Things to Consider When Installing Yacht Signs

When it the times comes to installing yacht signs, it’s prudent to follow a few simple installation and care tips to make sure your name is correctly installed and also to help keep your letters looking great for years to come.

First of all, prior to any installation, make sure that there is good access available to both the mounting surface and also on the interior of the yacht. It’s preferable to have sufficient access behind each letter in order to gather wires and also for tightening up fixings. Ample room for an arm is usually adequate. On larger yacht names it can be wise to have access for a person, if not possible, sometimes access hatches can be installed. 

Yacht Name Template Alignment

With your yacht name, Lumenautica will supply you with a solid drilling template that is precisely CNC cut with exact letter spacing’s and hole positions. The positioning of this is purely preferential but more often than not will follow the centre line of the transom and be measured up parallel from the swim platform. Side names are more difficult to align as there is often no straight or level edge to measure from. If there is a known level edge then the template can be measured parallel from there but in most cases it is roughly measured and then tweaked by eye to suit what looks right from the dock or pontoon.

It may sound obvious but in no circumstances should a spirit level be used unless the boat is known to be perfectly level.  If you prefer, we can instruct our team of experts to carry out the installation for you, just let us know. 

Deck & Paint Surface Protection

The installation process can get messy, especially when drilling multiple holes. It’s wise to cover any painted surfaces and teak decking around the name. Masking the area with blue foam is the most effective method. This will stop any scratches or unwanted bangs from a misplaced tool.

Installing Yacht Signs – External

Unless stated from point of order, all Lumenautica letters are designed to be mounted flat and stay flat. When fixing letters in place, make sure that they sit perfectly flat in their location. They are NOT designed to be pulled around the superstructure curvature. Depending on your mounting type, rubber, Plexi or stainless steel spacers will be provided to aid any superstructure curvature.

Installing Yacht Signs – Internal

When fastening any letters in place, DO NOT over tighten the nuts, this can strip threads or unduly pull a letter around a curve. With the correct washer, gaskets and sealants, only an over-pinch tighten is sufficient to create a seal. Always use two full nuts and counter-lock them to avoid the nuts from vibrating loose. DO NOT use Nylock nuts as these can over-tighten the threads.

LED wiring and fibre optic cable can be delicate and it should be treated so. Wires should not be unduly tugged or kinked. To stop wires from being accidentally tugged, secure them in place with good quality cable ties.

Contact of Dissimilar Metals

All Lumenautica’s fixings are 316, A4 stainless steel. Your mounting surface may contain aluminium or mild steel which the letter fixings will pass through/come into contact with. A good practice is to coat any threads and fixings which contact a dissimilar metal with Tef Gel to reduce the risk of electrolysis. In some cases, Lumenautica will provide fixing sleeves to tackle this issue.

Clean up procedures

After installing yacht signs, all debris and drilling swarf should be immediately cleaned off all surfaces and teak decking. Any mild steel swarf will instantly oxidise over night which will cause staining to teak or even paintwork.

Over time, even polished stainless steel surfaces can rust in harsh salty marine conditions. Letters that are subjected to salt water splashing and drying out cycle on a daily basis are particularly susceptible. It’s a good practice to keep any polished stainless steel surfaces salt residue-free at all times by rinsing them with fresh warm water and detailing them with a micro fibre cloth.

For stubborn stains, hot water with a mild detergent is recommended. Abrasive cleaners such as Jif type cream cleaners are not advised as they will leave hairline scratches and detract from your mirror polished effect.

If in doubt, please call the Lumenautica Technical Team +44 1455 632897 or get in touch here