Custom vinyl graphics can go a long way toward personalizing a sailboat, trawler or motor cruiser. But let's face it: some boats demand a little – or a lot – more.
Hull wraps, which are large-scale vinyl creations that often span much of the boat's topside, have caught on in recent years among owners who are looking for over-the-top customization.
Sign ZooHull wraps are printed on durable vinyl substrate and laminated to survive the marine environment. Hull wraps are printed on a vinyl substrate and laminated for long life in the harsh marine environment. Just about any graphic, from game fish to Chinese dragons, can be printed on a boat wrap, which is then applied to the hull.
Why not just have an air-brush artist paint the boat? For one thing, the cost of a custom paint job will be many times the cost of a wrap. In addition, using a wrap allows the owner to see the finished design before it is applied.
While performance boats present particularly good canvas for this kind of decoration, this is not the only market. Boats that participate in fishing tournaments or other competitions are also good candidates. The side of a boat is the ideal place to advertise your team or your sponsors. If you have a team with multiple boats, a wrap is the only way to go because it can be designed once and printed as many times as needed. Wraps make boats stand out, whether they are in a poker run or competing in a fishing tournament.
THE DESIGN
The development and application of a boat wrap is a more complicated process than traditional vinyl graphics, and it does not lend itself to do-it-yourself treatments. The first step in the process is choosing a firm to produce the graphic. Most boat wrap providers have extensive websites that feature their works. Another option is to talk to boats owners whose graphics feature the kind of work you are looking for.
Once you've picked a provider, you'll start working with their creative team to develop your ideas. Be prepared to obtain precise measurements, then work through several iterations before you settle on a final design.
Sign ZooHull wraps are installed using a heat gun. Once the design is complete, the production team goes to work. The design is printed using very stable inks on a vinyl substrate. The design is then laminated to provide the ultimate protection in the harsh marine environment. The result of this production process is a gigantic "bumper sticker." Anyone who has tried to paste a flat bumper sticker on a curved surface can attest to the fact that wrinkles aren't pretty. For this reason, boat wraps must be installed by skilled installers in a climate-controlled environment.
INSTALLATION
The first step in installation is cleaning the boat, washing it thoroughly with soap and water to remove any traces of dirt, grease and grime. Then the hull is wiped down with isopropyl alcohol to provide the ideal condition for maximum adhesion.
The installation team then begins applying the boat wrap to the hull. In addition to keeping wrinkles at bay, the team will have to attach the boat wrap to curved surfaces and concave areas. This often requires the use of a heat gun to soften the vinyl. After the boat wrap is fully stuck to the hull, the installers apply heat from a 300-degree heat gun to help bond the wrap in place and cure the adhesive.
Boat warps can be installed at the factory before the boat is delivered, at your marina or at the facility where the wrap is produced. They are not cheap, but they are certainly more cost effective than a custom paint job.
COSTSÂ
Boat wraps are a custom job, developed in concert with the design team and the boat owner. For that reason, costs can vary widely depending on the square footage of the wrap, the difficulty of installation and the time required developing the design. For example, a wrap for a 33-foot boat would be approximately $4900.
The cost of the wrap is based on three components:Â the graphic design with an average of seven hours design time, Printing, which is based on square footage of the needed material to cover the boat, and installation, which is based on the size and complexity of the boat. More curves and different shapes are more complicated to install.
Paul Esterle is technical editor for Small Craft Advisor Magazine, and his freelance work has appeared in Sail, BoatWorks, Voyaging and Good Old Boat magazines. He has produced a series of boating videos and lectures widely. He also works at West Marine and has written product reviews for the company.
