Durability of Vinyl Hull Wrap From Boston Whaler or From Sign Company

[charlg]

I have a 2018 130 Super Sport. I am interested in getting the hull wrapped either from the dealer or a sign company.

[Boston Whaler] offered [four] colors [of vinyl wrap on the original option list for a 2018 130 SUPER SPORT].

My local dealer also gave me a choice of four colors vinyl wrap colors.

TO READERS WHO BOUGHT THE VINYL HULL WRAP FROM A BOSTON WHALER DEALER:

Q1: How is the vinyl hull wrap holding up?

Q2: Does the vinyl hull wrap tear easily?

Q3: Do you have concerns about the life of the vinyl hull wrap?

TO READERS WHO BOUGHT THE VINYL HULL WRAP FROM A SIGN COMPANY:

Q4: How is the vinyl hull wrap holding up?

Q5: Does the vinyl hull wrap tear easily?

Q6: Do you have concerns about the life of the vinyl hull wrap?

Q8: What brand is the vinyl in the vinyl wrap?

Q9: Was the vinyl in the vinyl wrap made by 3M?

Fig. 1. A vinyl wrap on a Boston Whaler boat.

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[biggiefl]

I was under the assumption that the hull colors are gel [coat resin], not wraps. They might do a custom wrap from the factory but I never heard of it. Your options are wrap or marine paint. Both will scratch and both have a shorter life span than gel [coat resin]-- depending on how [the boat] is used and stored. I believe most of the wraps are 3M, and they have around a seven to ten year warranty.

[Phil T]

I think a marine wrap company will be more effective, higher quality and better service than a dealer offering this product.

[charlg]

[A vinyl hull wrap, apparently for a 2018 Boston Whaler 130 SPORT boat] is listed as a dealer-installed option. Four colors are offered.

I'm concerned how [the vinyl wrap] will hold up.

On my other boat which has dark blue gelcoat, I'm always buffing out dock rash.

Hulls with colors other than white look much better than white hulls.

[charlg]

I think a marine wrap company will be more effective, higher quality and better service than a dealer offering this product.

It will be cheaper for sure too. However, I don't want to cheapen the look of the boat by not having a factory color. Is that possible?

[Phil T]

If it is a wrap, it can't hurt.

Just like the boats that have the large WHALER logo on the hullsides.

Were I buying a boat with a wrap and I didn't like the wrap or there were defects in the wrap, I would discount the offer price and just remove the wrap.

[jimh]

I was under the assumption that the hull colors are gel [coat], not wraps.

I think on some (larger) Boston Whaler boat hulls the hull colors or hull accent colors are paint, probably AWLGRIP, or at least they were a few years ago when those options were first offered. It is probably not very cost-effective to paint a 13-footer. The cost of the custom paint would probably be a rather significant percentage of the stock hull price. On larger boats with $300,000 prices, $3,000 extra for a custom hull accent color is not as consequential on the total purchase price.

[jimh]

Since a Boston Whaler 2018 130 SPORT boat is still covered by the factory 10-year hull warranty, I recommend getting a vinyl wrap installed by an authorized Boston Whaler dealer on the basis that such an accessory is an authorized dealer-installed option for the boat.

If eight years from now there is some defect in the hull that should be covered under the hull warranty, and if you had a wrap installed by "a sign company", there could be concern about the wrap being a modification to the hull and having an effect on the warranty coverage.