Looking for Pros and Cons of vinyl and paint graphics, other than "Vinyl is less $$" and "Paint lasts longer."

What are the limitations of each?
How do you repair scratched vinyl?
Can vinyl have a gloss like clearcoat?
Can vinyl survive below the waterline?
Up close, does paint look better?
Etc, etc.

Details welcomed

-thanx

Send a e-mail to Wally. I belive he has vynal below the waterline.

Bill

A few years back I put vinyl over the old graphics. We taped an edge 1/8" around the graphics and cleared them.. Held up real well. ST

Bringing this back up to the top.

Ok....yes i do have vinyl below the water line.
Does it hold up? .....Yes and no... ive had it on the boat for one whole season and it has been through some abuse.....well not abuse but i have been out ALOT last year! the thing about it is that my boat has never sat in water longer then 3 days (LOTO).....no actually it was in Key West for 6 day straight in salt water so i take that back! As of right now the only issue i have is at the very bottom of the back by the transom. Due to the angle of the graphic it is peeling at the very corner. But what can you expect!!! The vinyl guy said he would cover it under warranty no problem though! he also suggested that i take some clear nail polish and dab a little on any other spot that get the same type of water pressure applied. The only other issue i have with this is that the installer who put the vinyl on didnt get all the bubbles out in one section and on one occasion i must have got the nose of the boat deep into the face of a wave and the vinyl ripped due to an air pocket. but again the installer is going to cover it!

So in conclusion i am very happy with the vinyl and yes it does hold up well even under the water line! Just make sure you get it in writeing that they will cover anything liek what i mentioned above!

Thanks Wally. How about others, what are your experiences?