Boat Letter Size

[onthewater]

Hello C-Brats:

We bought the 26' Cape Cruiser Marinaut from Three Rivers Marine in Crystal River, FL. a couple months ago. We're having a ball with her, but need some advice on how big to have the vinyl letters made for her name.

She is to be christened Sal Salis Vita (Salt Water life).

Any suggestions? Thanks.

Bob

[colobear]

Boy that's a personal decision. Most people want the name to be big enough so it can be seen and read from some distance but not so big it looks like a giant ego trip. I think "C-Cakes" has capitals that are about 6" and lower case of about 4". It is about the same size as the factory "C-Dory" logo.

[RProffer]

It depends upon where you want to put the name. You can get an idea of how different size letters will work by using your work processor. Set the orientation of the paper to landscape. Set the margins to 0 (zero). Then type the name. Then select the name and change the font size. 72 point size equals one inch. So, for three inch letters, enter 216 (3 X 72) for the point size. The name can quickly become bigger than the paper. Just delete enough letters to fit. Print it out and hold it up to your boat to get an idea of how it will work. You can even change the font to match what the name will have. For example, my boat name was done in Monotype Corsiva. I had my name and registration numbers done at BoatUS. They were very fast and did a great job. They even give you the tool to put the letters on at no additional cost. They have great instructions on their website.

[Fairbro]

Please choose a font that is easily read too! I see boats every day that have names in shadow script, italic and super Old English embellishments that are difficult to read even close up. The stylish fonts are especially hard to read if they are all done in capitols. Check out the styles in the C-Brats photos. For some reason ours are appropriate and pretty easy to read. Must be something in the water!

[hardee]

Hi Bob,

We used a simple font, added 10 degree extra slant to the italic to accentuate the "sleepy" feel, and made it large enough to read from a respectable distance, not just walking by on the dock. The font is 8 inches from top of the Capital, to the bottom of the descender on the "Y". In retrospect, I should have had them add some extra space between the L and the first E to make the name just a bit clearerto read.

See the results and process here:

http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?set_albumName=album598&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_album.php

This is what it looks like on the water:

http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?set_albumName=SleepyC&id=JC_Lately_SleepyC_Flat_Blue_070&op=modload&name=gallery&file=index&include=view_photo.php


Apologies to Barry, no ego statement intended.

Harvey
SleepyC

[colobear]

Hi Harvey,

What apologies to me?? I certainly wasn't talking about any Brat, just making a comment that some of the more gaudy "bubble boats" seem to want their names two feet high in day-glo neon.

[hardee]

Thanks Barry. I did see a Westport 155 in PA one day, with a name plate big enough to hide a 22 cruiser. The name was a foriegn word that ment "MINE" according to one of the guys on the dock. Probably no ego problem there

Harvey
SleepyC

[Sea Angel]

Hi Bob,
If you are going to have a sign maker do the work, draw on their
suggestions from their experience. You do and will have many great ones
from here, but don't forget your 2nd mate's input.

If you have a digital camera, you may even try an overlay or a print copy
worksheet to check your "eye appeal".

I'm looking forward to the results.

Art