Salvaje — 165ft Mangusta Backlit Yacht Lettering
YachtGraphx designed, fabricated and installed custom backlit name lettering on Salvaje, a 165-foot (50.3 m) Mangusta megayacht, 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, 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.
What did YachtGraphx install on Salvaje?
| Vessel | Salvaje |
|---|---|
| Length | 165 ft / 50.3 m |
| Builder | Mangusta |
| Class | All Megayacht installations |
| Material | Stainless Steel |
| Characters | 7 |
| Photographs | 3 |
| 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 165 ft Mangusta?
- 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 Salvaje?
YachtGraphx fabricated and fitted custom backlit name lettering for Salvaje, a 165ft Mangusta megayacht, 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 165ft Mangusta?
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.
Does lettering a megayacht 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.
Can backlit lettering be fitted with the vessel in the water?
Transom lettering above the waterline is normally fitted afloat, from a tender or a dock. Hauling is only needed when the work area sits below the boot top or the yard requires it.
More general questions are answered on the YachtGraphx FAQ.