Boat wraps are a practical and beautiful way to make your boat stand out from the crowd, enhance its resale value, and restore an older model. Plus, it is an excellent option when you want to market your brand since 100 to 1,000 people pay attention to high-quality company graphics on a boat.
Market research shows that boat wrap advertising is more effective than other advertising forms available, although the product is not marine-related. It is known that boat wraps are environmentally friendly options, but let’s see how much does it cost to wrap a boat.
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What Is a Vinyl Boat Wrap?
A pressure-sensitive vinyl boat wrap is a highly protective piece of vinyl you can apply to the boat’s hull. They have a few benefits, including:
- It is a practical marketing panel
- It is a convenient way to decorate your boat
- It doesn’t require buffing or polishing
- Professionally installed vinyl won’t peel, lift, and rip
- There is no need to remove existing paint and graphics before wrapping vinyl
- It is durable and won’t peel after sun and water exposure
- It is a temporary solution of decorating the boat without decreasing its resale value
- It is an excellent solution for owners who enjoy changing up their boats’ design
- It is an option to maintain the boat hull’s natural finish
- You can effortlessly repair vinyl by cutting off the damaged area and applying a vinyl patch with a heating torch
- You will get a warranty for five to seven years
Most vinyl wrap types last from 3 to 8 years, but it will depend on:
- Installation
- Material quality
- Proper maintaining
Adding soft bumper covers or fenders will protect the vinyl wrap from scratches and dents and extend its life, so most experts recommend their use.
Most vinyl wrappers also include a repair kit for fixing slight scratches, so you should think of this while making an agreement.
Vinyl vs. paint job
Installing a vinyl wrap is faster and approximately three times cheaper than paining your boat. The reason is labor time since primer preparation and painting typically last longer.
When deciding to wrap your boat with vinyl, you only need to get a smooth surface by sanding down tiny imperfections. The final step is to squeeze the air and tightly adhere the vinyl to the boat hull.
Plus, vinyl has several advantages compared to paint:
- It is UV resistant
- It is not prone to quick fading like paint
- It is less expensive than traditional paintwork
- The repair process is more effortless than color matching and repainting
- Vinyl wraps are eco-friendly, unlike paint that contains chemicals and solvents jeopardizing marine life
- Vinyl wraps have a glossy shine and are more customizable than boat paint
- It is impossible to add gel coat over paint, but you can apply paint or gel after removing vinyl if you want to
- Water will be enough for washing vinyl, so you don’t need to use cleaners like for painted hull
Boat Wrap Price
Full vinyl wraps start at $800 for a small, 12 to 16 feet (3.6 – 4.8 m) long fishing boat but are typically $1,400 and more, depending on the boat type and size.
You also need to pay for pulling the boat out of the water and its transportation to the installer. Therefore, it is recommended to calculate approximately $100 to $150 per 1 foot (0.3 m) for the entire job.
Boat wrap costs |
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| Boat length | Side height | Price |
| 12 to 16 feet (3.6 – 4.8 m) | Up to 27.5 inches (70 cm) | $800 |
| 16 to 20 feet (4.8 – 6 m) | Up to 27.5 inches (70 cm) | $1,000 |
| 16 to 20 feet (4.8 – 6 m) | Over 27.5 inches (70 cm) | $1,300 |
| 20 to 24 feet (6 – 7.3 m) | Up to 27.5 inches (70 cm) | $1,200 |
| 20 to 24 feet (6 – 7.3 m) | Over 27.5 inches (70 cm) | $1,400 |
| 24 to 30 feet (7.3 – 9 m) | Up to 27.5 inches (70 cm) | $1,800 |
| 30 to 35 feet (9 – 10.7 m) | Up to 27.5 inches (70 cm) | $2,700 |
| 35 to 40 feet (10.7 – 12 m) | Up to 53 inches (1.35 m) | $3,200 |
| 40 to 45 feet (12 – 13.7 m) | Up to 53 inches (1.35 m) | $4,100 |
I will give you a price guideline for three boat types, but you should know that the final cost typically varies, depending on the installer, boat, and location.
