Ravello — 72ft Zeelander Backlit Yacht Lettering
YachtGraphx designed, fabricated and installed custom backlit name lettering on Ravello, a 72-foot (21.9 m) Zeelander yacht, in stainless Steel.
Backlit lettering of this type is a solid marine-grade nameplate, machined from plate and standoff-mounted clear of the transom, so LEDs behind each character wash light onto the hull and the name reads as a halo after dark.
The work was carried out by YachtGraphx from the company's Fort Lauderdale showroom; YachtGraphx has lettered more than 1,000 vessels over more than twenty years, including four of the five largest yachts afloat.
What did YachtGraphx install on Ravello?
| Vessel | Ravello |
|---|---|
| Length | 72 ft / 21.9 m |
| Builder | Zeelander |
| Class | All Yacht installations |
| Material | Stainless Steel |
| Characters | 7 |
| Photographs | 2 |
| Installed by | YachtGraphx |
How long does backlit yacht lettering take to build and fit?
- Design. Layout and letter height are set against photographs of the transom, and a proof is issued for approval.
- Fabrication. Characters are cut and finished, and the illumination and fixings are built up and bench-tested.
- Fitting. Positions are set out from a template, the transom is drilled once, and the characters and drivers are fitted and commissioned.
What determines the cost of lettering a 72 ft Zeelander?
- Character count and letter height — the two biggest drivers.
- Material and finish: lacquered acrylic and polished stainless carry different fabrication cost.
- Whether the characters are illuminated, and how the supply is run.
- Mounting: standoff fixings on a curved or cored transom take longer to set out.
- Where the vessel lies, and whether a team has to travel to it.
Frequently asked questions
What lettering did YachtGraphx install on Ravello?
YachtGraphx fabricated and fitted custom backlit name lettering for Ravello, a 72ft Zeelander yacht, in stainless Steel. The characters are standoff-mounted so the LEDs behind them light the hull rather than the letter face.
Why stainless Steel on a 72ft Zeelander?
Marine-grade stainless is specified where the nameplate has to survive continuous salt exposure and hold a mirror finish. It is heavier than acrylic, so the transom structure and the mounting method are checked before the letter height is fixed.
How is the lettering fixed to the transom?
Characters are standoff-mounted on marine-grade fixings set clear of the surface, which creates the gap the LEDs wash light through. Fixing centres are set out from a template so the transom is drilled once.
How are the LEDs powered?
The illumination runs from the vessel's low-voltage DC supply, with the driver and any switching sited inboard. The exact supply is agreed with the vessel's electrician.
More general questions are answered on the YachtGraphx FAQ.