How to get a name on a dinghy

[jff]

I thought it would be cute if we could put a decal, similar to the one on the back of our boat, on the dinghy with its name. The problem is, those decals won't stick to the dinghy (we have a Mercury brand dinghy and motor). I've heard that people out there came up with some way to mount a plaque of some sorts on the dinghy, do you guys have any suggestions or solutions to accomplish what I'm after?

Regards,
Jason

 

[Converse48]

I've had good luck with this product: www.boatnumberplate.com/
Be sure you know for sure whether your dinghy is PVC or Hypalon. They don't have that many font choices so you may not be able to match your boat name exactly.

 

[Jaws]

I used the same product on hypalon and it has worked very well. Check for it at your local West Marine store. Maybe they still carry the order kit.

 

[Marcelina]

How did you mount your dinghy on your 340?

 

[jff]

I ordered the plate from BoatNumberPlate but it just occurred to me that I'll need to still figure out where to stick the actual GA registration sticker. Did you guys just stick that onto the plate at one end?

Regards,
Jason

 

[HavnFunYet?]

It is possible to get vinyl to stick to either hypalon or PVC...best suggestion is to find a local sign shop to create the decal for you. Ask them to use Gerber 225 High Performance vinyl...others do not work as well. The key to success is to use a heat gun to get the adhesive to activate. The heat makes an already aggressive adhesive aggressive enough to stick. I sell this material to Customers of mine and have one in particular who has applied this to dozens of dinghies with success. This is not a rush job, but rather one that takes time to get it right.

Not sure where you are, but there have to be plenty of sign companies in your area that can help.

Good luck!