Awlgrip or Wrap?

[Dickie D]

I’m closing in on a Superhawk 34. Was looking at something bigger previously, but have decided to start smaller and manageable for a couple of years to see how much use we get out of her. Loving the classic sporty lines of the Superhawk, and wanting a blue hull, gelcoat milking seems to be the norm on what I’ve seen. I’m a fussy owner and the investment level for a Superhawk means I have the budget to do a bit of restoration.

live been quoted £2.5 -£3k for a wrap. But does anyone know how much a 2pac product like Awlgrip would cost on a boat this size, from say water line up to the guard rail collars, plus the radar arch?

Also, how practical should I expect either solution to be? Will the wrap or even the Awlgrip option get destroyed by fender rubbing for example? If bits of wrap get destroyed, can The affected area be cut out and new grafted in without looking obvious? What kind of lifespan can I expect? How long before it annoys me and has to be done again? Will it enhance or dilute resale? Will I still have to polish the Awlgrip option? All feedback very much appreciated.

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

Long term paint (Awlgrip apart being the most expensive is one of the worst to be honest, go for Dupont or AlexPaint you will thank me a lot if you have scratches).

Wrap is short term solution, and once you do it, you stick to it or you will have to repaint, as it does peel some bits when removing.

 

[jrudge]

Wrap is relatively cheap but it does not wear well and gets caught on lines. The super hawk is an older boat. For the outlay it will tart it up and I would imagine that painting it would likely prove uneconomic.

I have a Squadron 65 wrapped from new - twice. I would not do it again, but it is horses for corses if the gel is knackered.

To be clear it won't last whatever their warranty ( which is for the material not the labour) may say. If you get 3 years I would be surprised.

 

[Eyore]

Wrap is a waste of money, two pack paint will last for years and wear well.

 

[jrudge]

You are 100% correct, but on an older boat of relatively low value it may offer a solution. Paint I imagine done properly will be 2/3 times the cost.

 

[hullabaloo]

I have a Squadron 65 wrapped from new - twice. I would not do it again, but it is horses for corses if the gel is knackered.

why was a brand new boat wrap't
If you was to remove your wrap now, would it not be like brand new gel coat ?
(sorry for the drift).

 

[crossy]

I had a 40' Sunseeker professionally painted with Awlcraft 2000 about 5 years ago, cost circa £5K from memory and still looks like it just rolled out of Desty's shed now.

It's easier to maintain than gelcoat (no polishing and waxing) and is easy to repair if you damage it. I don't believe you can repair AwlGrip which is why we went for Awlcraft 2000.

I was lucky, our insurance paid for our's (big thumbs up for 'Y') but i guess it depends how far gone your gelcoat is to justify whether the man maths adds up. It has transformed the look of the boat though and significantly modernised it's appearance.

 

[PowerYachtBlog]

It's easier to maintain than gelcoat (no polishing and waxing) and is easy to repair if you damage it. I don't believe you can repair AwlGrip which is why we went for Awlcraft 2000.

You can but its complicated and very expensive. Yes Awlcraft 2000 is the Dupont alternative. Though many boat painters say the quality of Alexseal and Dupont is better.

 

[girlofwight]

I had the upper part of our hull painted a few years ago with a Jotun two pack. Done under warranty as she was only four years old. I looked at a wrap, pricing was about the same as I recall. About £4K each on a 42’ hull, upper strip around 18”.

So far no regrets, looks good. A sister vessel to ours has been wrapped and there are issues I believe.

 

[Bandit]

I had my Aquastar 48 hull painted with Awlgrip in 2013 as the blue hull then 13 years old had gone chalky.
I considered wrapping IIRC about half the price of painting and they said would last 5 to 7 years.
The painted hull looks great just washed each year and a light hand polish with AWL products looks great, less work than a GRP boat each year.
Problem is if you scratch it you cant hand touch it up it needs to be sprayed.
I have had some very minor issues with adhesion between top coat and grey undercoat and some very small areas, I know where they are, I doubt others do.
Styling stripes done in vinyl at the same time, same colour on wheel house in vinyl in full sun at the same age have faded and cracked.

 

[jrudge]

why was a brand new boat wrap't
If you was to remove your wrap now, would it not be like brand new gel coat ?
(sorry for the drift).

The boat was new but the hull had been cast blue which I didn't like. Essex had done another boat in gold and it looked great so we did it. It looked fine for a short while! When sold they said the wrap had to come off ( they suggested putting it on) and yes indeed it was new below.

 

[doug748]

My boat has been Awlgripped in dark blue, twice. No polishing, as already mentioned and poss twice the price of vinyl but probably worth it.
In my experience, with normal use, it lasts about 12 years before it starts to look a bit shabby.

I have the abiding impression that the finish is not fully hard for at least 12 months, so treat it with kid gloves the first season. Fender socks, aprons and no swinging moorings.

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