CD31 Pin Stripe

[distand]

I'm planning to add a CD decal and pinstripe to my "31". If anyone can share any ideas on design/installation it would be appreciated. Seems like 6" below the rail would look good and stopping about 18" from the bow and maybe 12" from stern. I would put the "CD" decal towards the stern.

thanks

Don

[Steve Bryant]

Hi Don,

If you go to the top of the board and click on "Where to look", then from there to "Groups and Publications", then "Online Manuals and Brochures", you will find a .pdf file named "Cove Stripe Painting Instructions". In the doc you will find the information you are looking for, and a full size camera ready template with both the bow and stern configurations. (CD 31: 3 1/2" down from the toerail - 16 1/2" from the bow - 7" from the stern)

When I replace mine, I had the vinly decals cut at a local sign shop from the templates and purchased the corresponding 1/2" color matched tape online directly from 3M's website.

After a couple of failed attempts on my own to follow the shear of the boat with the tape, I got smart and went to a local automotive body shop and found the guy that does all their pinstriping. Best $20 I ever spent getting him to apply the tape.

Good Luck with your project. The cove stripe really makes a difference in the appearance of the boat.

[Tom Keevil]

Thanks Steve. That's a useful file in a very obscure location.

[distand]

Thanks very much Steve for that information. It's really amazingly useful. I never imagined there would be such detail on this (now I know).

One measurement that surprised me was the 3.5" down from the toerail. Does the state registration sticker fit above it or below? In my case the vessel will be USCG documented so I won't have to put the registration numbers on (just the decal). Unless the decal can go elsewhere (CT). I'll check into that. Did you have that issue?

thanks

Don

[distand]

Looking into this a little further, the decal seems to be 3" high so there would be just enough room for it above the cove stripe.

[Steve Bryant]

Glad to be of help.

I applied my state sticker and registration numbers "below" the cove stripe and they look appropriate to me. In Mississippi the only requirement is that the registration letters be afixed to the bow and that they are 3 inches in height. The validation decals must be affixed within six inches and inline and in front of the registration numbers. There is no specified distance down from the deck. Looks like Connecticut has the same requirements. I'd put it on the bow wherever you think it would look the best and still be discernable.

[JWSutcliffe]

Don:

Since with a documented vessel I do not need registration numbers on the hull, I put my state stickers (CT) on the sides of the mast just above the mast boot, and have never been called to task for this by any of the various law enforcement agencies.

[distand]

Skip:

Thanks for passing that along. I was wondering if there was an alternative.

Don

[Steve Bryant]

Don,

Here's a link to the 3M website where you can buy the striping tape. 3M™ Scotchcal™ Striping Tape 727, 1/2 in x 150 ft

http://solutions.3m.com/wps/portal/3M/e ... 75VTTP9Sgl

Good Luck,

[Keith]

Since with a documented vessel I do not need registration numbers on the hull, I put my state stickers (CT) on the sides of the mast just above the mast boot, and have never been called to task for this by any of the various law enforcement agencies.


Skip,

If your boat is documented why do you need a state sticker? Doesn't the coast guard documentation eliminate the need for a sticker?

Keith

[JWSutcliffe]

Unfortunately Connecticut eliminated that potential loss of revenue some years back and now requires documented vessels kept in CT to pay the same fee as for registration. We just don't have to display state registration numbers.

[Keith]

bummer that seems to eliminate one of the main drivers for documentation but at least you don't have to have those ugly characters on the bows

[Philip Tanner]

Now that we're talking about cove stripes, I'm adding one to my CD 28 this season. I've had a local sign shop create the bow and stern portions from the template on-line and matched the color with some tape from west marine. Now for putting it on. I asked my yard if they had anyone with the skill to put it on professionally. I was quoted 2 hours each side and I'm sure they get a decent hourly labor rate. That seems excessive to me to put on some adhesive. So, it turns to DIY. It sounds easy to match the shear of the rub rail by using a spreader and scribing a line the appropriate distance down. However, when eye balling the rub rail it seems to dip a bit at the front of the cockpit before raising again. In other words, it doesn't appear to be a smooth symetrical shear. I'm told its traditional to follow the shear of the rub rail. Does anyone have any experience to share when applying the tape so I don't mess this up. Its one of those small projects that sounds easy but in practice may be more difficult.

[Keith]

Here is my suggestion. Why don't you just cut a piece of wood or some material to the distance that is required between the rub rail and the cove stripe. It could be about 6" long. Screw a handle onto it if that would help and use it as a guide as you move down the rub rail attaching the tape. It will ensure that the distance between the stripe and rub rail is the same the entire length of the boat.

Good luck

[Steve Bryant]

Hi Phillip,

I can tell you personally that applying the tape following the curve of the shear is not an easy task. I got very frustrated. My solution was to visit a local automotive body shop and got the name of the person that did their pinstripping for them. It took him less than 20 minutes to do both sides. I cost me twenty bucks and a cold beer.

I'll try and describe his technique. I had already scribed the top line. He had me put pieces of tape about 1" long above the line spaced about 18 to 24 inches apart for a visual aid. He adhered the fist couple of inches to start and then worked with a constant five or six foot lenghth of tape keeping it tight. He layed the tape on the hull using the small pieces of tape as a guide since you can't really see the line from that far back. He never applied any pressure to the tape as he went, letting it just stick to the hull. After the whole length of tape was applied he went back over it using a credit card to burnish it to the hull. He is right-handed, so he applied the port side from bow to stern and the starboard side from stern to bow.

I just watched in awe.

Good Luck,