Wrapping a Ranger Tug Hull

[Trisailor]

Has anyone experienced applying a wrap (or skin) to their Tug or Cutwater hull?
After reading through the posts on painting the hull with Awlgrip, I am looking at a wrap (or skin) on my R27's claret red hull that is rapidly becoming faded pink in the southern California sun. After spending two days hanging over the side of the dinghy polishing, I'm looking hard at a colored wrap of the same color to prevent the gel coat from fading further. After comparing the location of the previous owners lettering to the surrounding gel coat, I think I'm at the limit for successful buffing/polishing of the gel coat. A local vendor has quoted a cost of about $3200 to wrap the hull. He says that will last about 5 years. I welcome all comments/feedback.

 

[Kaptajnen]

We had our R-31S wrapped before delivery last August and have been very satisfied with the result. The hull is dark blue and the wrap match the color perfectly. And since the vinyl wrap is basically like a photo, it was possible to customize the graphics with photos.

Since the original hull and gelcoat are protected by the wrap, it is in “factory New” condition.

And we enjoy not having to wax and polish the hull!

Take a look - click on the photo button

 

[Trisailor]

Thanks for the reply. The picture looks awesome. I'm convinced we are going that route, especially since it took a couple of extra Ibuprofens to calm the sore shoulders after buffing and polishing half the hull. It'll be a few months before we pull the trigger, since the boat needs hauling and it's only been six months in the water for new bottom paint and a cutlass bearing replacement.

 

[S. Todd]

I have not wrapped our Tug but did have a blue stripe wrapped on our new white F350 Dually tow vehicle to match our Tug and it looks good and has held up nicely after 8 months and 5600 miles.

 

[knotflying]

I guess time will tell how Awlgrip V wrapping works out for cost. I get my R-27 waxed twice a year. Sometimes I pay to have it done and sometimes I do it myself. It costs about $400 each time. However that is the whole boat. In my opinion the hull is the easy part. So, over a five year period waxing V wrapping is maybe a break even. Awlgrip is more expensive and more permanent and requires no waxing. I'm not sure what the life cycle of it is, but then there is also the inevitable scratch that one has to deal with. I guess like everything else in boating, pick your poison. 🙂 The wrapping job does look good when properly done.

 

[Kevinandcarol]

I put ceramic coating on my boat, I have a r23 with a blue hull, it is 2 years old now and looks better than new. Even the upper white will oxidize if its not treated with something. I did the entire boat including the cockpit I just finished polishing and coating a 2005 Regal express cruiser with a black and white hull and it looks like new. Ceramic coating permanently bonds and fills the pores of the gel coat, it will not oxidize after being coated. The coating makes it super hydrophobic as well making clean up a breeze also adds depth and shine to the gel coat. Ceramic coating also resists staining from fish blood spider poop and spills. It has a 9H hardness factor as well witch helps resist scratches. You can also put ceramic coating on a vinyl wrap, it will protect the stripes from curling or fading too. If you want to see some pictures or want more information, pm me with your email and I'll send some amazing pictures.

 

[Trisailor]

Thanks again all. I just spent two days on the boat enjoying a great July 4th celebration with friends and cold beverages. I neglected to mention in my earlier post that my boat lives in the water year around, so any hull treatment needs to be easily maintained from the dock. Fortunately our docks are of the floating variety so access to the hull is the same regardless of tide. we also suffer from the same boring sunny relatively dry weather three quarters of the year. Makes it easy to spend time on the boat, by-uy wreaks havoc on the finishes.