Has any one "refreshed" the lower helm switch lettering?

[MikeP]

The embossed lettering on our 53's lower helm for the various switches is not readable due, I assume, to fading over the years. The helm material itself is sort of medium tan and the lettering appears to have originally been gold but now is very faded. Essentially, you can't really read any of the lettering so I'd like to redo it.

What's the best way to do this?

 

[SeaEric]

Post a pic. Let's see what you have now. There are all sorts of good solutions to labeling now days.

 

[Bill Root]

Mike:

I have the same situation on mine. I have been wondering about how to renew the labels. Like you, I would want to make it look original, so re-labeling would not be an option. I hope we get some good advice.

 

[SKYCHENEY]

I wiped some white caulk into the engraved lettering. Looks like new.

Use the water based stuff and wipe with a damp cloth.

 

[Seas the Moment]

If you are referring to the "engraved" lettering (letters are lower) I went to the autoparts store and used white vehicle touch up paint. It comes in a small bottle with a built in brush. You could use most any color. Anyway, I simply cleaned the lettering with laquer thinner and toothbrush, then after dry filled the letters with the white paint (you can choose different colors) I then took a paper towel with laquer thinner, keeping the towel wrapped tight and flat around my finger to remove the paint on the flat surface. Clean the surrounding area with laquer thinner on clean paper towel and the results look great. Letters "pop" out and are very legible. Note: I did this same thing to the electrical switches throughout the boat...there are engraved letters on most all original switch covers.

 

[mike41tc]

You can also buy paint sticks. Thick lacquer paint made by Markal co. Most industrial supply houses have it. Clean the well with acetone if it's metal rub the paint stick over till the embossing is filled then wipe off excess on a paper towel that's on a good flat surface.

 

[lumina]

Hi All,

Many of our Hatts have what looks like washers behind the switch with the name engraved and originally painted. In my case all of the paint has worn away.

I've been working with Ed Tyssen at Sams to have these reproduced. I'll email him for a status and post an update,

 

[spartonboat1]

Hi All,

Many of our Hatts have what looks like washers behind the switch with the name engraved and originally painted. In my case all of the paint has worn away.

I've been working with Ed Tyssen at Sams to have these reproduced. I'll email him for a status and post an update,

I found a font style and size similar to the "washers" and had small rectangular plates made by a trophy and sign shop. I chose dark blue face (close to Hatt color) with white letters background, plus the the plates were furnished with adhesive backs. I peeled the protecting backing off the adhesive and pressed the plates into place. They stick basically immediately. They do come with small holes at each end for screws and I should have had the holes omitted, since they were not to be used. I notice that they can lift at the ends ever so slightly, so maybe a weight could be used to press them down, until adhered.

I also had plates made for the galley single handle faucet control (red- HOT, blue- COLD and lettered on the "vertical"), since I can never remember, which way is which; I now I love those title plates. I draw diesel off the bottom of the fuel filters periodically. So I had a large plate (1.5" x 3") titled "USED DIESEL" and attached the plate to an old lube oil bottle where I store the used diesel.

I removed the cheap Dymo labels from the electrical control panel, installed over the years, and installed black face, white letter plates, e.g. for the Inverter Engaged, and the two block heater switches. Looks quite nice, IMHO.

Very cheap to have made and easy to read. Esthetics pretty decent to very good.