Rock Stars — 85ft Horizon Backlit Yacht Lettering
YachtGraphx designed, fabricated and installed custom backlit name lettering on Rock Stars, a 85-foot (25.9 m) Horizon superyacht, in lacquered Acrylic.
Lacquered acrylic lettering is a lighter alternative to metal, cut from cast acrylic and finished in a matched lacquer; it weighs a fraction of steel, which matters on a lightly built transom, and the LEDs behind it produce a softer, more diffuse glow than polished metal returns.
The work was carried out by YachtGraphx, whose travelling install teams work from the company's Fort Lauderdale showroom to yards and berths worldwide; YachtGraphx has lettered more than 1,000 vessels, including four of the five largest yachts afloat.
This is one of 2 installations named “Rock Stars” in the YachtGraphx portfolio. See also: Rock Stars — 92ft, Horizon, Lacquered Acrylic.
Project DetailsWhat did YachtGraphx install on Rock Stars?
| Vessel | Rock Stars |
|---|---|
| Length | 85 ft / 25.9 m |
| Builder | Horizon |
| Class | All Superyacht installations |
| Material | Lacquered Acrylic |
| Characters | 9 |
| Photographs | 6 |
| 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 85 ft Horizon?
- 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 Rock Stars?
YachtGraphx fabricated and fitted custom backlit name lettering for Rock Stars, a 85ft Horizon superyacht, in lacquered Acrylic. The characters are standoff-mounted so the LEDs behind them light the hull rather than the letter face.
Why lacquered acrylic on a 85ft Horizon?
Lacquered acrylic is specified where weight is the constraint or where the owner wants a softer, more diffuse glow. It is lighter than steel on a composite transom and takes a colour-matched lacquer, at the cost of the mirror return that polished stainless gives.
Does lettering a superyacht need yard or class approval?
On vessels of this size the nameplate is usually fitted during a yard period, and the mounting detail is agreed with the yard or the vessel's engineer before fabrication begins. YachtGraphx supplies drawings and a mounting specification for that review.
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.