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I have a customer who just has to have his boat letters done in Snappy Thin from Sign DNA. This looks really hot, but it is a ski boat and I am worried about the speed of the boat creating a water blasting that would remove the vinyl. I searched this BB on this subject and the results were "#1-cut the small points round" #2-"edge the letters with clear fingernail polish". I thought I would try my edging stick from Sign Gold. Or make extra letters and ask him to take me boating as damage lettering control. Any boat experience anyone?
------------------ Ken Morse Jamn Graphics Santa Cruz, CA
Posts: 213 | From: Santa Cruz, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 2000
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Thanks Roger, Just out the door taking the family up the coast to watch some Kite Surfing at Waddell Beach. Have you seen that in the Islands? Damn hot new sport, in fact windsurfing is gone and these folks are soaring WAY up. I wonder if I should solicit some crazy graphics...er The Wet One/Rapid Tac in neon on a kite. OK I will settle down and thanks for the advice, hang loose n happy 4th.
------------------ Ken Morse Jamn Graphics Santa Cruz, CA
Posts: 213 | From: Santa Cruz, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 2000
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Oh yeah, we sponcer 3 boats for the "marathon river racers" each year, these boats are shaped like a ski hull(made of aluminum) have 500 inch big blocks,and run the rapids up and down stream at up to 100 m.p.h.
We use vinyl for the graphics,numbers,names,sponcer logos,and vinyl stays put(even with water blasting it at 100 m.p.h.) we don't edge seal,clear,or anything else.
one of our guys won the "world record" last season in B class,this year he hit a rock and flew out of the river into a fur tree at 80 m.p.h.
One of the 2 almost lost his arm(bummer)but he'll be back next year.
Roger
------------------ Roger Bailey Rapid Tac Incorporated Waikoloa, Hawaii
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Great help on everything except... I have been using the RapidTac for after shave daily for the last few years and look at my photo, the hair just grows this fast each day. Did you also invent Flubber? PS. I don't inhale, but I used to! Feed your mind.
------------------ Ken Morse Jamn Graphics Santa Cruz, CA
Posts: 213 | From: Santa Cruz, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 2000
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My son and I have applied vinyl lettering to some of those river marathon boats that Roger is talking about, including one of them that he sponsors. Use high performance vinyl applied with Rapid-Tac and above all be sure the surface is squeeky clean. We've had no problems whatsoever with any of the vinyl lifting or being water blasted off. If you are applying the vinyl on fiberglass, make sure you buff off any oxidation before you start.
Over-the-road freight trucks take every bit as much or more abuse than fast boats in the water.
------------------ Jerry Mathel Jerry Mathel Signs Grants Pass, Oregon signs@grantspass.com
Posts: 916 | From: Grants Pass, OR USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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Jerry, that's a smart tip >>make sure you buff off any oxidation<< This guy is a cop and he will probably want me to polish his whole boat! Hey have a great one, the 4th here was totally crazy, must be the full moon! Thanks for the tip!
------------------ Ken Morse Jamn Graphics Santa Cruz, CA
Posts: 213 | From: Santa Cruz, CA. USA | Registered: Nov 2000
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You wont have any problems with the vinyl peeling up as long as the surface was squeaky clean!
I've got a few jetskis. One of them is setup for racing and is now reaching the 70MPH mark, and this is the one I've applied test graphics to last year, right on the hull in front of the water intake for the jet pump.
The vinyl is still holding strong and there were even some sharp corners on the test piece.
If you wanted to really research it, you would find that the pressure exerted on the hull really isnt as great as you would think. At lower speeds there are eddy currents at the hull's surface, at high speeds there's actually a very thin film of steam between the hull and water, caused by friction which generates heat thus boiling the water... much like how ice skates glide on a film of water created when the blade melts the ice directly underneath.
Just think how easy it is to scratch the paint on your car, or how easily gelcoat on a boat scratches.. there's no other explanation why gelcoat or paint could last so long on a boat hull where it's being blasted with water like that. I've taken spills off the jetski at 65 MPH and I can tell you it's no softer than falling off a ladder onto concrete.
Uhh... OK Welcome to Fluid Dynamics 101..
If you need any more info I've got lists and lists of physics resources.
------------------ Mike Pipes Digital Illusion Custom Graphics Lake Havasu City, AZ http://www.stickerpimp.com
Posts: 8746 | From: Lake Havasu, AZ USA | Registered: Jun 2000
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