this is my dilema: for some reason, one guy does't want to paint hist boat and asked me to wrap it in vinyl, simple vinyl, no graphics, the top area only, i mean the area which stays above the water.
i have never done this before, but, as i became pretty confidend with my dry method technique, i am tempted to give it a try.
my first question: what kind of vinyl should i choose? would Avery 700 or Oracal 751 be ok?
will i need a heat gun to soften the vinyl?
no, i have never wrapped anything..... but i am wondering if this could be considered not wrapping, but applying a very big vinyl decal
i am just considering the possibilities, and i don't want to give up just because is something new and scarry.
but - if you say that this requires more than some practice with regular decals, big or small, i will pass on it.
no, i have never wrapped anything..... but i am wondering if this could be considered not wrapping, but applying a very big vinyl decal
It would have to be considered wrapping because you're doing something very large and also because you're going over curves, bumps, seams, etc.
Quote:
Originally Posted by cmyk
i am just considering the possibilities, and i don't want to give up just because is something new and scarry.
but - if you say that this requires more than some practice with regular decals, big or small, i will pass on it.
I would say it does require quite a bit of practice. I used to work at a sign shop, and even the staff who had been applying decals every day for months or even years still had not mastered wraps. They always had help from the more experienced people.
It's certainly a skill worth learning if you want to do it for a living, but otherwise I would say leave it to the pros and save yourself a lot of headache.
Because of the curve of the boat etc its not an easy task.. think about the fact that there is less distance going around at the bottom of that stripe then at the top..
not sure if i said it right so people can understand.. but I really doubt that the people with the boat would want to pay anywhere what you would need labor wise to do this correctly.
Especially on a glass boat like that where there are soo many curves built in (because it is easy to do in a female mold)
You just have to wonder WHY?
If it is to be able to remove it later (maybe after a bank job getaway! LOL) the paint underneath will have faded differently too the hull etc so they are not going to "preserve" the value.
If they are after the "cheapest" then think about how much labour etc is going to cost (and being new to it I'd say you would probably want to close to double your estimate of how long it would take)
If they have been quoted a price to paint it by a marine store/boatyard they have probably had a heart attack, they would be better going to a few crash shops who can do it for them.
The reason the boat owner wants you to wrap his boat is boats aren't painted, they're gel coated. Gel coat is a very expensive process that would cost him thousands of dollars to have re-done. Paint doesn't really work on fiberglass boats to the flexible nature of the fiberglass, thus cracking. If you do attempt this project, make sure of one thing...you get paid, a lot! Like I said, he's not gel coating the boat because of the cost. Don't be bashful with your price on this as I feel you will be filling your dumpster with discarded vinal! Good luck.
You can't tell from the pictures, but these things are unbelievably huge. I remember seeing a photo in the paper of one with a helicopter flying in front of it, and the helicopter looked to be the size of a pigeon next to the ferry.
You vinyl choice should be alright. If you are going to attempt doing this I would make a template of each side to get the correct curve (shape) for the stripe. Also make sure you get all the wax off, for doing this I would recommend talking to a marina that repairs hauls of boats. Then I would test what they say to use in an inconspicuous spot. Good Luck. Also edge seal the vinyl!
You can't tell from the pictures, but these things are unbelievably huge. I remember seeing a photo in the paper of one with a helicopter flying in front of it, and the helicopter looked to be the size of a pigeon next to the ferry.
Thank you Jasonda. I don't think my GX-24 might handle a job like that, wrapping a ferry !!
Boat wrapping 
but i am wondering if this could be considered not wrapping, but applying a very big vinyl decal 
