letter size

JBA · Post by **JBA** » Mar 11th, '08, 16:34

Hello all,

I am finally getting around to applying the name of my typhoon
(Aft Agley) on the transom. I have chosen the Clarendon Bold font from West Marine. I would really appreciate information regarding the height of the letters used on the transom of your Typhoon. Also, how can I best display the name so that it can be seen by others with my outboard up.

Thanks in advance.

JBA

Tod Mills · Post by **Tod Mills** » Mar 11th, '08, 18:53

Not my boat, but the pic should give you an idea...

[img]http://www.htmills.com/images/LF-TySage.jpg[/img]

Here's another. As you can see, a lot is lost with the presence of an outboard...

[img]http://www.htmills.com/images/LF-Ty.jpg[/img]

With an outboard, have you considered putting the name on both stern quarters below the gunwale maybe about where the jib sheet cleat is? Here's an example...

[img]http://downloads.c-2.com/photos/1203911452.jpg[/img]

Jim Davis · Post by **Jim Davis** » Mar 11th, '08, 19:03

Or this one. It is my wifes Ty Daysailor.

bhartley · Post by **bhartley** » Mar 11th, '08, 21:50

You may want to keep your letters smaller or go to one side as Jim suggested especially if you have a longer name. Miranda's lettering has a little smile to it. Doesn't really bother me, but my husband was distressed. The compound curve of the transom will bring the ends up the further you go past the centerline.

[img]http://chq.temphost.net/bly/stern.jpg[/img]

Just something to take into account...

Bly

Tod M · Post by **Tod M** » Mar 12th, '08, 07:33

mine is frowning

Miranda looks great!

[img]http://www.htmills.com/images/BBc07-Bus ... tering.jpg[/img]

And I had to work around not only an outboard but a rudder and a boarding ladder. *arrgh*. Furthermore, the funny wrinkles on my boat's hull didn't lend towards the name on the sides...

Cathy Monaghan · Post by **Cathy Monaghan** » Mar 12th, '08, 11:46

Your vessel probably isn't and won't be a documented vessel, but if it is, there are rules concerning the size of the lettering for a boat's name and hailing port. The following was copied verbatim from the U.S.C.G.'s web site FAQs for vessel documentation at:

http://www.uscg.mil/hq/g-m/vdoc/faq.htm#11

I bolded the part about the size of the letters.

HOW DO I MARK MY VESSEL?
The official number assigned to documented vessels, preceded of the abbreviation "NO." must be marked in block-type Arabic numerals at least three inches high on some clearly visible interior structural part of the hull. The number must be permanently affixed so that alteration, removal, or replacement would be obvious and cause some scarring or damage to the surrounding hull area.

The name and hailing port of a recreational vessel must be marked together on some clearly visible exterior part of the hull. The vessel name of a commercial vessel must also be marked on the port and starboard bow and the vessel name and the hailing port must also be marked on the stern. All markings may be made by any means and materials that result in durable markings and must be at least four inches in height, made in clearly legible letters of the Latin alphabet or Arabic or Roman numerals. The "hailing port" must include both a place and a State, Territory, or possession of in the United States. The state may be abbreviated.

Anyway, if the letters are too small, nobody can read them, even with binoculars, unless they're pretty much right on top of you. They shouldn't be too fancy for the same reason. I've stood right next to a boat in it's slip, staring at the stern, and couldn't make out the name of the boat because of the crazy font they used. So it should be big (4" minimum), bold and easy to read.

Cathy
CD32 Realization, #3
Rahway, NJ
Raritan Bay

JBA · Post by **JBA** » Mar 12th, '08, 16:45

Thanks Tod and Cathy. This information is helpful.
Does anyone else have suggestions as to height of letters for a Typhoon transom? Is 5" too high? Not high enough?

JBA

JBA · Post by **JBA** » Mar 12th, '08, 16:50

Whoops! Thanks to Jim and Bly too.

JBA

Shipscarver · Post by **Shipscarver** » Sep 24th, '08, 17:49

Any CD27 owners who have used the BoatUS decal type lettering for the boat? This boat is documented so how big should the lettering be given that the 4" min. requirement is too small. What about experience with color decals on a white boat?

bottomscraper · Post by **bottomscraper** » Sep 24th, '08, 18:13

We order our lettering from SpeedySigns.Com. It is stick on vinyl lettering which is what I think BoatUS also offers. Below is a link to the installation instructions. Our boat name is about 4 years old and still looks good (we changed our hailing port last year, pictures below are the old one). Installing isn't that hard. We didn't buy the "application fluid" but used plain water.

http://www.speedysigns.com/info/letteri ... _small.asp

The photo below shows Mahalo's name and hailing port. The hailing port is 4" letters, I'm not sure what size the name is.

<img width="540" src="http://www.sailmahalo.com/picture_colle ... Cove_4.JPG">

For A Full Size Image Click Here

Neil Gordon · Post by **Neil Gordon** » Sep 24th, '08, 19:42

Aesthetic letter size depends in part on how many letters you put on the transom. I've seen two letter boat names (or initials) that were big and looked good. Longer names might need a smaller font (but watch the documentation rules if they apply).

You might try taping a sheet of paper to the transom and mocking up a name with crayons, for scale.

Joe Montana · Post by **Joe Montana** » Sep 25th, '08, 07:43

Here's another photo, but I realize this doesn't help much without knowing the height of the letters. I'll try to get out there and measure them.

http://www.capedory.org/specs/TY-openda ... stern2.jpg

BillNH · Post by **BillNH** » Sep 25th, '08, 12:41

bottomscraper wrote:We didn't buy the "application fluid" but used plain water.

A few drops of dishsoap in a pint of water is commonly used by commercial installers as an application fluid for vinyl lettering... best applied with an inexpensive spray bottle.

Joe Montana · Post by **Joe Montana** » Sep 25th, '08, 15:18

JBA,

These letters are 4" high:

http://www.capedory.org/specs/TY-openda ... stern2.jpg

trapper · Post by **trapper** » Sep 25th, '08, 16:05

Admittedly, I copied Tantalus's stickers.

http://www.yachttantalus.us/stickers.htm

The stickers came from BoatUS. I have only put the hailing port on. Will put the name on this weekend-- but I think the stickers are beautiful. I measured the the area for a name and let that determine the size over 4" because I am having her documented. I used 6.25" for the name and 4" for the hailing port. I copied Tantalus' color and font. It is a very classic look and very easy to install.

The Cape Dory Board

letter size

letter size

Here's a sample...

Off center

Smiley transom

Bly, at least yours is smiling....

Minimum 4 inches in height....

Height of letters

thanks

Lettering for a CD27

Application fluid substitute

Letter Size