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What has yur experience been with Vinyl lettering versus a hand painted transom. The cost for vinyl is obviously less but how about durability and appearance? What do most people have? Also, does anyone have any leade for boat painting in either Charlston, SC or Ocean City, MD? Thanks!
I've only had to make the decision once since this is my first boat, but I went with the vinyl letters. A lot can be done with this with computer designs. I would think it would hold better than paint and I think it looks good too.
The previous boat name on the boat was painted and man what PIA to get off!
__________________ Lively Lines Currently Boatless
1996 22' Shamrock Stalker - SOLD
...this is me, I'm proud to be American and strong in my beliefs. And I've said it before but I'll say it again 'cause I never needed Government to hold my hand. - Aaron Lewis ~ Country Boy
Vinyl is final........Once the paint starts to fade it looks awful. If you sell you boat but want to keet the name its much easier to remove the vinyl.
Vinyl - Better for resale as it comes off for any new owner. Ive said it before, if I didnt like the name of a boat and it was painted on I would look elsewhere. There is always another boat.
__________________
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24' Grady White - SOLD!
13' Boston Whaler
A friend of mine is a District Manager for a National Vinyl Company. I asked him what he thought, and he immediately said he would have no qualms about putting on vinyl.
__________________ Brett
1986 Grady-White Trophy Pro 257-"Bite Me"
See below..Vinyl...... Nowadays if you get the uv and saltwater resistant vinyl it will lasts for years. If it gets nicked up, just use a heat gun take off the old and get new stuff....Just to give you an idea got my Fl numbers and name on my boat made for 100 bucks. I just had to apply it and its made out of the 3M stuff which is the good stuff.
__________________ "I'm suing the THT and the guy that made it."
I prefer painting. It depends on what kind of boat though. Any million dollar sportfish deserves much more than vinyl. Gold leaf and hand painted is about as good as it gets. That pretty work can cost upwards of a thousand bucks. Small boats that don't keep their owners for very long...vinyl cause it is easy to change.
My vote would be for vinyl. I've had both, and the painted transoms and hullsides are very difficult to keep up in my opinion. Some cleaner waxes can remove the paint if you are not careful, and it is a pain to clean around the letters. Although you can touch up a scratch in paint, it never seems to look right, or match the paint that fades over time. Yes, a missed gaff shot, or errant sinker will take a chip out of either, but you can do more with vinyl now that computers are involved, and it seems to fade less over time.
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LISA MARIE
28 SOUTHPORT W/TWIN F250 YAMAHAS
LIL' LISA MARIE
17 FT WHALER W/90HP F90 YAMAHA
I second the vote for paint. To me vinyl lettering is like those spinning hubcaps on cars...tacky. Painted transoms require thoughfulness, careful layout, good technique and workmanship. Vinyl does not convey those qualities in my opinion. If you value the boat a painted transom is the way to go.
Since I am a professional artist, it's no feat for me to do this myself. You can still find folk who can do a nice transom for you through sign shops, custom car paint shops and craigslist.
A painted transom will last as long as the hull if it gets clear coated with Awlgrip or Sterling.
__________________ Bill Adams
66 109 2A Safari Wagon
93 LWB
Allmand 23 Ticonderoga Chevy 350 EFI Cobra IO
Carver Mariner hybrid cuddy twin jet drives Ford EFI 5.0 HOs
Vinyl - Better for resale as it comes off for any new owner.
You just buff off the paint w/ some compound.
Vinyl is the standard now because anybody with a computer and plotter can become a sign shop. True artists are hard to find. People tend to go overboard w/ vinyl (graphics, photos, hooks, etc.). I went w/ paint this time around.
Boat name - Painted or vinyl? 
You just buff off the paint w/ some compound.
