This was a pretty good discussion in the F16 forums. I have always been an advocate for nice graphics on boats. Other do not like them.

My take on graphics is, if it creates attention and makes our boats more appealing to non-sailors, then why not? Obviously its working on the mono-hulls. Specially the big boats. For example TP52s, Volvos, Americas Cup to name a few.
This image is what triggered this thread. Taken from sailing anarchy.
What do you all think about this approach?

As posted in the F16 forum.... Here are a couple of my old boats from early 90s to 2000. Drew a lot of attention and realy looked good with the mouth darting in and out of the water on a big reach

The grey boat also had gill and fin graphics down the side also which you can not quiet see in this shot.

Sponsorship graphics look cool too.

I think everybody should have sponsor advertising on their sails. I can't remember if anybody has given this link before. http://www.photosails.com/ Scroll down and there are several catamarans, including a group of Hobies on the beach.

I just wish they were more affordable. We were going to explore the feasibility of getting businesses here at Put-in-Bay to each sponsor a sail for our Wave fleet this summer, but we just have not gotten around to it yet. We race close to shore, where we can be seen from various restaurants and by lots of tourists.

Thanks Mary.

Robi, Now that's what I'm talking about!!

ooops Terry, wrong url to use the image tags.

All those photos are fake. Looks like a photoshop to me.

And yes photos on sails are cool. How about graphics on the hulls?

Those "photosails" are printed on a special ink-receptive fabric and then made into sails. I wouldn't expect them to be up to date on the latest sail shapes OR would I expect their special ink-receptive fabrics to hold up very well.

But I think it goes without saying that I'm a fan of graphics on boats.

The sails are made by a reputable sailmaker. And in the case of a one-design fleet like ours, it really doesn't matter much, as long as the sails are all made at the same place with the same material. Since they are all custom-made, I'm sure the sailmaker can cut them flat, medium or full depending on crew weight requirements.

I figure they should last at least five summer seasons up here. But even if they only lasted two seasons, it probably could still be a realistic investment for a business to buy a sail. On Thursday evenings we usually race in the anchorage area if there aren't too many boats. On Saturday afternoons we sail through a very crowded anchorage, full of people lounging on their boats, to get to and from our sailing area over in front of the Monument.

I can picture this kind of thing helping our fleet to grow because of businesses wanting to join in and be part of the competition of these floating billboards. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> (Might inspire a little bit of betting among the spectators, as well.)

Mary,

I think for that application on Hobie Waves, you are better off with a mylar main sail and having the logos printed on vinyl film (just like they use for wrapping these advertising car schemes you see now). You can probably figure around $15 / square foot for the printing - maybe less in higher quanitites of the same thing.

how much would spinner hubs on my trailer cost.

I can see this episode of "pimp my boat" coming together nicely...

Now we're talking. I saw a semi truck with spinners on the front 6 wheels the other day.

I saw a semi being driven by a rather spiffy looking blonde babe. All of the mud flaps on her truck had a chrome silouette of a fat guy drinking a beer.

Holy COW! I don't remember that at all! That's me sailing Ms. September during the Alter Cup in 2003. (nice start too huh?).

[quote
Holy COW! I don't remember that at all! That's me sailing Ms. September during the Alter Cup in 2003. (nice start too huh?).

[/quote]

Nice sail material, Jake.

There's no way you could concentrate on tactics <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

If your sail looked like that you would have no trouble keeping your eyes on the telltales...er...tassles?

A nearly neked babe with tassles...that would be cool. Or maybe a NAKED honey with the telltales covering her darker bits except when the telltales are really flowing back. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> To distract your competitors, perhaps?

nicely done. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Somebody really needs some more photoshop practice...

The guys came up with a pretty goog looking one on mine.Looks like a heart monitor.


Doug Snell
"Stress Free"#007