Boating

QUICK

TIP

Using a Seal-It-

Pen along the

edges of a decal

helps prevent the

vinyl from peeling

or lifting. While

this colorless

adhesive dries

in 15 minutes, it

is best to wait

48 hours for the

adhesive in

the vinyl decal

to fully cure

before you go

boating again.

ILLUSTRATIONS: TIM BARKER; PHOTO: COURTESY AVERY DENNISON CORP.

4

PEEL AWAY BACKING With individual

letters or elements, use scissors to cut

between them to make this process more

manageable. Or you can leave the decal intact. In

either case, peel away the backing paper from the

top, allowing the decal to lightly adhere as you

pull down on the backing. If the decal wrinkles

anywhere, quickly pull it away with the transfer

paper and smoothly put it back down. Press out

air bubbles with the squeegee, working fi rmly

from the center outward.

5

REMOVE THE TRANSFER PAPER Remove

the strip of masking tape at the top, then

peel off the transfer paper, beginning at the

upper left corner, pulling gently at a 45-degree

downward angle but nearly parallel to the hull

surface. The paper might tear; if it does, resume

at the upper left corner. With the transfer paper

removed, the centers of letters, such as D, O or P,

might still contain backing paper. Carefully peel

these sections away; an X-Acto knife can help get

this started.

GETTING

STARTED

SKILL LEVEL

1.5 HOURS

TIME TO COMPLETE

X 11-by-72-inch vinyl boat

name ready to apply ($125

per side; wrapworks.com)

X Flexible plastic squeegee

(included with decal)

X 70-percent isopropyl alcohol

($2.27/16-ounce bottle;

cvs.com)

X Spray bottle

X Microfiber towels

X Tape measure

X Grease pencil

X Masking tape

X Scissors

X X-Acto knife

X Seal-It-Pen ($11.60;

image1impact.com)

AVERY FELT

EDGE SQUEEGEE

Pros, like Chris Youngash of

Wrap Works, use a special

squeegee, such as the Avery

Blue Felt Edge Squeegee

($6.43, beacongraphics.com),

to apply vinyl graphics. This

4-inch-long by 2-inch-wide,

flexible nylon tool features a

soft felt edge on one of the

two blades to reduce friction,

protect the glossy surface

of the vinyl graphics, and

help prevent tearing during

application. 3M also offers

a 4-inch felt squeegee ($4,

trubluusa.com). – J.H.

BOATINGMAG.COM APRIL 2016 43