Can anyone suggest a good DIY method for placing a logo on a spinnaker?

I am wanting to put a 10ft high logo of a rhino head onto my kite. (my boat is called 'White Rhino') I think I'm fairly artistic and capable with my hands and I only want to do a single colour outline.

I'm guessing that the obvious sticky spinnaker tape would work but see that as a somewhat laborious process. I don't know whether any permanent marker would work or if it could damage the spinnaker cloth.

I'd be interested in any tried and tested suggestions.




Thanks.

I had some custom graphics put on a spinnaker, they told me they use a projector to put the image onto the sail and then hand paint it on, and it ain't cheap! About $600 for one spinnaker, only using two colors. Don't use tape, it will come right off when the sail stretches with the wind. The majic marker might work the best if you want cheap and simple. You could hand paint it on if you can find out what type of paint they use. Contact your sail maker, he will know.

John,

I would put it on the mainsail instead. Easier as the main does not flog anywhere as much.

Have a look at the link below to my boat for sale. The graphics I have were done directly from a .PSD (Photoshop) file I e-mailed to a graphics Company.

I agree with what Simon has said. Plus you can it in vinyl decals. If you need them done, let me know.

They will last a lot longer on the main anyway.

I'm sure this is good advice, but it sure would look cool to have a big graphic on the spinnaker as well.

Mark.

We're probably going to experiment with that some in the coming year. I have had quotes from companies that do this at around $800 even when supplied with the vectorized artwork. They basically cut a "paint stencil" vinyl (thick vinyl with low adhesion), apply it to the chute, then airbrush on the graphic, and finally remove the paint stencil. I have no idea what kind of ink/die/paint they use.

Simple,

Go to the arts and crafts store and buy a $50 projector, pin up the sail in your living room at night, project the artwork on the sail, trace with pencil, bust out the magic markers and go to town.

Total cost, $50 for projector, $5 for the markers, and $7.50 for the six pack of beer you'll be enjoying knowing that you'll be getting a full refund on the projector when you take it back to the artstore.

Chip
www.whirlwindsails.com

From a performance standpoint there is only one way to do it. You have to go with the magic marker. Any additional weight on the spinnaker will kill you in light air.

The Bull 9000 I race on from time to time has an outline of a bulls head and horns in marking pen. Simple, quick and looks ok.

More expensive option would be to get it cut and sewn into the kite.

see attached

Or glued together

You could always give North sails a call and ask them how they do it.

http://www.northsails.co.uk/sails/sailgraphics.html

What kind of graphic should you get for a main sail, do you have to go to a specialist company, and if so does anyone know a UK based one.

Gareth

www.fourhulls.com

Good choice John,

That Stealth 2002 hull does indeed give the same impression as a Rhino.

Good choice for a logo indeed

Wouter

wiGrob,

Any sign shop should be able to create you a graphic for your sail. Mylar mainsails are great receivers of vinyl graphics although there are some tricks to applying them that can save you time and give you a better application. I've got some step by step photos if you get to that point. Dacron sails should be able to receive vinyl graphics and while I have had some success with that in the past, I really haven't tested it thoroughly enough.

Be sure the sign shop uses a premium 8 to 9 year rated vinyl. While the mylar does receive the vinyl well, the little bumps from seams and scrim threads require the vinyl to be very flexible in order to go over them and remain "stuck".

If you need any help getting the graphic into a vectorized form for a sign shop, I will be glad to help.

Very nice graphics Stephen, but I was aiming for something a little more understated

Thanks for the advice though.

Thanks to everyone for the advice.

I really want to put the logo on the spinnaker rather than the main or jib. Cost rules out professional graphics so it looks as though I'll be investing in some 'Magic Markers'.

I'll let you know when I get round to doing it (I first of all need to work out where/how to project the logo onto the cloth).

Thanks again.

Please do let us know how it turns out!

Hey John:

Besides racing cats, I also race J22s and we just bought new sails last year from North Sails. Guess what they used on the spinnaker? You guessed it; MAGIC MARKERS! They explained that anything else would add weight which would affect performance. Believe me, in a light wind, you'll amost want to put sewing thread on the clews.

Wyatt

Actually I've been talking to a friend who runs an office supplies store. Apparently there are quite a few different types and quality of marker. They use different qualities and bases of inks.

He is sceptical about the idea of just buying 'any' brand of marker and thinks that I ought to try several different ones on sample pieces of cloth first.

So, starting next week I'll be conducting a series of experiments I guess.

I would also recommend that. The spinnakers are mostly nylon (right?) - which could be susceptible to solvents used in some of the markers. That's really interesting about north sails....

This is what I use and have been very successful with it. I've done my fair share of graphics and sail numbers on spinnakers. Here is a tip, ink both sides of the sail to get the absolute best results.

http://www.sharpie.com/sanford/cons...ATT_SUP_952003&currentType=SNTYPE004

Chip
www.whirlwindsail.com