Painted Graphics vs. Vinyl Graphics
 

I would like to hear some opinions about paint vs. vinyl graphics. I realize that the vinyl will be much less initial cost, and if a future buyer doesn't like my graphics the boat can be easily changed to their tastes. What I don't know are what are some of the negatives of vinyl graphics, if there are any. Thanks for the input.

Paint looks better...hands down. Vinyl is not as "shiny" as paint and It's pretty difficult to get dock rash off of.

Pluses would be paint jobs become dated, vinyl is easily replaced. You can do pretty cool graphic stuff with vinyl. And of course you could change the vinyl graphics every other year for 20 years before matching the cost of 1 high end paint Job.

I was going to say go with vinyl in your other thread but didn't. I'm going with vinyl on my next boat!

Agreed, when I get tired of my current paint it will be sanded off and get vinyl.

I was thinking the same thing put some nice vinyl on it, and in five or six years you can just pull it off and have nice white gellcote. Just my .02

I think vinyl for cost and ease

In 5 or 6 years you will see whatever graphics you had in the gel - they won't be coloured but the outline will be there if it spends any time at all in the sun.
i see the pros and cons of both:

vinyl -- cheap, fairly easy, changeable, harder to fix, don't look as good, can't get too crazy, most of the time you will see the outline of old vinyl on the gel

paint -- easier to fix -- depending on graphics, more money, can get as crazy as you want to spend, if you repaint you can't tell there was anything different before. way better looking --- shine---

Vinyl is smart...if you get tired it's easy to change. Also in today's and probably the near future's market it will be easier to sell if they graphics are removable. It should appeal to a wider range of buyers.

Personally many of the boats I look at I wouldn't buy based on the graphics alone. I tend towards the simpler graphics which negates many of the boats out there, but if I could remove the graphics it would open a whole new world of potential purchases.

The guy that does vinyl by me sprays it with clear coat before it goes on, looks more like paint and lasts longer without fading. Something to look into.....

Generally anything you think looks super cool, many others will think looks retarded. I had some simple vinyl stripes on the hood of my Z06, the new owner couldn't wait to remove them. If it was painted, I may not have got it sold over the stripes.

I'd definitely go with vinyl.

I buy things for "ME". I worry about resale all day at work. I'm exhausted by the end of the day. But I'm not that smart.
Paint it!!!!!!!

Who is that?

Performance auto body in amsterdam, hes painted a bunch of boats in the sacandaga area and also does vinyl. Rick is his name.

Chuck, you changing up the Nortech? IMO that boat looks great as it stands.

You also may want to see Greg Smith at Kolor Craft in Syracuse, heard he is playing with Vinyl as well now.

Clear coating wrap or just plain Vinyl? If wrap wondering how one would heat a strech wrap around corners with clear on it.

Great idea, I would agree that is the one draw back to wrap, like my girl it looks great wet and from 20 ft away but up close it lacks the shine :lolhit:

Buying a center console boat

There is no doubt that paint is the better choice as far as detail and depth. I do not think that anybody can deny that. I went with vinyl on my boat just because you never know what will happen down the road. Vinyl can be easily changed. the more complex and personal it is, the more I would lean to vinyl. That said, if you are flush and want the best looking job, go with paint.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/3495226...7626326435654/

I'd go with vinyl on a center console given the choice.

Not being able to go as wild with vinyl as you can with paint is a myth these days. All it requires is someone that's good with the software & can install it correctly, & they can go as wild as you want with vinyl. In some cases you can go into more detail with vinyl since it's not limited to the skill of the painter or the materials.

Paint does look better, but vinyl can look really good if it's not designed & installed half-assed. Shooting clear over it can make it nearly indistinguishable to a paintjob depending on how good the installer is.

Quite a few people that don't already know have mistaken my Jet Ski for paint, both in photos and in person. You have to walk right up to it in person to be able to tell. If I clear coated it, it would be really tough to tell:

http://img812.imageshack.us/img812/7468/dscn0820r.jpg

http://img806.imageshack.us/img806/7348/dscn0817s.jpg

http://img849.imageshack.us/img849/217/may200088x10.jpg

Rick Forcey.
Force GraphiX @ 843-7126

He did some vinyl for my Formula. He's good with Vinyl or Paint.

Some of those vinyl jobs are just incredible - and I can see where a shiny vinyl or a clear coat would make them almost indistiguishable from a paint job. I would think the shop would have to ensure compatibility between the vinyl and the clear coat - so there are no issues (peeling, yellowing, etc.) - ie, some might be better than others...

Id go vinyl. Its cheaper and the stuff is going to last at least 5-6 good years if not more. Paint gets outdated and you can change it as easy. Plus resale might be harder on a paint job as well. People have stated dock rash on vinyl which is true but if a dock ruins vinyl it will ruin the paint as well.

It depends on the boat. If I were buying a cheap used boat and didn't want to invest a lot I might go with vinyl. Or, if I didn't plan to keep the boat for very long. However, if I were buying an expensive boat, and/or one that I planned to keep for a while it would be paint all the way.

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/f...boat-wrap.html

Some pics of full vinyl wrap and hull graphics

If your going to sell the boat in a couple years get vinyl, otherwise I'd opt for paint... While vinyl looks alright from a distance there is no comparison between the two, especially if they are docked side by side... But if your doing a CC type boat I'd go with vinyl cool paint jobs aren't a necessity...

just my $0.02 Jim

i like your thinkin :ernaehrung004::ernaehrung004::ernaehrung004: