What vinyl for inflatable rubber dinghy boat

[kheebl]

Have a buddy who has a zodiac rubber dinghy that he keeps on his large boat. He needs some boat registration numbers on there. So I cut a set out of 751 and after about a month they are starting to bubble (I'm guessing from out gassing of the rubber). What vinyl should I use. He wants nothing fancy just solid black letters. I have read about flame treating but I don't think he wants to try that on his boat lol.

He told me afterwards that most people paint the numbers on the rubber. But if I can figure out the correct vinyl to use he has a bunch of buddies at his marina who would most likely want some work done.

 

[kheebl]

here is a picture of what happened

 

[Graphic Destruction]

Anything inflatable shrinks and expands with the heat of the day. I've never done vinyl on an inflatable rubber.... But my gut says make a stencil from cheap vinyl and paint.

 

[kheebl]

Anything inflatable shrinks and expands with the heat of the day. I've never done vinyl on an inflatable rubber.... But my gut says make a stencil from cheap vinyl and paint.

that was an option we were going to try if I couldn't find a suitable vinyl

 

[Graphic Destruction]

Try calling oracal tomorrow and ask for Josh, but I doubt he or any other manufacturers have a long term solution for this application.

 

[letterman7]

This has been asked before. There isn't a vinyl that is going to last long term on an inflatable. Flexible paints made for this purpose are commercially available. You'll need to know what the boat is actually made from.. most are hypalon, but best to double check. Another option is a simply flat panel that can be lashed to the boat.