Paddle / Boom Crutch Logo Design?

[hriehl1]

I have an original O'Day paddle that doubles as a boom crutch (set into an off-center wooden slot on the hull floor and afixed to the aft coaming). It has an O'Day Daysailer logo that is wearing off.

I want to refinish the paddle and re-do the logo, but I'm not much of a freehand artist.

Does anyone have this design in some trace-able form. Or better yet, as a decal?

Thanks

[MrPlywood]

I am a visual designer used to adapting logos for various production methods. I have a couple of ideas about how you might accomplish what you want to do, but I'd like to see what you're talking about first.

Can you post a photo of the logo and paddle?

And you might want to contact these guys first:

http://www.capecodshipbuilding.com/site/daysailer.htm

Maybe they will have what you're looking for...

[Bob Hunkins]

I don't think Cape Cod has any O'Day logos. The builders we had after O'Day sold the molds and rights to the boat to the DSA have naturally wanted to minimize the association with the O'Day corporation; they were now building the boat, after all. Unfortunately for the DSA, It gave us a very generic name for our boat. But I digress, and that's another story.

I think I have an old paddle with an O'Day logo on it. I will see if I can take a photo and do something with it to make a graphic.

On a related note, I refurbished a paddle and decided to put my boat name and sail number on it. I sanded all the old varnish off the paddle, then used a stencil and painted the name and sail number on the wood. Then I varnished over it. It came out great. I'll post a pic of that, too.

[BillHerrick]

Bob,

If you can send me a logo photo (highest resolution possible or raw) I’ll see if I can create a vector. That would make it easy to get decals made, etc.

[MrPlywood]

Bob,

If you can send me a logo photo (highest resolution possible or raw) I’ll see if I can create a vector. That would make it easy to get decals made, etc.

I didn't realize that about Cape Cod. Oh well.

I could take a shot at the logo too. I convert bitmap logos (in various states of quality) to Illustrator vectors all the time, and thought it would be a nice way to repay the forum for all the advice I've received. I would think that more than one person might want to take advantage. A nice clean vector could be used a number of ways. You can get decal paper for inkjet printers that might do the trick for paddles. Anyway, I'd be happy to help.

[hriehl1]

I have posted a close-up photo of the OEM paddle design in the Photos section of this site.

http://www.daysailer.org/forum/album_page.php?pic_id=629

[Bob Hunkins]

Bob,

If you can send me a logo photo (highest resolution possible or raw) I’ll see if I can create a vector. That would make it easy to get decals made, etc.

Bill, I sent you a high res pic of what I have. It's similar to "hriel1" posted but much larger and different parts of the text are missing from his, so maybe from both you can come up with something. Because of the size I didn't post it. Send me a note if you didn't get it.

[Bob Hunkins]

You can get decal paper for inkjet printers that might do the trick for paddles. Anyway, I'd be happy to help.

I think if the decal were laid down over clean wood then varnished it would probably work, although the colors would be changed. I never knew there was decal paper for inkjets.... What amazing modern times we live in.

[BillHerrick]

Bob et al.,

I just posted a jpg of the logo. 150dpi to get it small enough to upload. I didn't look real hard, but I didn't see an area to upload anything other than jpg's.

I have a pdf as well as cdr and ai if anyone would like those so they can get higher resolution or want to edit the image.

Now I have to go find decal paper. Re-finish the paddle - another project!!

[Bob Hunkins]

PDF for the O'Day Paddle Logo is here:
http://www.daysailer.org/daysailer/repair/pdf/Paddle%20Logo.pdf

[hriehl1]

uhhhh.... now what?

In addition to not being very arty, I'm not real handy either. Could folks weigh-in with how they think using this artwork would be most effective in re-furbing an OEM paddle?

I'm thinking
1. Print artwork onto inkjet decal paper (is 150 DPI sufficient)?
2. Sand and 2 coats of finish on paddle.
3. Apply decal to paddle.
4. Seal with several more coats of finish.

Sound about right compared to what you would do? Finish with varnish or polyurethane?

Would it be helpful for me to post a drawing of the OEM paddle dimensions... one could easily make one up from a right-sized new paddle. We find the paddle-boom-crutch extremely handy at the dock, mooring and when anchored & swimming.

[Bob Hunkins]

You could also try this method:
Print the image on some heavy paper or light card stock
using an exacto knife, cut away the artwork, leaving a stencil.
Spray some aerosol adhesive on the back side of the stencil and adhere to the paddle.
Apply paint... I used an oil based exterior grade paint.
After the paint has dried, remove the stencil
Apply as many coats of varnish or polyurathane as you see fit, lightly sanding in between.

I used spar varnish on my paddle. I forget how many coats, but it was at least two.

[BillHerrick]

One more technique for the stencil: Use self-stick shelf paper. Trace the stencil on the contact paper using carbon paper, cut it out, place the contact paper on the paddle, spray the image, remove the paper while the paint is wet, allow to dry then put the required 1/2" or 42 coats of varnish, whichever comes first. Tongue in cheek - it'll just seem like 42 coats.

[MrPlywood]

Hi guys,

I just sent Bob another version of the logo. Hopefully he can post that one as well. It's a simpler file (in the technical sense) with fewer control points and letterforms created from original fonts. As well, the flag logo reflects the curved sails.

I've been thinking about the decal idea, and you might run into some trouble with the solvents in the varnish eating the decal. If you go that route, make sure you test first. I would use the PDF to print from, you'll get a cleaner image.

The file that I created is suitable for vinyl cutting, so you could go to a sign shop and have them cut the logo for you. Shouldn't cost much and it will be more accurate than the hand cutting. You can go two ways with this. Have them create a "sticker" out of vinyl that you would then apply to the paddle. It's quick and easy, and you should be able to topcoat it for protection. The logo will be raised a little sue to the thickness of the vinyl, but they should have various thicknesses to choose from.

The shop should also have some thinner lo-tack adhesive material for stencils. You apply the "negative" stencil, spray a couple of light coats, remove the stencil when the paint is dry, and coat with varnish. This is method that I'm going to use.

Either way, have them cut a couple while they're at it, for future use.

I'm wondering if the original was actually silkscreened, which you could also do

Cheers

[hriehl1]

I think I'll try the inkjet / decal route. I'm a bit clumsy and not allowed to play with exacto knives or chainsaws.

Rough guess... what kind of money would a sign shop likely charge to do whatever it is (vinyl-cutting) others are recommending?