Boat Name plates etc.

This is a "Hint and Tip" that I'm still exploring, so please give me comments; I'm sure most of you already have better solutions! But... to carry on regardless: If you have a computer and an ink-jet printer you can design the name plate on the computer and then use the "ink-jet transfer paper", (normally used to print photos on T-shirts) to transfer the image to a piece of thin wood.

The left example is about 1 inch across, the right one is three inches wide. Although ink-jet ink is not waterproof, the transfer paper coats the image with a waterproof layer giving a "varnished over paint" effect. Of course you don't have to leave the background clear like I have, you could have a colour fill, or whatever. There are imperfections, but that all adds to the realism!

Disadvantages: the paper is transferred using an iron on it's hottest setting, so don't try doing this on nylon sails! Also the surface needs to be flat, but if you use thin wood you can then apply it to a curved surface.