I've got one other trick I have used to apply vinyl decals. First, I trim the excess backing material on the top of the decal into a straight edge if its not already that way. Then I hold the decal/backing material up to the boat and position it where I like it. Next,I take a piece of masking tape and run it along the top edge of the backing material, half of it on the backing material and half of it on the boat. This make a sort of "hinge" that allows me to then flip the decal/backing material up and down. Now I, flip the decal/backing material up, and peel the backing from the adhesive side of the decal while continuing to hold the decal in the flipped up position. I then take a credit card or something similar, and while holding the bottom edge of the decal up, place the card on the tape hinge and slide it downwards. Maintaining the bottom edge of the decal in the "up" position as I slide the card down the hull and over the top edge of the decal allows it to push the decal onto the boat without and bubbles and the keep it aligned exactly as I had it when I taped the "hinge". Once I have slid the card completely down the decal I give it a good rub and then remove the paper backing which keeps the decal spaced properly from the front of the decal. If I am doing a large multi-letter decal, once I have placed the hinge on the boat I cut the decal into sections between the letters and place the sections on individually. As long as I don't distrub the hinge and I squeegee them from the hinge down, they will land in exactly the same place everytime. Just as an added precaution, I do mist a little lightly soaped water under them as well, like Bill suggested. If you use the soapy water, another trick is after the letters are squeegeed down and you have pushed all the soapy water out, spray and soak the spacer material with soapy water and let it soak for 5-10 minutes before peeling. It will peel off way easier. You will be less likely to dis-lodge the letters during the removal process as it takes a while for all the moisture to disapate from between the letters and the hull and they won't devlop their full adhesion for a while. I always try to remeber when pulling off the spacer material to try to peel it back over itself rather than pull "away" from the hull!! Anyways...for what its worth...that has worked for me.. :-) Sean