username
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Hi I hope this is the right forum for this topic. I have seen a few boats for sale that state they have a vinyl wrapped hull. Can anyone let me know if they have come across this before and what the pros and cons are?
Vinyl Hull Wrap.
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Graham_Wright
Well-Known Member
One of the cons is that the manufacturers admit it is more expensive than paint.
maby
Well-Known Member
There was a review in PBO or Yachting Monthly earlier this year - they seemed to approve. Check the back numbers - sure someone will pop up from the publishers soon here to tell you which issue it was.
maby
Well-Known Member
But easier to get an excellent finish, I think. Not anything like so much preparation to do.
prv
Well-Known Member
One of the pros is that it's entirely reversible - if you or a later buyer decide they don't like the colour, you can peel off the vinyl to reveal a pristine hull underneath.
The usual reason for it is because you can have anything you like printed on it much more easily than trying to hand-paint the same image. Hull graphics seem to be all the rage among Solent racers.
Pete
The usual reason for it is because you can have anything you like printed on it much more easily than trying to hand-paint the same image. Hull graphics seem to be all the rage among Solent racers.
Pete
username
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How expensive is it and do they have to use a special vinyl?
maby
Well-Known Member
I seem to remember the PBO review talking in terms of £2k-£3k for a thirty foot sailing boat - but please don't try to hold me to that. I do remember that their review was so positive that I came away thinking that I might have it done to our boat when the finish is beginning to look tired.
P.S. it is a specialist job - don't try to do it yourself with Blue Peter sticky backed plastic!
P.S. it is a specialist job - don't try to do it yourself with Blue Peter sticky backed plastic!
username
Member
Don't worry I was not about to run out and buy some sticky backed plastic just yet. £2-£3K does not sound too bad. I had a van wrapped this year and that cost £1K!!
maby
Well-Known Member
Do bear in mind that they only do the topsides - from the bootline to the toe-rail. Also, most yachts will be far easier than a van - large flat areas and very few complicated shapes to cover.
username
Member
Oh so they do not wrap below the waterline? I thought it was an alternative to antifouling!
maby
Well-Known Member
I can't imagine wrapping below the waterline being very successful - the system reviewed just covered the topsides above the water.
Q
quimby
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gjgm
Well-Known Member
I did ask at a show a while back. It isnt that robust, but I guess it can be patched, but you need to also add another layer of a heavy clear sheet anywhere that gets alot of rubbing.. eg all fender areas.
With gel, you can at least cut back and re-polish. I guess if this gets tatty, its another £3k ?
nimbusgb
Well-Known Member
5 to 8 years is robust enough for me.
The RTW Clipper yachts are vinyled with logos etc and that lasts well beyond a circumnavigation.
I think a simple white wrap of older gelcoats is an ideal way to refurb a tired boat.
Cost of materials around £450 ( 3M top of the line product ) about 2k in labour for a <40' boat.
Can patch a piece yourself if it gets damaged without fancy tools, facilities or even cover. I wrapped a car myself as a learning exercise. Pretty successful.
3M ( I am told ) has been investigating a vinyl impregnated with antifoul so that may be down the line sometime in the future.
The RTW Clipper yachts are vinyled with logos etc and that lasts well beyond a circumnavigation.
I think a simple white wrap of older gelcoats is an ideal way to refurb a tired boat.
Cost of materials around £450 ( 3M top of the line product ) about 2k in labour for a <40' boat.
Can patch a piece yourself if it gets damaged without fancy tools, facilities or even cover. I wrapped a car myself as a learning exercise. Pretty successful.
3M ( I am told ) has been investigating a vinyl impregnated with antifoul so that may be down the line sometime in the future.
causeway
Well-Known Member
The "Legenderry" clipper which arrived into Derry city was half ripped off, which put me off the idea somewhat!
I doubt my boat would see that sort of abuse in 20 years though!
I doubt my boat would see that sort of abuse in 20 years though!
Lakesailor
Well-Known Member
Mrs Lakesailor has a friend with a matt black vinyl wrapped Bentley Continental. I don't know what colour it is underneath.
davids0865
Well-Known Member
Just watched that Aston wrap, all that work with a knife worries me, some years ago we had a special edition car with dealer applied graphics and the ends where all cut with a knife, 4 years later guess where the only rust on the car was?
maby
Well-Known Member
Hmmm, but we are talking about applying it to GRP, not steel - a few light scratches would polish out quite easily and, one assumes, the gelcoat was beginning to look tired anyway otherwise you would not be paying so much to have it wrapped.
Lakesailor
Well-Known Member
That was my thought as well.
Gordonmc
Well-Known Member
Using a knife is unnecessary.
For a clean cut, particulalrly around complex shapes, a special tape can be used, 3M make one called wrap-cut (or similar) which has a fine filament core. The tape is applied to the job, then the wrap over it. The filament is them pulled out cutting the vinyl cleanly.
Wrapping a boat should be a do-able DIY project but getting the hull absolutely clean in the open may be a problem.
There are plenty of Youtube clips of wrapping, some DIY including one showing a Mercedes being done in chrome wrap.
Yuk!
