Choosing a name for your craft is not just a tribute to tradition or a desire to stand out on the water among hundreds of other boats, it is an important stage in the preparation for operation, which requires attention to detail, especially when it comes to the water. PVC-boatMany owners mistakenly believe that you can write on board any word in any letter, but the legislation and technical features of the materials make their own adjustments.
Owners often forget that flyboat In this article, we will discuss all aspects of your vessel's naming, from legal subtleties to the choice of durable materials, and not only can expensive property be damaged by the wrong typeface, but also problems with GIMS inspectors during the inspection of documents.
It's worth noting that the process of choosing a name often becomes a ritual that unites a family or a group of friends, but before ordering a stencil or picking up a can of canister, you need to clearly understand what you need to do. where and more The best way to do this is to label it on a slippery surface of polyvinyl chloride, so let's get it straight, so that you can get out of the water without a hitch.
Legal requirements for marking of small vessels
Before you start creative, you need to go to dry, but binding standards. According to the rules of registration of small craft, every boat must have a boat. side-plateAlthough the law does not explicitly dictate what a boat should be called (unless it is a commercial fleet), there are unspoken rules and technical limitations that are dangerous to ignore.
For example, the name should not duplicate the call sign of the rescue services, police or warships, and the use of offensive language or symbols prohibited by law can also be a reason for refusal of registration or a fine during inspection. Inspector GIMS The right to demand the removal of a provocative inscription if it violates public order.
⚠️ Note: The application of numbers and names shall not interfere with the reading of the main registration number of the vessel, but shall be located at a distance allowing visual separation of information.
It's important to remember the contrast. flyboat It is dark (grey, camouflage, black), and the letters must be light, and vice versa. This is a safety requirement: in case of an emergency, your boat must be easily recognizable from the air or from the shore. The use of transparent or translucent paints is not allowed for official marking, although the decorative name of the rule is softer.
Features of the PVC surface and the choice of materials
Polyvinyl chloride, which is the most common form of boats today, is a complex painting material, often textured and coated with layers of UV protection and mechanical damage, and ordinary paint, whether acrylic or nitro-emal, will not be able to cling to such a base and will start to crack after the first time. water-flight.
For long-lasting imaging, you need to use specialized compounds, and there are special paints on the market for PVC, rubber and fabrics, which are highly adhesive and, critically, remain elastic after drying, and if you use hard paint, it will crack when you first deflate the balloon, or even when you bending the side of the side on the wave.
- 🎨 Specialized aerosols - convenient for working with stencils, quickly dry, but require careful surface preparation.
- 💧 Liquid rubber paint Creates a strong, elastic coating that can withstand deformation of the material without cracks.
- 🖌️ Polyurethane formulations Professional choice requiring mixing of components, but providing maximum resistance to salt water and the sun.
When choosing a material, you should also consider the drying method. Some formulations require heat treatment for complete polymerization, which can be difficult to implement evenly at home. Cold drying It takes longer, but is safer for the PVC structure, especially if you are not sure about temperature conditions.
Before applying the main paint, be sure to degrease the surface with alcohol or a special PVC cleaner. Even imperceptible fat spots from the fingers can cause the coating to detach after a week.
Technology of applying the name DIY
The process of naming a boat requires patience and care, and you don't have to try to do it by eye, especially if you want to get a smooth and professional result, you first have to prepare the surface: wash it with soap, dry it thoroughly and degrease it, any dust or moisture under the paint layer will lead to marriage.
Then there's the markup step. Even if you have a hard hand, you can use it. stencil Or a projector to pre-mark the outlines would make it much easier. Inflatable boats, it's better to use a self-adhesive film that cuts out the negative image (the letters themselves are cut out, but the background remains), which allows you to create clear boundaries and avoid paint under the edges.
Procedure:1. Cleaning and degreasing (solvent 646 or special means).
Fixing the stencil with paint tape.
3. Applying primer (if required by the instruction to paint).
4 Layer-by-layer application of paint (2-3 thin layers are better than one thick one).
5 Drying between layers according to the instructions.
6. neat removal of the stencil until the final layer is completely dry.
Pay special attention to drying. Don't try to speed up the process with a hair dryer or in the sun unless the paint manufacturer recommends it. Dramatic heating can cause the solvent to boil in the paint thickness, which will cause bubbles. Complete polymerization It can take anywhere from 24 to 72 hours, depending on ambient temperature and humidity.
