Boat Name Sticking Problems

T

Tug

New member
Put my new boat name on today but the letters wouldn't stick.Bummer.I called iboats.com where i bought them and they gave me the number of the manufacturer,"Vyln By Jenn". I called them and they said that they never heard of them not sticking before but agreed to cut me some new letters and ship them to me.I had followed all the steps as per/instructions so i cann't really figure out what went wrong.Here is a picture of the letters taped off on my boat, i gave them 1/2 an hour before i peeled off the backing paper but the letters wouldn't stick to the hull.Anyone ever had this happen to them. Is where i placed the name in a good location or should the name be more towards the bow. Tug

http://i1201.photobucket.com/albums/bb3 ... 0_0233.jpg
 
Wow. I've had the inverse problem, sticking too soon.

Actually, if there's adhesive on the back of the letters AND the fibreglass is clean, they should stick. Did you polish the boat there recently?

So, since you've ruined the present letters, try to see if there's any glue on the back of them. Try sticking them to a piece of metal and see if they'll stick.

If they pass that test, clean the side of the boat with lacquer thinner. That should take off any polish. And try again, before you get the new letters.

Good luck, Boris
 
From an old sign painter. Remove ALL wax or other polish. Use a squeegee to completely remove all the air from under the vinyl and set the vinyl to the surface. Carefully remove the transfer tape by gently pulling it back parallel to the surface, not up at right angles. Then press each letter by hand paying attention to the edges...work from the center out. Removing the wax or polish is critical. Large vinyls can be installed by spraying water with a drop or so of dish detergent on surface which will let you slide it in place before squeegee. Good Luck.
 
I did clean the boat yesterday but used just soap and water, there may of been some wax from last year.When i get the new letters i will clean that area with soap and water first than with cleaning alcohol or lacquer thinner if i have any in the shed. The letters were a little sticky but not enough to stick to the hull and release from the paper. They may of picked up some wax from the hull.Thanks for the tips.Tug
 
Sounds like the area prep might be the issue. It has got to be absolutely wax or anything free. Here is a link to the "Naming our Boat" album in SleepyC albums and there is a good start to finish photo essay on the process.

http://www.c-brats.com/modules.php?set_ ... _album.php

Maybe this will help. Even using some alcohols leaves a very thin, fine film. You can check that by wiping it on a mirror and watching it evaporate to see the film it it will be there.

Nice of your supplier to re-cut the lettering for you. Placement looks fine to me.

Harvey
SleepyC :moon
 
Harvey, thanks for the information and the great link.Great pictures. I was out early this morning and gave the area where the vinlyn name will be a good rubdown with acetone and than mild soap and water to remove any wax.Tug
 
Sounds like everyone has chimed in. I'd have to agree. Wax/polish is probably the culprit. Even the oils from your hands can ruin the install. I used a wax & grease remover & clean blue shop towels but acetone/laquer thinner etc will do the same. Then once their on & have had time to really adhere I went over the entire area w/ a good boat wax to replace what I had removed.
 
Just a word of caution. Acetone us used to clean up after fiber-glassing, and will dissolve the polyester gel-coat.

I've used lacquer thinner with no visible effects.

Boris
 
For mine I used "Denatured Alcohol" and then nothing after that. I would be concerned about the boat soap leaving some residue after the acetone. Probably a good idea to get the acetone off though, I don't think it is good for the gel coat (as mentioned).

Tug, Thanks for the kudo's, and good luck,

Harvey
SleepyC :moon

IMGP2621.thumb.jpg
 
I have been in the sign industry my entire life and have applied many many graphics. Remove any wax/ polish and those graphics will stick very well. I noticed you said you left the application tape on for a while, I would do the opposite, get it off quickly. If you leave it on longer it increases your likelihood of getting bubbles in your graphics. Once you have the graphic burnished on well, spray the application tape with a very mild soap and water solution and let it sit for 20-30 seconds, then peel the application tape off. The soap and water softens the adhesive on the application tape so it comes off with very little resistance and will not pull the graphics back off the boat.
 
You have some great professional advice. BUT do NOT use acetone or lacquer thinner to clean the gel coat of wax. There are specific de waxers which are easy on the gel coat. As Boris noted, both acteone and lacquer thinner will soften the gel coat. (Also MEK will soften the gel coat). Some folks will say that these items will not harm gel coat. Just leave a rag saturated with any of these solvents for a few hours or over night, and then check the softness of the gel coat--it does have a negative effect. If I am going to be repairing a fiberglass hull, then I may wipe with acetone, but it will be regelcoated.

Also I probably would avoid silicone polish, since the silicone is very difficult to remove, and may affect adhesion.

I suspect bad adhesive. I have put a number of boat names on and never had a probelm. I do use the water trick, with a good plastic squeegee.
 
Just replaced the "AMERISAIL 14.6" on the side of Sally's sailboat today with "Wamsetta". It was 4" high and 36" long. The old letters came off pretty easily and the new name went on fine. I used a good glass cleaner first and then isopropol alcohol to clean it. Letters from Boat U.S.

Charlie
 
Put my new Boat name on today,cleaned it with alcohol before applying the letters.The letters still had a hard time sticking,kept peeling off with the paper but finally got it done anyway.I posted a few pictures,hope they look straight..Tug
 
Thanks for all the input, another project done. After i finish my coffee i am off to the Marina to put my boat in for the season,they just finished repairing the docks from the winter ice damage.Tug
 
Gotto agree. Looks like a fine job. :thup

When it comes to things like this I always trust my "eye" for the final position. I'll measure and postion, step back a take a look and make fine adjustments based on what I see, not the tape measure.

Enjoy your boating season!
 
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