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Author Topic:   Shrink wrapping your Whaler for towing

paddyt111 posted 01-29-2008 04:16 PM ET (US)
I have a 6 day tow (Florida to Canada) for my 21 Ventura. I was considering having my boat shrink wrapped to keep the road grime off the boat.
Anyone have any experience with it?
Will the wrapping stand up to the wind on the highway?
Is it expensive?
Do most Marinas offer this service?
Can it be done on the trailer?
Buckda posted 01-29-2008 04:47 PM ET (US)
Yes, it will withstand the wind from towing. (Lots of boats are shrink-wrapped for shipping on flatbed trucks, and there was a Trailer Boats magazine article about 3 years ago when they trailered a wrapped boat up to Alaska for some cruising.
Yes, it will help keep the boat much cleaner in the salt/grime that you will encounter on your way back north. You should wash the boat/trailer when you get home and then un-wrap the boat to wipe down any "streaks" that penetrated beneath the shrink wrapping on the trip.
Yes. It's pretty expensive for this type of trip, but if you don't have a heated garage where you can wash the boat and keep things from freezing when you get home, it is probably worth it - I think it will cost around $200.
Yes, it can be done on the trailer. A custom job may be able to even shrink wrap the whole rig to help protect the trailer as well.
I have no idea if Florida Marina's offer this service...after all, they don't have winter down there, do they?! (It's probable that they do - just drive by any of the marinas down there - there should be some "off season" boats on the hard with shrink wrap around....stop in and ask!
I've never done this to my boat before - but I've watched it done - be sure you stick around while they do it - it involves a big propane flame...I'd want to make sure they don't make mistakes with my baby.
I've considered this myself when thinking about towing down to Florida for a winter respite...how to get the boat back to the great white north without salt and snow all over it.
Good luck - a simple phone call to a local marina will likely answer your question about cost.
paddyt111 posted 01-29-2008 06:57 PM ET (US)
Thank you for such a thorough reply. I just got am email from a Marina in Florida that is housing my boat. They said $300 for the wrapping. You have me a little worried with the mention of the big propane flame and all....hey that's what insurance is all about - right??
This forum is terrific as everyone here has been just great about offering their advice so freely. I've seen videos, pictures and have received links about all sorts of worrisome issues. Anyone having bought a Boston Whaler and was worried about the price should reflect on the community of nice people who hang out here. My hat off to all of you!!! Thank you!
I will promise to stay in touch and pass on my experiences as I get to use my whaler this summer...Pat
Casco Bay Outrage posted 01-29-2008 07:22 PM ET (US)
All the new Boston Whalers shipped (via truck) to my dealer come shrink wrapped. $300 is in line with what yards charge up my way.
The process is very straight forward. They install a temporary support board (1/2"x2) from bow to stern over the centerline and unroll a wide plastic film (typically white in color) and cover the boat. By applying heat very briefly, the film shrinks. A talented guy can do the whole job in 45 minutes.
CBO
prj posted 01-29-2008 07:32 PM ET (US)
Buckda is correct and gives good advice.
I just trailered my boat back from Florida, from said winter respite,
and the road grime on my once clean Outrage -18 is thick.
Just as he indicated, I have a detached and UNheated garage,
so I'm impatiently awaiting a break in the weather to wash it down.
My greatest concern is the teak, which is more porous and may retain much of the road grime evidenced by black streaks in the softer recessed grain. This obviously won't be your greatest concern.
Wrap your new boat, you won't be able to look at it with each stop, but the protection offered will be worth it.
therefrigerator posted 01-29-2008 08:44 PM ET (US)
A few weeks ago I towed my new Dauntless 1300 miles from Boca Raton, FL to CT. Had the boat shrink wrapped by Daum's Shrink Wrapping in Stuart. Price was $275. They did a great job, took him 2.5 hours, the trip did not affect the wrap in any way. They do wrap differently for transport. The plastic is sealed tight to the hull so no air gets under the cover while on the road. I was supplied extra tape, cording and easy to install vents in order to set it up for storage. When home I removed the sealing tape on the hull and installed the vents. I highly recommend Daum's if you are on the east coast of FL.
paddyt111 posted 01-29-2008 09:22 PM ET (US)
Thanks guys....a wrap is the way I'll go.
Pat
jimp posted 02-01-2008 11:57 AM ET (US)
paddyt111 -
In 1989 I shrink wrapped my 1982 Montauk for a trip from Eastern Long Island, NY to Kodiak, Alaska.
Road grime gets inside. But that's easy to wash out.
The only problem I had was with some "delamination" of some of the folds - heavy rain, wind, etc. started to pry the folds apart. That was 1989 and they can likely do it better now. But for repairs I took along several rolls of packing or shipping tape that stuck real well to the shrink wrap. At rest stops I could dry off the wet folds (if it had stopped raining) and re-tape. It worked for 3,500 miles.
Have them shrink wrap as far down the bow and under the boat as possible. Road tar, rocks, gravel, etc will hit this instead of your gel coat.
Also, when you get to where you are going, VERY CAREFULLY cut the shrink wrap off with a minimum of cuts - and you can re-use it fairly conveniently.
Additionally, if you have a strap across your gunnels, put some chafing gear between your strap and the gunnels. The little bit of motion of the boat on the trailer will "saw" at the rub rail.
JimP
paddyt111 posted 02-02-2008 04:48 PM ET (US)
Jim,
Thank you. Some very good pointers before I set off for Newfoundland. I'll prepare as you suggested.
Paddy
Whalerdog posted 02-03-2008 10:41 AM ET (US)
I just paid 200 to do my Whaler for the winter. They did in below to the water line except for small area at the bow eye. Take some shrink wrap tape with you for repairs. I don't think you would need as the shrink wrap is tough. Have a safe trip!

