How to display SSR number

[DoubleEnder]

My boat is wooden, with ‘raised topsides’. This means there are no side decks and no cabin coamings; the deck meets the topsides. The sheerplank is varnished and extends the full length of the boat. Below that the hull is painted. The transom is painted.
There are no convenient hatch coamings or other inboard vertical surfaces big enough to put the SSR number.
I think I have to put the SSR number on the topsides/ transom (the boat was previously unregistered).
I don’t want to stick vinyl on to paint or varnish. I don’t think my sign writing skillls are up to much. So I’m thinking to stick the vinyl on to something thin, hard and waterproof, and then screw the plate to the hull with some spacers so that water can run out rather than get trapped. Could be Perspex, G10 or something like that.

But, does anyone have any other ideas? Has anyone used water slide decal paper, for example?

 

[Refueler]

Surely sticking vinyl to paint is better than making holes for screws ?

If I remember rightly - SSR advise a particular area to display - but subject to possibility ... then its as best be seen.

If you have dodgers ... you could have it sewn to those ....

 

[PetiteFleur]

I use slide on water decals as mentioned - mine is on grp but as long as you have a clean smooth paint surface you should be ok. I've used SAC Boatnames in the past, even for adhesive large name decals on the dodgers.

 

[Stemar]

On my last boat, I routed the numbers into a piece of teak, painted the numbers to make them visible and screwed them to the transom. With a matching name, I reckon it looked pretty good.

Otherwise, I wouldn't be bothered about vinyl characters on varnish or paint. You shouldn't need to disturb them until it's time to redo the paint, and a hot air gun ought to get them off before the finish is hot enough to suffer.

 

[ylop]

A plate that is spaced from the hull with a gap sounds like the sort of thing which inevitably traps stuff, like small lines, fishing line, etc…

 

[GEM43]

To be honest I’m not sure I’d bother, at least in UK waters nobody cares whether the SSR registration is visible or not.

 

[DoubleEnder]

I use slide on water decals as mentioned - mine is on grp but as long as you have a clean smooth paint surface you should be ok. I've used SAC Boatnames in the past, even for adhesive large name decals on the dodgers.

Interesting. I was thinking maybe slide in decals on the varnished sheerstrake, which I could then varnish over. Thank you

 

[DoubleEnder]

On my last boat, I routed the numbers into a piece of teak, painted the numbers to make them visible and screwed them to the transom. With a matching name, I reckon it looked pretty good.

Otherwise, I wouldn't be bothered about vinyl characters on varnish or paint. You shouldn't need to disturb them until it's time to redo the paint, and a hot air gun ought to get them off before the finish is hot enough to suffer.

It’s the repainting that I was considering. I reckon I’ll repaint the topsides every 3 seasons ish. But if I can remove the vinyl stickers that easily then that’s perhaps the way to go. Thank you

 

[Refueler]

It’s the repainting that I was considering. I reckon I’ll repaint the topsides every 3 seasons ish. But if I can remove the vinyl stickers that easily then that’s perhaps the way to go. Thank you

Depending on the boat colour - the vinyls can lead to the underlying paint not being affected by the sun ... such that when vinyls removed - you can see where they were. But a good polishing can sort that .... and if you are going to repaint - then its not an issue.

Tip : When using the Hot air blower to soften and remove the vinyls - do not overheat - that can lead to hardened adhesive being left behind which is a devil to remove. You warm the vinyl enough so you can peel it off ...

 

[rogerthebodger]

Once you have an SSR number for a vessel what would cause the need to remove or change that number.

when my registration number changes, I covered the old number with white vinal (as my hull was white and then fitted the new numbers on top of the white vinyl. The hull colour will fade when subject to UV like where my boat is located and if you wish to repaint you just remove the white backing as Refueler stated and reglue on with spray on adhesive.

 

[DoubleEnder]

I’d remove the vinyl numbers to repaint the wooden topsides. Every few years. But I wasn’t aware that it was so easy to remove. If that’s the case then I’ll just get vinyl. Thanks everyone

 

[Refueler]

Many people maker mistake of trying to 'scrape' the vinyl numbers off cold ....

With gentle heat and care - they come away nicely ... and its easy enough to cut out or get new numbers ...

 

[RunAgroundHard]

... I don’t want to stick vinyl on to paint or varnish. I don’t think my sign writing skillls are up to much. ... But, does anyone have any other ideas? ...

You do not have to have any sign writing skills. Funky Monkey Boat Names make stencils that you could use to paint on the number at your desired location. You design your own stencil on their web site, then they make it and post it out to you.

Boat Stencils | Funky Monkey