attaching a vinyl name label

[beluga11]

I just bought, on EBay, a label showing my boat's name. It's the kind you peel off a backing, and the letters are sticky. Probably serves well as a decal for a car window.

It doesn't stick at all to the hypalon of my Zodiac. Before I ruin it by experimenting with whatever — hypalon glue, epoxy, aqua seal, shoe goo, vinyl glue — I thought I better ask here if anybody else has found a solution for applying one of these decals to hypalon. If nothing works, what do you folks recommend I use to fabricate and attach a nameplate to my pontoon?

[Maximus]

I've used them in the past the only trick is to make sure you clean area with some type of solvent BEFORE application to the Tubes....use a flat plastic "spreader" to get a good close bond,with no air bubbles
You can then go over the top with you're usual tube protector as normal.
They will last several seasons at least.

[beluga11]

what do you mean "go over the top with tube protector"?

another problem is that Already tried affixing the decal, and it peeled off soon thereafter, also there's not much of the original gum left.

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by beluga11

what do you mean "go over the top with tube protector"?

another problem is that Already tried affixing the decal, and it peeled off soon thereafter, also there's not much of the original gum left.

There are several UV protecting and Hypalon conditioning products out there,they will certainly help to keep the Tubes in decent Nick for longer...applied after your usual wash down
Sounds like it may be too late for those decals...

[Dave Cowell]

Laser cut name from hypalon will be the most durable.
We have done several for Ribnet members

[Maximus]

Originally Posted by Dave Cowell

Laser cut name from hypalon will be the most durable.
We have done several for Ribnet members

That's the way to go if you want them to be permanent ....just a real Sod to get rid of if you need too for any reason.

[jyasaki]

I found that the slight amount of stretch that hypalon has caused the vinyl stickers to pucker eventually (even after getting a good initial bond - for that, a wipe with solvent and an acetone wash on the label will help, but make sure the front is solvent-safe.)

Either stick the vinyl to a plastic plate and zip-tie to lifelines, put the label on a more rigid backing (console, for example), or go with the hypalon glue-on nameplates as Mr. Cowell suggested.

jky

[C-NUMB]

I have used a pvc "patch" glued on the hypalon as a base for the vinyl letters, worked well for several years, no issue at all.