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Author	Topic: Shrink wrapping your Whaler for towing
paddyt111	posted 01-29-2008 04:16 PM ET (US) I have a 6 day tow (Florida to Canada) for my 21 Ventura. I was considering having my boat shrink wrapped to keep the road grime off the boat. Anyone have any experience with it? Will the wrapping stand up to the wind on the highway? Is it expensive? Do most Marinas offer this service? Can it be done on the trailer?
Buckda	posted 01-29-2008 04:47 PM ET (US) Yes, it will withstand the wind from towing. (Lots of boats are shrink-wrapped for shipping on flatbed trucks, and there was a Trailer Boats magazine article about 3 years ago when they trailered a wrapped boat up to Alaska for some cruising. Yes, it will help keep the boat much cleaner in the salt/grime that you will encounter on your way back north. You should wash the boat/trailer when you get home and then un-wrap the boat to wipe down any "streaks" that penetrated beneath the shrink wrapping on the trip. Yes. It's pretty expensive for this type of trip, but if you don't have a heated garage where you can wash the boat and keep things from freezing when you get home, it is probably worth it - I think it will cost around $200. Yes, it can be done on the trailer. A custom job may be able to even shrink wrap the whole rig to help protect the trailer as well. I have no idea if Florida Marina's offer this service...after all, they don't have winter down there, do they?! (It's probable that they do - just drive by any of the marinas down there - there should be some "off season" boats on the hard with shrink wrap around....stop in and ask! I've never done this to my boat before - but I've watched it done - be sure you stick around while they do it - it involves a big propane flame...I'd want to make sure they don't make mistakes with my baby. I've considered this myself when thinking about towing down to Florida for a winter respite...how to get the boat back to the great white north without salt and snow all over it. Good luck - a simple phone call to a local marina will likely answer your question about cost.
paddyt111	posted 01-29-2008 06:57 PM ET (US) Thank you for such a thorough reply. I just got am email from a Marina in Florida that is housing my boat. They said $300 for the wrapping. You have me a little worried with the mention of the big propane flame and all....hey that's what insurance is all about - right?? This forum is terrific as everyone here has been just great about offering their advice so freely. I've seen videos, pictures and have received links about all sorts of worrisome issues. Anyone having bought a Boston Whaler and was worried about the price should reflect on the community of nice people who hang out here. My hat off to all of you!!! Thank you! I will promise to stay in touch and pass on my experiences as I get to use my whaler this summer...Pat
Casco Bay Outrage	posted 01-29-2008 07:22 PM ET (US) All the new Boston Whalers shipped (via truck) to my dealer come shrink wrapped. $300 is in line with what yards charge up my way. The process is very straight forward. They install a temporary support board (1/2"x2) from bow to stern over the centerline and unroll a wide plastic film (typically white in color) and cover the boat. By applying heat very briefly, the film shrinks. A talented guy can do the whole job in 45 minutes. CBO
prj	posted 01-29-2008 07:32 PM ET (US) Buckda is correct and gives good advice. I just trailered my boat back from Florida, from said winter respite, and the road grime on my once clean Outrage -18 is thick. Just as he indicated, I have a detached and UNheated garage, so I'm impatiently awaiting a break in the weather to wash it down. My greatest concern is the teak, which is more porous and may retain much of the road grime evidenced by black streaks in the softer recessed grain. This obviously won't be your greatest concern. Wrap your new boat, you won't be able to look at it with each stop, but the protection offered will be worth it.
therefrigerator	posted 01-29-2008 08:44 PM ET (US) A few weeks ago I towed my new Dauntless 1300 miles from Boca Raton, FL to CT. Had the boat shrink wrapped by Daum's Shrink Wrapping in Stuart. Price was $275. They did a great job, took him 2.5 hours, the trip did not affect the wrap in any way. They do wrap differently for transport. The plastic is sealed tight to the hull so no air gets under the cover while on the road. I was supplied extra tape, cording and easy to install vents in order to set it up for storage. When home I removed the sealing tape on the hull and installed the vents. I highly recommend Daum's if you are on the east coast of FL.
paddyt111	posted 01-29-2008 09:22 PM ET (US) Thanks guys....a wrap is the way I'll go. Pat
jimp	posted 02-01-2008 11:57 AM ET (US) paddyt111 - In 1989 I shrink wrapped my 1982 Montauk for a trip from Eastern Long Island, NY to Kodiak, Alaska. Road grime gets inside. But that's easy to wash out. The only problem I had was with some "delamination" of some of the folds - heavy rain, wind, etc. started to pry the folds apart. That was 1989 and they can likely do it better now. But for repairs I took along several rolls of packing or shipping tape that stuck real well to the shrink wrap. At rest stops I could dry off the wet folds (if it had stopped raining) and re-tape. It worked for 3,500 miles. Have them shrink wrap as far down the bow and under the boat as possible. Road tar, rocks, gravel, etc will hit this instead of your gel coat. Also, when you get to where you are going, VERY CAREFULLY cut the shrink wrap off with a minimum of cuts - and you can re-use it fairly conveniently. Additionally, if you have a strap across your gunnels, put some chafing gear between your strap and the gunnels. The little bit of motion of the boat on the trailer will "saw" at the rub rail. JimP
paddyt111	posted 02-02-2008 04:48 PM ET (US) Jim, Thank you. Some very good pointers before I set off for Newfoundland. I'll prepare as you suggested. Paddy
Whalerdog	posted 02-03-2008 10:41 AM ET (US) I just paid 200 to do my Whaler for the winter. They did in below to the water line except for small area at the bow eye. Take some shrink wrap tape with you for repairs. I don't think you would need as the shrink wrap is tough. Have a safe trip!