"Wrapping" a boat

D

Ductboy

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Oct 18, 2003
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I was reading an automotive article about applying wrapping to cars, similar to what they do to busses. The article also mentioned that "dipping" has become popular. Evidentially dipping gets it's name from the fact that the product used to be used to "dip" the handles of tools. The dip that is being applied is a thinned version of the tool handle dip.

What I'm wondering is if either of these product has any realistic use in the marine industry. I'm specifically wondering if these product can standup to a salt water environment.

The positive I see for both of these product is that they can be removed. If a boat owner wanted to change the color of his/her boat it would be a simple process to remove one wrap or dip and apply another.

I have no idea what the cost associated with these applications are.

Any thoughts?
 
We had a customer "wrap" his entire boat, a Marinette, in black vinyl. It was done professionally and was a lot less expensive than having it painted. On the other hand, it is not and will never be as shiny as paint, which would irk me to no end!!
 
in the 20' range you're looking at around $2500 give or take...depends on whether you want just below the rub rail or areas above, too. painting may be more expensive but lasts much longer. depending on docking skills a wrap may only last 2-3 seasons though i'm sure a trailered boat could get by longer.

i've seen people on the internet 'dipping' tires rims...really just painting it on. it's fairly recent so no idea how well it lasts. haven't seen anyone do their hull yet.
 
I think wrapping is popular among the go fast crowd.
 
After posting that, I was thinking back a bit and there is a fellow at our marina with a 60 something Viking sport fish that has a fake wood transome. I believe that might be a section of wrap. It's looks mediocre at best
 
We wrap a lot of vehicles and have done boats. All the wraps are of a graphic of some kind. I would never wrap a single color like black. Our experience with large vinyl areas on boats is it is very short term and all were speed boats. As onthecreek suggested it does not hold up against any rubbing. It works very well with names, stern designs and or graphics on a bridge for example, not so much anywhere else.

Billy K.
 
I've seen boats wrapped and I've even seen a car that was dipped. It was parked across the street from my house and looked so unique I had to walk over and ask the owner about it.

I don't think either is going to replace paint or gelcoat anytime soon though.
 
I did hear it was a go fast thing. I did hear that it is very easy to replace a damaged section as long as your wrap guy still has your file and can print the small damaged section if that's all that's needed.
 
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