2.12 Install Boat Name and Other Graphics on Hull
Attach graphics to hull.
The
boat was originally named Breezy II, and while we know it is bad luck to
rename a boat, we decided that we wanted a name that reflects our own quirky brand
of humor, and so we sanded off the old name when we prepared the hull for
painting.
Then
we had to come up with a new name.
After
some thinking, my best idea was to call her Greased Lightning, like the
hot rod car in the musical show, Grease. I even had visions of training the crew to cross the finish line
signing the signature song, “Greased Lightnin” from that musical.
Barbara,
my first mate, quickly nixed that idea, but couldn’t offer any suggestions that
turned me on.
So I
asked if Greased Lightning would be OK if we translated it into French.
She
thought about that for a while, and finally acquiesced.
So
we were ready to paint on the name Éclair Graissé, but a literate
French-speaking friend pointed out that this translated to “Greasy (or fat) Lightning,”
which was not exactly what we wanted.
But
she suggested that Éclair à Grand Vitesse would convey the meaning we
wanted, so we named the boat that.
Literally it means “Lightning with very large speed” or “Very Fast
Lightning.” Close enough.
Instead
of painting it on with a paintbrush, we worked with the local Fast Signs
franchise store and, for $25, had the name, and some accompanying graphics cut
into a sheet of paper-backed self-sticking plastic lettering material, that we
could apply with a “peel and stick” technique.
That was easier, and gave better results, than painting it on.