Marking a rubber dinghy ...

[Baggywrinkle]

Apologies if this has been posted before, a quick search didn't reveal any answers.

I need to mark a new Wetline PVC tender as 'Tender To ....' - What is the best way to do this?

Paint? Glue on Letters?

Any suggestions welcome or a pointer to a previous thread.

 

[Cloven]

I use permanent felt marker pen and a stencil set. Renew it every season. Cheap as chips. I once tried to remove such markings from a second-hand dinghy I bought and it was all but impossible so it does work.

 

[GrahamM376]

Polymarine sell PVC paint in various colours but, it can be washed off with acetone so felt markers may be best. If you want it to look neat, then any sign maker can cut some self adhesive vinyl stencils for you.

 

[johnalison]

I've used "permanent" markers successfully. The marks last quite well but can be washed off with white spirit.

 

[KellysEye]

>I need to mark a new Wetline PVC tender as 'Tender To ....' - What is the best way to do this?

I wouldn't do that. If somebody sees the dinghy ashore then they know nobody is on the boat and thus a sitting duck for robbery. Just choose a word you like.

 

[graham]

I marked mine in a few different places with permanent marker.

I put the home post code on rather than boat name. Thinking of carving it into the wooden transom but as soon as I do that we would probably move

 

[johnalison]

I believe Salcombe require tenders to be marked with a boat name if left on the Town quay. I don't believe that security is a significant issue. If you're really worried you could make up a yacht name.

 

[Baggywrinkle]

>I wouldn't do that. If somebody sees the dinghy ashore then they know nobody is on the boat and thus a sitting duck for robbery.

In Croatia it is advised to mark the dinghy as a tender to avoid paying for an annual cruising permit for both boats - I know there are rules and the dinghy probably wouldn't count, but better safe than sorry. I've heard enough about people being treated harshly in Croatia for transgressions.

Covering the boat name and leaving a cabin light/radio on are all simple solutions to the disadvantage you mentioned, but there's no simple solution to a foreign official having a bad day - there I would be a sitting duck (and not covered by insurance).

If the boats can't be connected then they are both targets for opportunists whenever unattended. If paired up, then if only one is in use, the other may well be left alone - anyone intent on thieving will be watching anyway, and will know which boats are in use and which not.

 

[nigelmercier]

Polymarine sell PVC paint in various colours but, it can be washed off with acetone ...

After a couple of weeks, the product (Letterflex) leaches into the substrate, forming a permanent mark. I've used it on my tender and now on the fenders!

BTW, I've got a stencil cutter and can make stencils at cost.

 

[GrahamM376]

After a couple of weeks, the product (Letterflex) leaches into the substrate, forming a permanent mark. I've used it on my tender and now on the fenders!

BTW, I've got a stencil cutter and can make stencils at cost.

May depend on the dinghy fabric, it certainly wiped off my old PVC dinghy when I sold it. Their PVC paint in the larger tins also comes off with acetone and bathroom/shower cleaner (cheaper than dinghy cleaner from chandlers) when it gets the occasional scrub -which isn't very often!

 

[Lodesman77]

Bouncy Castle paint - PVC paint without the 'yotty tax'...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bouncy-Ca...688?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_3&hash=item2a147daf88

 

[capetown]

Thanks Lodesman77.

Have just ordered.

 

[rotrax]

>I need to mark a new Wetline PVC tender as 'Tender To ....' - What is the best way to do this?

I wouldn't do that. If somebody sees the dinghy ashore then they know nobody is on the boat and thus a sitting duck for robbery. Just choose a word you like.

A particularly cynical observation! Surely it is more than possible that only some of the crew have gone ashore, leaving an 18 stone rugby forward to mind the shop..........

 

[vikinglish]

I used letterflex on our last dinghy and it didnt budge.. no amount of scrubbing or different cleaning products.... Didnt prevent the dinghy getting stolen in Italy though.... Im sure the thieving swines managed to get the letterflex off somehow!

 

[nigelmercier]

Bouncy Castle paint - PVC paint without the 'yotty tax'...

While this is flexible enough, being water based it will not be permanent.

 

[rickym]

Always used indelible marker pen and refresh every so often. If worried about security why not mark the dink as TT SSR 12345?

 

[dutyhog]

try Hammerite

I tried Hammerite for this season on our PVC mooring buoys & pickups, and on our Hypalon dinghy. It's still intact - far better than any paint or marker pens I've used before, and I didn't need to buy a different tin of paint because I always keep some Hammerite.

On the dinghy I put our phone number well hidden under the seat, as well as the name in big letters on the side.

Years ago someone had untied our dinghy from the boat when we weren't looking and it drifted off. We were stuck on the mooring with no way to get ashore, until someone found the dinghy on the shore, read the names and found our boat to bring it back. Maybe there are more helpful people around than thieves?

 

[old_salt]

PVC paint in various colours preferably black and splash it about a bit all over the side tubes so it looks a mess.
No self respecting thief will nick it then. I have a pal I sailed with in the 70s, 80s and 90s and he did this to a rubber duck and we took it all over the place in the Irish sea, channel Isles up Scotland and never got it nicked once.
I remember as an apprentice and going into the main works at Metro-Vickers I had my nice set of polished hand made tools from my days in the training school in my tool box, spanners marking out instruments and scrapers the fitter I was attached to said get them oil blacked quick or you will loose them there are a lot of magpies in here,and it worked.

 

[Lodesman77]

While this is flexible enough, being water based it will not be permanent.

Two years and counting; still looks fine. If you're referring to removal by solvents it's resistant to at least white spirit/meths - haven't dared to try acetone...

 

[Baggywrinkle]

Thanks for the list of options, going to try the bouncy castle paint ....