VALUING BOAT WRAPS
By Curtis Niedermier
A boat ( or truck ) wrap serves multiple purposes , including protecting the finish from abrasion and sun fade , but more than anything it ’ s a very valuable tool for anglers to market their sponsors or personal brands . The American Trucking Association and 3M have researched the effectiveness of ads and marketing on wrapped vehicles and found that , depending on how many miles are driven , it ’ s possible to generate tens of thousands of impressions per day and more than 10 million impressions in a year . That ’ s a lot of eyes , and a lot of awareness , which reinforces the promotional potential of a professional bass angler who travels the tournament trail all season long .
What You Get
In general , bass boat wraps can be counted on to be pretty rugged , considering the craft they cover often exceed 70 mph on the water . Certified installers know their trade , and the last thing they want is to perform repairs . In addition , most boat wraps do not come with a warranty , as finding the exact reason for failures is tough , so having it done right is important . Most often , damage is caused by a careless captain . In the event of any major tears , usually the entire wrap must be replaced .
Bass boat wraps offer moderately good protection to a boat . They ’ re 4.5 mils thick ( by comparison , gel coat is about 2 ), and easily safeguard against the bumps and bangs of tying up to a dock or glancing off other boats in a lock .
Care and Removal
Once your rig is wrapped , it ’ s important to take care of the vinyl coating . Thanks to superior inks , today ’ s wraps don ’ t really fade , but they can get scratched . Many waxing compounds can help remove minor scratches and will add life to a wrap . General cleaning should be done with dish soap , after which a protectant and sealer should be used .
A quality boat wrap should last about three years , and most graphics companies advise against pushing past that timeframe . If left on for longer periods , a boat wrap will likely crack from sun exposure , and has the potential to damage or stain the underlying gel coat .
Removing a wrap is fairly simple and requires nothing more than basic tools , strong fingers and a heat gun . Most owners easily remove their wraps themselves if need be , but wrap companies will also perform the task for a nominal fee .
The Cost
Perhaps the biggest question about boat wraps is the cost . Again , it depends . Some bass boat wrap companies offer pricing as low as $ 1,000 . However , buyers should go in asking questions to make sure none of the important steps are being skipped . For the most extreme wraps with the best laminates and quality custom work , buyers may need to fork over in excess of $ 4,000 .
But , like just about everything else in bass fishing , nothing cool is cheap .
It takes a skilled hand and careful procedure to get the details of a wrap just right .
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