Cleaning Your Wrapped Boat

DECEMBER 10, 2019| SpeedPro

If you’ve recently had your boats wrapped, you probably want to know to clean them properly. A dirty wrap will not only project a negative image of your company to those who see it, but it can also have lasting damage on your wrap and the boat itself. With the following cleaning and maintenance tips, you’ll be able to keep your vinyl-wrapped boat looking its best, and you’ll get the most value for your investment.

Steps to Cleaning Your Vinyl Wrapped Boats

Dirt and grime buildup can hurt the overall quality of your boat wrap graphics, while also reducing the lifespan of your vinyl, so you’ll want to make sure to clean your graphics regularly. Luckily, cleaning vinyl boat wraps is easy compared to boat paint. Like other vehicle wraps, the key to much of the cleaning process is to be gentle while you wash your vinyl boat graphics.

To properly clean boat wraps, you’ll need to follow the steps below:

1. Gather Your Cleaning Materials

To clean your vinyl boat graphics, you won’t need much. As you maintain your boat wrap, you’ll only need water, a marine-safe soap and a soft cloth or sponge. You should never use solvents or abrasives while cleaning, as they can damage the vinyl.

If there’s an area on the wrap where dirt or another contaminant is hard to get off, you can use an ultra-soft brush to give you some additional scrubbing power. Finally, bring a microfiber towel along to dry off the wrap.

2. Cleaning the Wrap

With your cleaning materials in place, you’re ready to begin the actual cleaning process. First, spray your wrap off with water to reduce the amount of dirt and other contaminants on it. When you spray the wrap, stand at least a foot away, use room temperature or warm water and spray with a wide-angle nozzle.

Don’t use hot water, as it can damage vinyl, especially if sprayed at a wrap with high force from a focused nozzle. You’ll also want to avoid using an extremely high-pressure washer to clean your wrap, as doing so can lift the edges of your wrap if you spray at a certain angle. Keep in mind that while you clean the wrap, you should be doing so gently in all stages.

After you’ve rinsed the wrap off, use your marine-safe soap and soft cloth or sponge to clean off the dirt and grime that didn’t come off with the spraying. Try to clean the entire boat wrap even if you can’t see any buildup. If you have trouble getting any contaminants off of the wrap, use the soft brush to scrub the hard-to-remove material off.

With the cleaning done, you should rinse it off again, standing a foot away, with a wide nozzle and room temperature or warm water. You’ll want to rinse it off until all of the soap products that you have used are completely off of the vehicle.

3. Drying the Wrap

Once you have your boat wrap rinsed off and free from any of the soaps used to clean it, dry it off to prevent water spots. To do this, use a microfiber cloth or a silicone squeegee to soak up the water. After the boat is completely dry, you can be confident that your boat is as clean as possible and that your boat wrap won’t be fading or getting damaged anytime soon.

Cleaning Tips for Boat Wraps

Along with following the steps listed above, there are a few tips you should follow for proper maintenance and cleaning of your wrapped boat. See some of the main tips below:

• Don’t wash immediately after wrapping: If you’ve just wrapped your boat, you should not immediately wash it. You’ll want to wait at least a week after the vinyl boat graphics have been applied to give them a complete washing. It’s important to give your vinyl wrap enough time to adhere to the hull before you put it under any stress.
• Set up a wash schedule: If you regularly use your boat, stick to a regular wash schedule to keep your boat consistently clean. Along with cleanliness, a wash schedule ensures that your vehicle always maintains a consistent appearance, which is crucial to creating a uniform image for your company.
• Polishing your wrap: If you decide to polish or wax your wrap to give it an extra shine, you’ll want only to use the most gentle and high-quality formula that you can find. Additionally, you should make sure the formula is acceptable to use on vinyl and is marine safe. Make sure never to use an abrasive wax. If you have a textured wrap or matte finish, don’t attempt to polish it as doing so can damage it.
• Transporting your wrapped boat: When you transport or haul your boat into or out of the water, you’ll want to make sure that you’re protecting it from damage. To do so, add a protective layer between the lifts and wraps so that you don’t damage the graphics.
• Avoid direct sunlight: Exposure to direct sunlight over an extended amount of time can harm your boat wrap. Even though vinyl wraps are made with UV-resistant material, you should still try to keep it away from sunlight when not in use.
• Storing your boat in the off-season: As direct sunlight can harm your graphics, in the off-season, store your boat away from the sun or use a UV protective cover. If you use metal tie-downs for the UV protective cover, check to see that the tie-downs don’t have exposed metal surfaces that could chafe or scratch the boat’s hull. With proper storage, your graphics will retain their visual appeal and not become damaged.

Interested in More Information on Boat Wraps?

If you want to know more about boat wraps, SpeedPro can help. With a nationwide network of studios that specialize in large-format graphics, SpeedPro knows the ins and outs of custom boat graphics and wraps. Whether you want to add new wraps to your boats or want to know more about caring for your current wrap, SpeedPro can help.

Find your local SpeedPro studio today to speak to one of our representatives about your boat wrap options.