Stencil to aid painting onto inflatable boat

[NorthRising]

I wish to get a stencil made to allow me to paint name onto a hyperlon inflatable dingy. My usual supplier of vinyl lettering tells me they don't do stencils, but did offer to supply a vinyl 'negative' which I could use as a stencil and paint into the cut outs; but they were not sure whether it would adhere well enough to the dingy during the painting to be fit for purpose.

Does anyone know what the stencils for inflatables are made from, are they simply vinyl 'negatives', or are they some other material/ temporary adhesive combination?

I like my usual supplier they are relatively local, cost effective, honest and a pleasure to do business with, and while I may yet have to find an alternative (which Google will no doubt furnish me with many), I just want to be sure stencils are something other than good old vinyl.

Thanks

 

[GrahamM376]

Vinyl lettering with letters cut out leaving a stencil, certainly worked OK on our PVC inflatable. Depending on where you sail, it's sometimes better to have registration no. rather than boat name on dinghy so crooks can't so easily identify your empty boat when you're ashore.

 

[neil1967]

We just found a font we liked, printed the name on to stiffish card, cut out the letters and used that as a stencil. Worked well.

 

[nigelmercier]

Stencils are made from a similar material, but it is thinner and more flexible, also translucent. I would offer to make them for you, but I'm a bit busy at the moment. Why not ask your supplier if you can send him the material, available on eBay.

 

[Daydream believer]

For years I have had a set of thin aluminium stencils with 50mm high letters that I purchased from a tool supplier
You might still be able to purchase them
Why not print name onto paper & cut out. Then mark out the edges onto the surface & just paint by numbers
Stencils do not always leave a good line as paint can get under the edges & smear

 

[sailorman]

I wish to get a stencil made to allow me to paint name onto a hyperlon inflatable dingy. My usual supplier of vinyl lettering tells me they don't do stencils, but did offer to supply a vinyl 'negative' which I could use as a stencil and paint into the cut outs; but they were not sure whether it would adhere well enough to the dingy during the painting to be fit for purpose.

Does anyone know what the stencils for inflatables are made from, are they simply vinyl 'negatives', or are they some other material/ temporary adhesive combination?

I like my usual supplier they are relatively local, cost effective, honest and a pleasure to do business with, and while I may yet have to find an alternative (which Google will no doubt furnish me with many), I just want to be sure stencils are something other than good old vinyl.

Thanks

Hand paint it & make it unattractive to steal

 

[CFarr]

My company does vinyl work and I think your supplier is just concerned over selling you something that may not adhere well enough, as would I be.
The problem is that many pvc materials exude plasticisers from their surface making it have a slightly greasy feel and normal vinyl adhesives don't like it - in fact the whole vinyl can be literally pushed off the surface over time.
Hypalon I'm not so sure about - and I'm guessing neither will they be.
If they're local, ask them for a scrap piece to try, you'll know instantly whether it will work or not.

There are higher tack vinyls available that will stick but then you've got to get the things off!

Why don't you go for a high tack permanent sticker, or one made from vinyl designed for trucks curtains?
If you have difficulties you can always pm me
Chris

Good luck

 

[rotrax]

I bought a set of 50mm plastic stencils from a pound shop, used a thin marker pen the make the outlines and then filled these outlines in with the special flexible paint-using a set of paintbrushes from the same pound shop. The most suitable brush was an 8mm wide flat one.
Worked really well and cost little with the advantage that the stencils, paint and brushes are still available for furure use.
Simples................................

 

[skyflyer]

Whatever you use for a stencil be careful about paint creeping underneath the setncil edges as the dinghy material being textured there will always be many slight gaps between stencil and surface and capillary action will draw any fluid paint into it. The technique is to use a very very light spray, never really letting the surface get wet enough for the paint to flow. Let it dry (which takes seconds as its such a light coat) and repeat by building up the coats gradually.

Or, do what i did and put the stencil on the flat surface of the outboard mounting plate (depends on your dinghy brand of course)

Either way I found the paint tends to peel, scuff and flake and in the end I found vinyl lettering was better. the strong adhesive and flexibility on that meant it did conform to the textured surface.

 

[rotrax]

Whatever you use for a stencil be careful about paint creeping underneath the setncil edges as the dinghy material being textured there will always be many slight gaps between stencil and surface and capillary action will draw any fluid paint into it. The technique is to use a very very light spray, never really letting the surface get wet enough for the paint to flow. Let it dry (which takes seconds as its such a light coat) and repeat by building up the coats gradually.

Or, do what i did and put the stencil on the flat surface of the outboard mounting plate (depends on your dinghy brand of course)

Either way I found the paint tends to peel, scuff and flake and in the end I found vinyl lettering was better. the strong adhesive and flexibility on that meant it did conform to the textured surface.

I found the exact opposite-my paint did not creep as I drew outlines and filled them in and is as good as the day I did it four seasons later.

It would be almost impossible for a thief to remove my stenciled name without leaving some trace. Stick on letters are easily removed and leave only a touch of adhesive behind.

I removed the stickers from the outboard cowl, drew outlines using the stencils, roughed the surface a little and used the flexible paint and 8mm flat brush. Again, four seasons on and still very good, but not as good as the tender-the flexible paint stuck like $H1t to a blanket on the PVC.

 

[GrahamM376]

........ not as good as the tender-the flexible paint stuck like $H1t to a blanket on the PVC.

If it's Letterflex as sold by Polymarine and others, it sticks well enough but can easily be removed by a quick wipe with acetone, leaving no trace.

 

[davidmh]

I have used a paper card stencil made with a Stanley knife and then marked the outline of the letters on the inflatable with a 6 b pencil. I do not use paint, I use a laundry marker to fill in the letters, it lasts for 4 or 5 years before it fades and then I just redo it. I have not had any problems with the Avon material, cannot speak for PVC.

Regards
David MH

 

[rotrax]

If it's Letterflex as sold by Polymarine and others, it sticks well enough but can easily be removed by a quick wipe with acetone, leaving no trace.

Again, not what I have found through direct experience, having done two tenders with my prefered method.

When I put one tender up for sale I attempted to remove T/T plus the four letters of the boats name. This covered an area of about 300mm x 50mm.

All I got was a dirty dark grey smear after using good quality acetone.

I painted the name completely out using the flexible paint leaving a black rectangle.

A quick wipe with acetone-not when I tried.

 

[maby]

I guess the real question is why are you marking it? My insurance company insists that we mark the dinghy or they will not cover it, but if it's nicked and mistreated, I'm not sure I want it back - I would prefer the cheque and buy a nice new one. Hence it's sufficient to do a quick marking job with vinyl letters and take a picture to prove that it was marked.

 

[Seajet]

SAC Graphics do lettering specifically for inflatable dinghies, in a range of fonts etc; I haven't used these, but all the rest of the boat name graphics I've had from them over the years have been first class.

Guaranteed a better result than if I tried painting it, even with a gun to my head let alone a stencil !

 

[NorthRising]

I guess the real question is why are you marking it? My insurance company insists that we mark the dinghy or they will not cover it, but if it's nicked and mistreated, I'm not sure I want it back - I would prefer the cheque and buy a nice new one. Hence it's sufficient to do a quick marking job with vinyl letters and take a picture to prove that it was marked.

Insurance and for contact purposes soon to be stored in club boat park. I'm thinking it will be much easier to mark onto the wooden transom.

Lots of helpful ideas here though, so thanks.

 

[davidpbo]

I used a stencil font on my computer, printed it on A4 cut out the letters, taped the stencil onto the Dinghy and sprayed. Still can read it 14 years later. Tender stays inflated most of the season.