The vinyl boat wrap first appeared in the 80’s with little fanfare. Used on road vehicles for decades they were never really adopted by the marine industry….until recently. With improved technology, durability, spectacular finishes and quick installation “wraps” have now taken off.

While refitting boats in the past, I would always cringe when receiving the bill for the new paint job. There is a lot that goes into a re-spray from fixes, preparation, masking, the paint and finishing. In reality the large bills justify the effort in getting your boat sparkling again…but is there another way?

So how do vinyl boat wraps fare as an option for boat owners and marine professionals? 

What exactly is a vinyl wrap?

Boat owners have been debating between wraps and paint as eye-catching hull protection. Recently, vinyl wrapping has boomed in popularity, not only for luxury cars and speedboats, but also among large yacht owners. 

The quality of wraps has developed—from poly vinyl chloride (PVC), LDPE (low density polyethylene), to LDPP (low density polypropylene) plastics. Even the range of colours, metallics, and custom graphics have become so extensive that boaters have turned to vinyl wraps to make their vessels look unique both inside and out.

Vinyl wrap vs boat paint

Wraps may have been one of the best things to have happened to the marine industry in years. In this article, let’s explore some of these most notable differences between the two.

Maintenance

Using paint or gelcoat may require conscientious buffing and polishing for detailers to keep your boat’s coat in tip-top shape. On the other hand, using a vinyl wrap only demands a bit of soapy water and a bit of elbow grease to keep it at its best. Along with the fact that a vinyl wrap incorporates UV resistance that allows the wrap to hold its colour over a longer time, there really isn’t anything to complain about maintenance-wise.

Customisability

Vinyl wraps make customising your boat easy. From a basic colour wrap to all out graphic design, wraps have it covered. If you own a charter company or just want to advertise your business, there is no better marketing avenue than getting your boat wrapped with your business name or logo plastered wherever visible. Talk about not-so-subtle brand placement!

Cost

The cost of wrapping a boat has dropped massively in the last couple of years. With a lot more companies cashing in on the market, the average cost now ranges from fifteen hundred dollars for a 4.5-meter to ten thousand dollars for a 60-footer, which is a hell of a lot cheaper than painting. 

For price considerations, some factors that may affect the cost of boat wraps include: 

• The size of the boat, which may change the amount of vinyl wrap and labor;
• The design time, which may vary depending on the complexity of the preferred design
• The installation time, which are dependent on other factors like the size
• The type and material of vinyl wrap used, whether it’s PVC, LDPE, or LDPP.

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Resale value

Another massive upside to wrapping your boat is the resale value. Resale value is important when it comes to selling your pride and joy. If you invested in vinyl wraps, maintaining the resale value is as simple as peeling back the wrap and putting a new one on or just cleaning up the surface. 

In comparison, a paint job will involve a labour-intensive process. If you were to do it yourself, stripping, prepping, priming and then repainting will take time and won’t be cheap either. If you’re looking for the best bang for your buck and maximum resale, then wraps are definitely worth considering.

Environmently friendly

Stripping an old paint job and prepping before spraying requires an incredible amount of chemicals. Additionally, there’s also the need for sandblasting. When these tasks are not performed in a professionally managed environment, the paint stripper and primer, often end up in the drain system, then out to sea. 

With wraps, preparation is also vital to make sure that the surface is clean and smooth. A light sand and a bit of gelcoat to iron out those little chips and cracks is often all you need.

Remember, as responsible boaters, whether you’re embarking on a brand new paint job or spectacular graphic wrap, it’s important to make sure all care is taken to limit any impact to your environment.

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Things to remember when preparing your boat for a wrap

As mentioned earlier, securing a new wrap for your boat requires preparation. Your boat’s coat needs to be prepared properly. Doing so will ensure that the new wrap will not only hold well, but will also have a professional-quality finish.

When preparing your boat for a wrap, make sure that:

• The hull is free of flakey paint. If it has a gel coat, make sure you remove any chalkiness.
• Make sure all dents and dings are repaired as uneven areas may show. This will alleviate divots or bubbles when temperature changes causes expansion and shrinkage.
• All the hull fittings are clean. That means, it should be free from mold, silicone residue and algal growth. Lastly, remove all the skin fittings and re-install over the completed wrap.

The Last Cast

We know boat wraps are not for everyone and every application. But, wraps have now provided a quality alternative to traditional paint at a fraction of the cost. If you’re looking to keep your boat sharp and ready for a fresh new look, wraps should definitely be seriously considered.

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Have you recently installed a boat wrap? Let us know what you think? Share your experience in the comments below.