Boat Graphics

[LazyGuy]

While I am a traditionalist liking lettering outlined - maybe shadowed - but no silly graphics, my sister was not and she is who the dingy will be named for. Yes, my sister was a little dingy. She lost her battle with cancer earlier this winter and this dingy has been my therapy. With both of us being cat lovers (genetic I guess) I am looking to do her nick name "Tish" with a cat laying across the top of the T batting at the dot on the "i." I am finding all kinds of places that do lettering and Speedy Sign that has cat graphics but they do not have the graphic I need nor do they have ANY flexibility on the graphics they have.

Does anyone have any ideas for where I can go?

Thanks - I am heading to the shop for a little therapy right now.

[Rachel]

I'm really sorry to hear about your sister.

I like your idea for naming the dinghy after her. Both the sentiment and the idea for the cat lying on the top of the "T" batting at the "i." I can just picture a real cat doing that :)

If you don't mind working with someone remotely, there is a fellow who's a member of the Trailer Sailor board who does vinyl boat names and comes well recommended. His name is Rik and he lives in Minnesota.

I haven't worked with him, but people from across the country (who are on TSBB) have worked with him on names. In fact, one Texas couple with a catboat had a really neat one with a cat and footprints worked into the name of "Cat's Pajamas." I've dropped the owner a note to see if he would mind if I shared a photo of that here.

Let me know if you're interested and I'll post Rik's contact info here (don't have it to hand anyway).

Rachel

[Rachel]

Dennis,

I spoke with the fellow who owned catboat (since sold) that Rik did the graphics for, and he said that he was pleased with Rik's work, and that I was welcome to post the image of the boat's name (and if the file would help you at all, I could send it to you).

By the way, I remembered a cat and footprints, but I guess it was just footprints. Anyway:





By the way, don't feel like you "should" go with my suggestion just because it's someone I've mentioned. I just offer it as potential source information.

Rachel

[LazyGuy]

Rachel,

Thank you. I am going to pull the thread on a couple of local leads but Rik is near the top of my list. Does he have a website or is it just an email?

[Figment]

I can envision a trail of those pawprints as an interesting kind of cove stripe.

[Rachel]

Dennis,

I was out of town for a couple of days and am just reading these now. I don't think Rik has a website, but let me check into it and get back to you.

Rachel

PS: Figment - I'd love to see that. The paw prints really do make that logo.

[LazyGuy]

I am thinking of adding a few paw prints on the inside of the boat. They look great on the logo and they would not be too tough to free hand.

[LazyGuy]

Evidently, we are limited to three pictures per post so the first post is the dingy in the original condition.
This is a "free" dingy, an old Dyer 7'11" that was in someone's back yard for at least 15 years. They didn't paint the inside so the light would pass through the boat to limit the amount of darkening of the cabin when it was placed over the forward hatch.

[LazyGuy]

Here is the finished boat, well, almost finished. I still need to put on the rub rail as well as the bow and stern lines.

As you can see, it all worked out.

[Ric in Richmond]

Very cool!! Love the paw prints...