☑️ Preparation for painting the boat
Alternative ways of marking: stickers and tattoos
If you don't want to mess with paint and solvents, or if you rent a boat and you can't spoil it, there are alternative solutions. The modern industry offers high-quality vinyl stickers that are as durable as paint, and they're also elastic and don't crack on folds if they're made of quality film (like Oracal or 3M).
Another option is what's called "boat tattoos," which are specially translated images that are fixed on the surface and coated with protective varnish. squirrel-stuff This method is less preferred because of the lower mechanical strength compared to vinyl or paint.
| Method | Durability | Difficulty of application | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Special paint. | High (3-5 years old) | Medium | Medium |
| Vinyl sticker | Average (2-3 years) | Low. | Low. |
| Aerosol (normal) | Low (season) | Low. | Low. |
| Laser engraving | Permanent. | Only on the service. | High. |
The good thing about vinyl applications is that they can be relatively easy to replace if you get bored or you decide to sell the boat and the new owner wants to rename the boat, and the key is not to glue them to the places of active folds, for example, at the joints of cylinders and the bottom, where the material experiences maximum tension.
Creative ideas and popular names
When technical issues are solved, it's time for creativity. The name of the boat is its face and character. Often owners give names related to water, speed or family values. Popular names like "Storm," "Aquamarine," "Neshed," or the names of children and spouses. It's important that the name is read easily and not too long.
Some people prefer humorous titles like Titanic 2 or the "Floating Dacha," which is acceptable as long as it doesn't go beyond decency, pirate-themed stylizations or old sailboat names are also in vogue. font It plays a key role here: Gothic will give gloom, and rounded letters - friendliness.
Top 5 most popular names for boats in the CIS
1. Neptune (genre classic)
2. Stiel (for those who like peace of mind)
3. Dream (universal version)
4. Petrel (for lovers of speed)
Name of the owner or spouse (tradition)
When choosing a typeface, avoid lines that are too thin; on water, in motion and from a distance, such letters can merge or be invisible; the optimal height of letters for an inflatable boat of medium size (3-4 meters) is 10-15 centimeters, which ensures good readability and proportionality.
Care for marking during operation
Once the name is applied, it requires some care to keep you happy for as long as possible. Solar ultrafilene is the main enemy of any dyes. Try not to leave the boat for long in direct sunlight unnecessarily, especially in the first weeks after painting, when the process of final strength gain is underway.
When washing a boat after the season or traveling, avoid using aggressive solvents and abrasive sponges in the area of the inscription. Conventional water with soft detergent is the best choice. If you notice a chipped or the beginning of detachment, you better paint this area immediately, otherwise moisture will penetrate the coating and the destruction will go faster.
⚠️ Warning: When you can preserve a boat for winter storage, do not allow markings to be placed on the packaging material.
Regular inspection of the condition of the coverage will help to prolong your life decorationIf you've used vinyl stickers, you can wipe them with a special plastic and vinyl polymer once a season, which will restore shine and protect you from burnout. Remember, the neat appearance of a boat is also a matter of your safety and reputation on the water.
A properly chosen and applied name not only adorns the boat, but also serves as an additional element of safety, making the boat noticeable in an emergency situation.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Can I use a regular car enamel for a boat?
It is not recommended to use conventional car enamel, as it becomes hard and brittle after drying. When the PVC side is deformed, this paint will instantly cover a network of cracks and begin to crumble. Use only elastic compounds for rubber and PVC.
Do I need to register the name of the boat in the GIMS?
Official registration requires only the onboard number issued at the time of registration of the vessel, the name itself (proper name) is indicated in the documents, but there are usually no strict requirements for its contents, except for prohibitions on insults and duplication of service call signs.
How do I delete the old name if I want to rename the boat?
The vinyl stickers are removed with a construction dryer (carefully heated) and a special glue cleaner. The paint is harder to remove: you will need a PVC solvent that can damage the boat material itself, so it is often easier to mask the old name or paint it in the tone of the board.
What type size is optimal for a boat 3.5 meters long?
For a boat 3.5 meters long, the optimal letter height is 10 to 12 centimeters, which ensures good readability from shore and from other vessels, without overloading the board visually and leaving space for the registration number.