Wrapping vs Painting

[Hoblands]

We are replacing the canopy on our Bavaria 32 Sport over the winter and will be going for a dark grey fabric to replace the old dated looking blue. At the same time, I'm wanting to modernise her slightly by colour coding the hull stripe in grey to match the canopy (same shade as new Bavaria models). This will also save a lot a of time and effort during the season having to constantly apply wax to stop the finish from going dull...

I've had several quotes for vinyl wrapping but all are coming in at over £1000 which I think is quite steep for such a small area. I've had much lower quotes for painting but unsure as to the longevity of paint over a shiny gelcoat?

Any ideas or opinions appreciated.

 

[jrudge]

It is not fit for purpose in any way on a boat

I had a s65 wrapped then again under warranty ( which is just for the material not labour and the wrap companies don’t pay out ... 18 months later trashed again.

Water marked down it won’t come out. Rope will pull if it so much as touches it.

Comes off with water spray etc etc etc

For a stripe maybe. For anything else forget it unless the hull is knackered and you want a “ cheap “ fix to make it look nice.

My wrap was £6k on a brand new boat.

Don’t do it !

 

[Portofino]

Paint is the way to go .Agree with J ^^

I have seen some unsatisfactory wraps dock walking ( actually dog walking ) and in the yard .
Fails most as you would expect at the entry fwd WL on planing boats .
Although this is not your particular risk , it does seem rather delicate to abrasions else where .

If it’s any consolation Ferretti group paint all there boats as OEM theses days .
Rivas , Pershings , Itama , even Ferretti beige and the rest .....

Awlgrip is difficult to touch up .
Du Ponts Omeron can be easily re touched
Alexseal is another brand .

All super yachts are painted and now FG products .

I think the old durability questions that you enquire are yesterday news .
They don’t need waxing just a fresh water rinse .

I,am toying with the idea of getting my boat painted.
I have been visiting local yards ( Liguria) and seeing there work and speaking to the guys about it . I have still got some work / research to do but early indications are pretty impressive from what I have seen .

The mindset that needs moving ( mine and perhaps yours ? ) is painting in the UK is done with a brush on a scrappy sailboat in a damp corner of a yard in sub optimal temps on the cheap with poor prep work and little understanding from the operator ..amateur and professional = visible poor results .

Today’s boat paints and application process is a million miles away from that .

 

[Hurricane]

We are replacing the canopy on our Bavaria 32 Sport over the winter and will be going for a dark grey fabric to replace the old dated looking blue. At the same time, I'm wanting to modernise her slightly by colour coding the hull stripe in grey to match the canopy (same shade as new Bavaria models). This will also save a lot a of time and effort during the season having to constantly apply wax to stop the finish from going dull...

I've had several quotes for vinyl wrapping but all are coming in at over £1000 which I think is quite steep for such a small area. I've had much lower quotes for painting but unsure as to the longevity of paint over a shiny gelcoat?

Any ideas or opinions appreciated.

I like your concept.
Grey is the new Blue.
Sorry - can't help with the wrap decision but there are lots of wrapped boats out there.

 

[Portofino]

Pic paints a 1000 words


09 boat that’s been repainted recently in blue , note the shine ( Med sun btw )




Wrap abrasion



My boat 2001 ....Med sun not as shiny as I would wish .




Everything you see is new and painted in the factory .

free image upload server

 

[julians]

The rear panel on my boat was originally a very nice varnished and highly polished super smooth wood - as per in this picture here:-

https://www.windyboats.com/company/previous-models/1990s/25-mirage/

But over the years, the wood started to delaminate , so I ended up getting someone to strip the wood off, fibreglass the panel and then paint with awlgrip. That was 6 years ago now, but the awlgrip is still super shiny and smooth, with no scratches or damage, despite it being in a 'high traffic' area which people clamber over, sit on, lean on, slide down etc. It's also under direct sunlight.

So i'd vote for paint for your particular requirement. I have no experience of other paints , but awlgrip seems decent to me.

 

[Bouba]

Aren’t most factory boat stripes stick on?

 

[petem]

Aren’t most factory boat stripes stick on?

Do a search for Bavaria 32 Sport to see what the OP is talking about.

 

[jrudge]

The waterline stripe Is usually a wet applied transfer. Wrap is self adhesive. I don’t know the technical differences between the two.

However ... a strip is small and are waterline level well away from enemy number 1 which is ropes.

As I said before for a stripe wrap maybe ok. For a whole hull based on expensive experience it isn’t !

Sailing boats have logo type wraps. I suspect there hide stains and colour variations better. Sailing boats are also a different shape that I would think gives better rope protection.

