which was rocking from the wakes of other boats who were disregarding the "no wake zone."
-------------------- Dawn Ellis Signs by Dawn Long Beach, CA signsbydawn@aol.com
Trust yourself. Listen to the voice within. It is always right. Posts: 456 | From: Long Beach, California | Registered: Jan 2003
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