Fishing boat
- Wrapping a 14 feet (4.3 m) long fishing boat will cost you about $2,200, including $800 for materials and $1,400 for installation
- Wrapping a 16 feet (4.8 m) long fishing boat will cost you about $2,600, including $1,000 for materials and $1,600 for installation
- Wrapping a 18 feet (5.5 m) long fishing boat will cost you about $3,000 to $3,200, including $1,200 for materials and $1,800 to $2,000 for installation
- Wrapping a 20 feet (6 m) long fishing boat will cost you about $3,400 to $3,800, including $1,400 for materials and $2,000 to $2,400 for installation
Runabout
- Wrapping an 18 feet (5.5 m) long runabout boat will cost you about $3,700, including $1,300 for materials and $2,400 for installation
- Wrapping a 20 feet (6 m) long runabout boat will cost you about $4,100, including $1,500 for materials and $2,600 for installation
- Wrapping a 22 feet (6.7 m) long runabout boat will cost you about $4,500, including $1,700 for materials and $2,800 for installation
- Wrapping a 24 feet (7.3 m) long runabout boat will cost you about $4,900, including $1,900 for materials and $3,000 for installation
Speedboat
- Wrapping a 24 feet (7.3 m) long speedboat will cost you about $4,600, including $1,600 for materials and $3,000 for installation
- Wrapping a 26 feet (8 m) long speedboat will cost you about $5,000, including $1,800 for materials and $3,200 for installation
- Wrapping a 28 feet (8.5 m) long speedboat will cost you about $5,400, including $2,000 for materials and $3,400 for installation
- Wrapping a 30 feet (9 m) long speedboat will cost you about $5,800, including $2,200 for materials and $3,600 for installation
Factors That Affect Boat Wrap Costs
A vinyl wrap is an excellent way to change your boat look without repainting it. It is customizable, and you can design the graphics according to your taste. Plus, it will protect the vessel surface from harsh weather and saltwater.
On average, a vinyl boat wrap is a third cheaper option than repainting, making it an excellent solution for older vessels. You can find it at different prices, depending on a few factors. Let’s see.
Boat size
As you can suppose, it is the crucial factor determining the final boat wrap price. In other words, you should pay more for a larger boat. Remember that wrap installers typically base the quotation on boat length in feet.
Boat type
The wrapping costs are not the same for speed boat, bass boat, or cruiser because of the contours, necessary amount of wrap, and the wrapping process complexity. Any irregular shape full of corners or crevices will increase the price since the process is more complicated.
Plus, vinyl comes in specific width measurements that fit better to some boat types. Therefore, it is possible to pay $1,800 for wrapping a center console fishing boat, but covering a catamaran of the same length will cost you at least $2,400.
Installer
You should look at wrapping your boat as an investment. Therefore, it is vital to engage a skilled installer to finish this task. The best option is to check a list of qualified experts online and hire a reputable one living in your region.
You can also look for a certified installer exclusively working for particular vinyl manufacturers. Such an expert has a designation on the website and a list of recommendations.
Be aware that vinyl boat wraps’ price will vary depending on installer qualifications and reputation and the region where you live.
Wrap design
The price will also depend on your decision to wrap the boat fully or partially. A partial wrap means covering only some hull parts instead of the entire surface. Since the cost depends on the wrap size necessary to cover the vessel, you can count on twice as cheap wrapping when you want to cover only half the surface.
Another thing to consider is using full graphics or single-colored wrap. Boat owners typically choose a single-color vinyl wrap to make their boat like new. However, business owners prefer adding logos, graphics, or designs to promote their business.
As expected, a single wrapping will cost you less than a complicated graphic design, but the price will often depend on the expert you choose. Some installers offer better custom options, so you should expect them to be pricey.
In most cases, graphics and decals will cost you at least $12 per piece, while vinyl graphic kits’ price starts at $200.
Extra costs
If you are not skillful, you will need to hire an installer to customize your design. You will need to pay about $60 to $95 per hour for that service. Plus, expedited wraps will increase the costs.
Summary
Vinyl wrapping is a practical way to beautify your boat or even use it as an advertising panel. It is a durable option without complicated and long installation or special maintenance. Even though the process is not cheap, it is more affordable than painting or gel coating.