3 inch Traditional Plastic Boat Registration Letters and Numbers

[FatOMalley]

Does anyone know where I might find traditional solid plastic boat registration letter / numbers? The old kind that you nail into wooden boats. They're black letters with a raised white shadow background.

[rbgarr]

I've only seen them in the 5" size lately: http://tinyurl.com/5rr5qm

[boylesboats]

Why plastic on wooden boats?.... Paint 'em on....

[The Gentleman Sawyer]

Why plastic on wooden boats?.... Paint 'em on....

Here we go.......

Ken

[FatOMalley]

Thanks.

I have a 1957 14 foot Penn Yan. It has the original Bernard rigid plastic (black face with white bevel) registration letters / numbers. I have one broken number. Because the letters are raised, I think they look better than evan painted letters and its authentic for the year even though its plastic. Thanks for the tip on the website. This marine supplier only has 5 inch letters so I contacted Bernard directly and it turns out they're local.

[michigangeorge]

Those plastic numbers are not "traditional". They may have been "original" on your boat because the dealer could make a few cents on them or get the boat out the door faster, but usually it was just an unknowledgeable, lazy or cheap owner who would put the damn things on a wooden boat instead of painting. There were lots of ugly things on boats and automobiles in the fiftys but that does not make it right or even "authentic" unless it came from the factory that way.

[Kaa]

Those plastic numbers are not "traditional".

Well, to tell the truth, putting state registration numbers in big letters on bows of boats is not traditional at all... :D

Kaa

[michigangeorge]

Well, to tell the truth, putting state registration numbers in big letters on bows of boats is not traditional at all... :D

Kaa

You are so right Kaa! In fact all of us with wooden boats should fight this inane requirement. All it is is another tax grab by the states so they can hire more marine patrols to harrass us with "safety" inspections while some a-hole on a jetski is merrily jumping wakes too close to other boats, docks, swimmers etc.:mad:

[Kaa]

You are so right Kaa! In fact all of us with wooden boats should fight this inane requirement. All it is is another tax grab by the states so they can hire more marine patrols to harrass us with "safety" inspections while some a-hole on a jetski is merrily jumping wakes too close to other boats, docks, swimmers etc.:mad:

Unfortunately most if not all state regulations say that the numbers must be "permanently affixed" to the hull. I've been considering some kind of a removable plank/board but didn't come up with any decent way of attaching it -- one that looks "permanent" and does not involve making (more) holes in the hull.

By the way, where does the jurisdiction of the state cops end (and USCG takes over)? And does USCG enforce state regulations?

Kaa

[Bob Cleek]

Use nice brass or bronze letters. Make sure you fasten them with small bronze screws (NOT brass... they'll turn to crap). This is the correct way to go, other than custom painting. The brass letters will give you the raised effect you are looking for. Plastic just hasn't been around long enough to be "traditional" for any purpose at all.

[dmede]

Use nice brass or bronze letters. Make sure you fasten them with small bronze screws (NOT brass... they'll turn to crap). This is the correct way to go, other than custom painting. The brass letters will give you the raised effect you are looking for. Plastic just hasn't been around long enough to be "traditional" for any purpose at all.

Hmm. You got any online sources? Or just a pic or two, I'd like to see how this looks.

[BrianM]

Use nice brass or bronze letters. Make sure you fasten them with small bronze screws (NOT brass... they'll turn to crap). This is the correct way to go, other than custom painting. The brass letters will give you the raised effect you are looking for. Plastic just hasn't been around long enough to be "traditional" for any purpose at all.

Ignore Master Yoda-Cleek:p Listen to the dark side, your power will grow stronger. Used the "Sunken effect". Buy Nothing, just remove wood you already have!

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b7d738b3127ccebce9bfdb25dc00000036100FZsWrly3Ym

[SawmillBrook]

Forgive me for hijacking this thread... but I too am looking for a "Stencil kit" and I'd like to paint the numbers as well as the name of the boat. Any ideas for stencils?

Thank you.

Andrew

[BBSebens]

I work for an HVAC company, in the fab shop making duct work. We have a computer controlled plasma torch that we use to "burn" out all of the flat pieces of the duct. we can also make lots of other cool stuff, like letters. I burned out the name of my boat in 6" letters just to see how it would look. If it worked out well I would make them out of stainless and screw them on with stainless screws. Thought about mounting them to a plank.

If you contact a local HVAC shop, they might be able to do something for you. Make anything you like out of stainless, copper or aluminum. I dont know about plasma cutting brass.

I think its a neat idea.

[boylesboats]

I work for an HVAC company, in the fab shop making duct work. We have a computer controlled plasma torch that we use to "burn" out all of the flat pieces of the duct. we can also make lots of other cool stuff, like letters. I burned out the name of my boat in 6" letters just to see how it would look. If it worked out well I would make them out of stainless and screw them on with stainless screws. Thought about mounting them to a plank.

If you contact a local HVAC shop, they might be able to do something for you. Make anything you like out of stainless, copper or aluminum. I dont know about plasma cutting brass.

I think its a neat idea.

Use a scroll saw to cut brass

[boylesboats]

Forgive me for hijacking this thread... but I too am looking for a "Stencil kit" and I'd like to paint the numbers as well as the name of the boat. Any ideas for stencils?

Thank you.

Andrew

Your microsoft office may have some neat fonts that you didn't know
I have over 300 fonts in my PC... (downloaded from here http://www.1001fonts.com/ )
I enlarge each letters that'll fits one pages at a time..
print it out on a 8.5" X 11 card stocks..
Cut the letters out using a x-acto knife.. and there ya go..

[Tom Robb]

If the boat was an old Rumrunner would scrambled fonts - like a ransom note - be true to the style of the original tommy gun packin' owners? ;)

[boylesboats]

If the boat was an old Rumrunner would scrambled fonts - like a ransom note - be true to the style of the original tommy gun packin' owners? ;)

Yup :D it'll be different