FAQ's - LuxShield

frequently asked questions

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WHAT IS THE DURABILITY UNDER UV?

Each manufacturer rates their products based on a number of factors, such as the exact colour chosen and the climate zone it will be used in.

Based on a vertical exposure, black and white have the longest lifespan, 8-10 years in some cases. Colours vary between approximately 5-8 years, whereas metallics and certain other finishes have an indicative lifespan of 3-5 years.

Exotic finishes such as chrome are not warranted for use in a marine environment and should only be considered with this understanding.

The key thing to understand when wrapping is that the vinyl will degrade over time so that the paint doesn't have to. If this is understood up front and you know what to expect in terms of lifespan, you will never be disappointed.

As the market begins to understand this, we believe that regular wrapping will become part of the standard Superyacht paint maintenance plan. After all, polishing degrades the paint and wrapping preserves it.

HOW TOUGH IS THE VINYL ITSELF?

With enough abuse, be it abrasion, impact or UV, anything will get damaged. Where paint will scratch, vinyl will scuff. Paint is designed to be polished again and again over many years to attempt to bring back the shine, vinyl can be removed and entirely replaced when it gets tired.

When installing vinyl on sound well prepared surfaces there is no reason the vinyl should not last for several years. This can be further ensured by the addition of SPF.

WHAT SIZE ARE VINYL ROLLS?

For exterior films, typically a roll is 1.52m wide and 23m, 25m or 50m long. For interior films the roll width is usually 1.22m and can be purchased by the linear meter.

WILL I SEE ANY JOINS?

We generally say unless you know the joins are there you won’t see them as they are disguised within the natural lines of the boat.

IS IT EASY TO REMOVE?

Yes, vinyl is easy to remove with some effort. In the event that any glue residue is left behind, a mild solvent is all you need to remove it.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THE QUALITY OF THE FILM USED ?

Using high-quality vinyl films is of utmost importance. Incorrect vinyl selection can lead to shrinkage, adhesion failure, and premature breakdown of the film. At Luxshield Yacht Wrapping, we exclusively use the highest quality marine-coated vinyl films to ensure optimal performance and durability.

VINYL VS. PAINT? WE SEE IT DIFFERENTLY

Superyacht paint is without doubt more durable and tougher than vinyl, but if that is what you focus on you are missing the point.

You will hear us say repeatedly that we do not consider vinyl as an alternative to paint, but rather a compliment. What do we mean by this?

Imagine, if instead of polishing your paint every couple of years, you wrap it, and all you ask from the vinyl is a year or two (a "few" years) of service... After ten years, your paint would still be brand new, saving you the cost of repainting, and you would have lost nothing in terms of downtime.

With wrapping you are also free to try out new colours along the way, customise and do things you never would or could with paint, because whatever you do with vinyl is fully reversible.

In our mind it makes sense to wrap as soon as new paint is out of its warranty period.

HOW MUCH CAN I REALLY SAVE?

We ask our Clients to think in the context of what they usually get for their money, compared to what we offer.

With paint you pay a capital amount which can almost be considered an investment in the value of your yacht, yet it depreciates every year and needs to be redone every 8-10 years. Paint also degrades under UV and is further eroded each time it is polished, until eventually there is nothing left. When the time comes to repaint it has a huge cost, months of downtime, and potentially millions in lost charter revenue.

Wrapping on the other hand also lasts several years, although we generally say to expect a 'few' years. The major difference is that with wrapping, particularly in the 50m + range, you can expect the cost to be around 10x lower than painting, and often lower than polishing. These percentage savings also increase as yacht size increases.

Furthermore the speed we can install means you have virtually no downtime, which for busy charter yachts represents a huge saving.

With this mindset, Owners and Captains are starting to realise that wrapping is a way to keep their paint fresh on a permanent basis, wrapping every season, year or other interval.

HOW DO I CLEAN THE VINYL AND CAN I POLISH IT?

Vinyl should not be polished in the conventional sense, nor should it be scrubbed with anything abrasive. It should be kept clean by using neutral soap and water, or other suitable vinyl cleaning products.

Cleaning is also made easier by the installation of SPF on top of the vinyl. This not only offers extreme protection due to its toughness, but it is also extremely easy to clean due its hydrophobic properties.

HOW IMPORTANT IS THE FAIRING?

We require a sound surface to wrap onto, which means no flaky or exfoliating/peeling paint.

The more perfect the surface we wrap onto, the more perfect the finish. For example if you choose not to repair scratches, they will be visible through the vinyl.

It is very important to correctly prepare any cracks which could take on water, so that they are filled, sealed, smooth and dry before wrapping. The last thing anybody wants is to wrap over a crack that has moisture inside.

HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE TO INSTALL?

The time required depends on the size and complexity of the project. However, vinyl wrapping is significantly quicker than painting. With Luxshield Yacht Wrapping, a full hull colour change on an 80-foot yacht takes around 3 days, while a colour change on a 30-60m yacht hull takes 8-12 days to complete. These projects can be booked and completed quickly, even during your main operating season.