I bought a boat with a solid gloss black wrap on the sides. It looks good but I’m still not a fan of the idea for myself. The ones I’ve seen posted look great! I want to take care of mine and make it last as long as possible since it’s already there. How do you guys take care of your wraps? I’ve read what 3M recommends for cars but I’d rather hear first hand boat experience. What kind of wax I should use or do you wax at all?

It should have a UV inhibitor coating and you do nothing but wash, that's one positive of a wrap over paint/gel.

I use a full mooring cover and added side skirts to it anyway to keep the sun away, should outlast the boat considering I've see 6+ year old wraps that look new without protection.

Most vinyl is rated at 5-7 years and the top of the line is rated at 9-10, but it really depends on exposure to direct sunlight. Mine was not printed, most printed is laminated which adds another clear protective layer on top. I ended up whiting out the S side so I could cover up the rest of the old graphic. I make sure to cover it with the full cover b/c I had cut vinyl and covered up my old graphics and after 3 years of 1/2 being covered and 1/2 the time it wasnt. It started to shrink pretty good, so I am making sure to keep the sun off.

Also, where I park on sid the house, boats points East to West so the sun doesn’t shine the sides.

now as for as wax... I use the same Collinite fleet wax I use on the gel. I also wipe down with quick shine wax after I wash each time.

Also, do NOT use a brush to wash the vinyl, use a soft car wash mitt so you dont put what looks like swirls in the vinyl.

COUNTRYHICK, i just noticed you has asked me where I got mine. I had it done by B media in Elmwood. Its right around the corner from our yard and they did over 60 of our tractor Trailers. it was the first one they had done, so as I actually helped, we learned as we go and applied it on wet and used vinyl that doesnt have the air egress. Doesnt let the air out and doesnt let the water in either. We actually used the wrong vinyl the first time the black went on, so we did a lot better job the second time as we had figured it out on the last part of the 2nd side the first time. Really wasnt that hard!

Nailit,

I haven't noticed swirls in the UV inhibitor coating using a soft deck brush. Maybe said coating is less susceptible to damage than the raw vinyl directly underneath.

I also realize I own you a anti-skid coating picture from last year, sorry for the delay.

Keith

I had a 1/2 wrap on my last boat. Word of caution.

Be careful on the docks, rafting up and fenders. Even with covers on my finders the vinyl can get damaged pretty easy. I had a few marks in mine after the first year.

no problem.. it was just a word of caution about the swirls. My brush is really soft and don't have any "swirls", but looking closely with direct reflection of the sun, I can see a hint of a couple light scratches so I figured a stiffer brush my really get it!

Agree x 1000 on the covers, I didn't like the ones I found online. I ended up going to Joanns and making my own out of black felt. I also bought 2 more fenders so I can put them on both sides regardless if someone else has bumpers. If they do, I get them to mount them high so theirs hits the rubrail and not on the sides and let mine take the hit. No issues so far.

10-4, I looked at the wrap today in the sun to see if I'm scratching it with my brush and I'm not. Still smooth as glass. Again mine has the UV Inhibitor overlay.

cool, I would have done the laminate too, but my graphic offered to do mine for free, so I wasnt going to push it. My graphics are actually cut vinyl on top of the black metallic. We basically had to put huge stickers on it. But is was $0.00 and looks great, so I can afford to be a little more cautious!!

I'd trade what I paid for free and having to use a sponge any day! My graphics are printed onto the vinyl which I'm told is more expensive than the method used with yours as well. I'd be afraid of the vinyl overlay edges not holding up.