I've been looking at applying decals/logo/lettering to skin boats, too. I'll be interested to see if there are some other DIY / low-cost solutions out there that I have not come across.

So far, I've tried adhesive vinyl lettering, both off-the-shelf and lettering that I got my wife to cut from vinyl sheet stock. I much preferred the custom-cut lettering - the off-the-shelf Helvetica just doesn't look right on a skin boat - but the material I used was not as waterproof as claimed. The off-the-shelf lettering sticks extremely well (better get it right the first time!) but the color selection is extremely limited (as is the font...).

I suppose one could use a vinyl sheet stock with removable/low-tack adhesive to create a stencil, which would eliminate the difficulty of trying to maintain spacing and line up individual letters.

You can get custom stickers printed relatively inexpensively, so that might be a good route to look at for a logo. I'd probably have the logo printed on the largest size sticker available, then trim it (since pre-cut stickers are likely to be a lot larger investment due to minimums and custom die charges). The problem here is that most of the custom sticker businesses online have a limited number of sizes - a bumper sticker is generally the largest size - but a local graphics business may well be able to do much larger printing if you want something legible from a distance.

There is inkjet-printable vinyl available, but the consumer printer ink is not known to have the best fade resistance. You could possibly clear-coat the vinyl to help protect it, but that will only go so far and the clear coat may not last long, or may darken with UV exposure.

A sign shop or business that specializes in vinyl graphics on vehicles (or other things) will certainly be able to sell you some kind of solution, although it may well be a bit expensive compared to DIY solutions...

: I have a couple of boats I want to put a Logo on and perhaps the
: boats name. They may be going to a big race and I want my logo
: on there. These are painted dacron so I can obviously paint on a
: name. But I have no skill at sign painting. I have thought about
: and looked for a stencil of some sort. I was thinking maybe you
: could find one that you put on like masking tape, some kind of
: adhesive back material. Painted it and then peeled off. No luck
: yet.

: Vinyl lettering is a option and I know a good sign shop that can do
: that. All I have do is give him an image file and he cut most
: anything I want. Not sure I like it though. He may be able to
: make a stencil or have some options I am not aware of.

: Someone have another better idea I am not aware of?