Blog

There are two ways to apply vinyl graphics — dry and wet — and the right choice depends on the size of the graphic, the surface and the conditions. This guide covers both methods step by step, along with surface preparation, temperature, handling curves and aftercare.

One of our recent projects was creating a truly special custom boat name for a customer – Pastida – but with a twist: it was designed in Greek letters.

Pastida is a beautiful village on the island of Rhodes, and it holds a special place in the owner’s heart, as they used to live there. They wanted their narrowboat to carry that memory with them wherever they travelled, so we worked closely to get the lettering style just right, matching the look and feel of traditional Greek signage.

Once the vinyl lettering was ready, they fitted it themselves – and we think they did a fantastic job. Now, every time their boat is moored or cruising along the waterways, it’s a little reminder of sun-drenched days and a beloved home across the sea.

Whether it’s custom lettering, unique scripts, or designs that tell your story, we love helping boat owners add personal touches that make their vessel truly their own.

We’ve just completed a nice job at Stafford Boat Club – creating and fitting a custom vinyl Black Country chain to the bow of a customer’s narrowboat.

The owner wanted something that reflected their roots and added a touch of personality to their boat, so we worked together to design a chain pattern inspired by the proud heritage of the Black Country. Once the vinyl was cut and prepared, we carefully fitted it to the bow, making sure every link sat perfectly in place.

The end result? A narrowboat with a unique bow detail that not only stands out on the water but also tells a little story about where its owner comes from. It’s always a pleasure to help bring someone’s vision to life – especially when it celebrates local history and craftsmanship.

If you’re looking to personalise your narrowboat with vinyl graphics, custom designs, or heritage-inspired details, we’d be happy to help you make it happen.

Barracuda graphics and boat name, fitted by another happy customer- thanks for the photos!

Setting Sail with a Sense of Humor: Boat name Skintus

See this link for history on Roses and Castle

https://www.thegraphicsboat.co.uk/roses-and-castles

Thanks to @resolute28r for the photo of their #fareast28r boat showing some great looking graphics - good look with the next project! #boatnames #mariine #vinylboatgraphics

We're a small family business in Southern Scotland and we've made a few practical changes over the years to reduce our environmental impact — solar panels on the workshop, paper-based application tape, recycled packaging tubes and offcuts going to local craft groups rather than the bin. Nothing dramatic, but it adds up.

UK boats are subject to a range of marking and identification requirements depending on their type, size and use. Some are mandatory under law; others are voluntary schemes. This guide covers the main requirements — official numbers, hull marking, SSR registration, lifebuoy marking and more — and explains what each one means in practice.