They say it lasts 7 years. It really doesn’t.

The fairline f33 was wrapped. They unwrapped it after a few days as it was coming off and looked terrible.

Another forum member wrapped his hard top. It has failed also which is well away from water and ropes - but of course gets a nice sun baking.

It was designed for cars not boats!

 

[Hoblands]

Many thanks for all the replies. Plenty of food for thought there!

Cheers,
Paul

 

[[165042]]

Modern paints are far more durable than gelcoat - especially if you use base / clear. Formula paint all of their hulls in this way.

A wrap is fine for a temporary change but don't think it will last more than a few seasons even if properly looked after. I'd be looking at Awlgrip if you want a permanent colour change.

 

[crossy]

We had our Sunseeker painted a few years ago after the old coating became dull and scratched. After looking around at all the wrap options we opted for AwlCraft2000 paint.

4 years on and it still looks like new. It just needs a wash from time to time, no polishing like gel coat and no tears like wrap. Any ding’s and it’s a cheap repair.

Would thoroughly recommend and as others have said I’d avoid wrapping.

 

[artisan]

I own a sign company and I wouldn't wrap my boat. The material as said is mainly for car/vans that will likely have the message/colour changed at the end of the lease or when ever a new design is required. The material is not robust enough for the marine environment. Thin stripes and logos + other decals can be the same/similar material as wrap film but they cover much smaller areas and aren't likely to get hit by ropes or rubbed by fenders and if they do you don't see the damage as much as a lrage area that wraps cover. When its damaged there is nothing for but to strip and replace the section. It can be patched but that can look really bad and as the owner you will know where to look and it will probaly bother you ever day until its properly sorted. I am not trying to talk down the industry I work in but I know its limitations and the material is best left to advertising on commercial vehicles that will be re wrapped when necessary

 

[malcolm2]

We manufacture self-adhesive vinyl waterline stripes, logos, names etc etc for the likes of Fairline.
We also own a motor boat.
I would not on any account apply a "wrap" to it.

 

[mlines]

I know of a new boat this year that has had two goes at wrapping and on its winter lift will be looked at for a third time.

 

[malcolm2]

I possibly should have said why No to a hull wrap.

The main reason being the materials used are soft when compared to a correctly applied paint finish.

They lack the ability to stand up to long term wear and tear caused by, such everyday things as fenders, or ropes chafing. Yes it can be repaired by applying a patch. But said patches tend to be more visible than a paint touch up.

Self adhesive vinyl should be viewed as a practical option for details such as waterline stripes, names etc. But not for full hull, or deck wraps.

Ok there are now specialist transparent materials to protect the paint on a car. But a car is not subject to the same chafes, rubs or scrapes as a boat hull. Although I have to admit I have applied small areas of this clear material to stop fender ropes scuffing the GRP. But these areas are small, and the material is viewed as being sacrificial, and replaced as required.

Vinyl Wrapping first started in Germany, where all taxis were “cream”. Being able to buy a Merc in silver, have it wrapped in cream, and then remove the wrap when it came to be resold. Meant the resale value of the car in its now non taxi cream was enhanced.

 

[petem]

Malcolm, would the clear material be any good for protecting the blue rear quarters of my Targa from the elements (it's quite exposed)?

 

[Hoblands]

Malcolm, would the clear material be any good for protecting the blue rear quarters of my Targa from the elements (it's quote exposed)?

Actually, this is the main reason (other than the colour change) that I want to do something with mine. Have a similar problem with the rear quarters and needing to wax them on almost every visit to the boat!

 

[malcolm2]

Pete, Although I use it to protect specific areas against "scuffing" rather than weathering.
I see no reason why it would not reduce weathering. I assume this is the usual blue gelcoat discolouring problem.
send us a pm with a bit more detail as to the problem area.

 

[jfm]

Only just seen this. I agree 100% with jrudge in post #2 - wrapping a hull is a very poor alternative to proper paint. Fine for temporary advertising, but not for a permanent finish.
I had a wrapped hard top and it just baked in the Med sun, and I spent a fortune having it removed. I also have silver painted parts on the same boat (painted in silver Awlcraft 2000, which is an awlgrip product), and they are fine even though exposed to much sun.

Separately, the following needs correction:

If it’s any consolation Ferretti group paint all there boats as OEM theses days .
Rivas , Pershings , Itama , even Ferretti beige and the rest .....

Everything you see is new and painted in the factory .

The above is total nonsense. Ferretti cream boats in that picture are normal bare gelcoat, not painted. The Pershings are painted, whether silver or white, but those flybridge Ferrettis are not.