Wrapping is a modding method for the budget-conscious crowd that are looking for new methods to apply complex paint schemes onto their vehicles such as boats. Vinyl boat wraps have been doing the rounds for quite some time now. In fact, using a vinyl wrap to plaster a specific logo over the boat or to make sure the boat matches a particular color scheme is a fairly common practice. However, this vinyl wrap method to spruce up yachts has been on a meteoric rise only in the recent past.

Some groups have been boat-wrapping since 1995. But superyacht wrapping projects have been taken up only recently, having become quite prevalent post 2010s. Wrapping a boat is like wrapping a car. And when comparing it with an equivalent paint job, wrapping is certainly cheaper and quicker.

So what is a vinyl wrap? Basically, it is a layer of colored foil film or plastic with a unique layer of glue underneath. The hidden side consists of several small tunnels, which prevent air from getting trapped, thereby mitigating air bubbles. These bubbles are issues most people who apply a plastic screen protector onto their mobile devices would be aware of.

A vinyl wrap isn’t just about a colored sheet and some glue. With conventional paint jobs, it is not easy to apply metallic, matte, or sparkling colors. With wrapping, there aren’t such issues. Also, you may choose to have unique finishing effects such as titanium gold, chrome or brushed aluminium.

Custom colors are possible as well. But that would entail ordering at least 1000 meters of wrap. Since most yachts require several hundred meters of wrap, there shouldn’t be much wastage (if any) with a custom wrap.

Such rolls would mean joints, with a couple of options: a seamless butt joint or a 5mm overlap for every strip. Butt joints are prone to spreading. With overlap joints, any spreading would not be noticeable from some meters away. Maintenance is easy as well. The vinyl could be washed with sponge and soap water, getting rid of those hull wash downs with ease.

This is what a wrap can potentially achieve. Some firms are even providing wraps as the default option. With metallic wraps coming with an average lifespan of three years, and a lot more standard colors expected to show up in the next five years, the question is what your options are if you lose interest in a particular color after some time. Fortunately, the glue used would leave behind a clear and clean surface even when the wrap is stripped after five years. The original paint would remain afresh.