Vehicle wraps are so 2009. With many boats sitting on the sidelines during the winter months, it’s the perfect time to hone up on your skills in the next big wrap wave - boats.

The opportunity is vast. U.S. recreational boating demand will grow 5.3 percent annually through 2011, according to market research firm Freedonia Group. Powerboats will lead the charge in the boat category. While the South offers the best opportunities for boat vinyl installations because of the large population of boats in the region, wrappers from across the country can get in on the action that is the $15.7 billion U.S. recreational boating industry.

Need to learn how to apply vinyl? Check out our e-book on Vinyl Application 101.

Beyond the sheer numbers, consider the repeat business. Even though boat wraps typically last a couple of years, many boat owners opt for a fresh wrap every year because the salt water is rough on the vinyl - and the gas spillage can cause some damage around the fuel tank. And if water seeps in, the wrap is, well, a wrap - if it’s not dried quickly. Even small tears can cause big problems for these on-water vessels.

“We’ve seen a tremendous increase in the number of inquiries for interested boat owners, and we expect the growth to continue for the foreseeable future” says Pete LoBrutto, owner of Impressions on the Go, a vinyl installation company in Austin. “It’s a lot less expensive than painting a boat, the boat doesn’t have to be transported to our location, and boat owners like the fact that they can design almost anything they want for their wrap.”

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Want to put pinstripes on your Ford? You’d probably be better off going to a professional vinyl installer, but in case you want to try to do it yourself, Roush Performance is trying to make it easy. The company just rolled out a variety of vinyl stripe options for 2005 to 2011 Mustangs that it promises can quickly and inexpensively turn a “one of many” Mustang into a “one-of-a-kind” trick pony.

By mixing-and-matching among different top, side, hood and roof stripes, there are more than 500 different configurations available. You can choose complete pre-designed sets or create their own by picking among the different color and style combinations.

“There have been more than nine million Mustangs sold since the introduction and it’s getting harder and harder to find any two that look alike because so many owners take great pride in customizing their vehicle,” says Jack Roush. “I think the Mustang is an amazing platform to work on, and adding vinyl stripes, such as those from Roush, are a quick and fairly inexpensive way to make a bold statement with your car.”

Richmond Sign & Design Services is offering a quick video on applying vinyl graphics and decals. The company says, “Like everything else, having the right tools is half the battle ! I have perfected my techniques over 20 years in the business and they have been proved and tested.” Click here to see the vinyl application video for yourself. And check out our e-books that give you step by step instructions from the pros.

Elite Wraps is pushing the concept of ‘partial vinyl vehicle graphics.’ That’s an interesting new twist on the concept, marketed a bit differently. The approach combines the traditional cut-vinyl application with the impressive photographic capabilities of the digital world.

With premium designs, Elite says, this powerful combination delivers eye-popping results every time. This option is ideal for companies with set budget considerations and is also a fantastic cost effective solution for that extra visual punch in fleet advertising.

Elite says with a partial wrap, you maximize impressions with minimal investment. That’s true. You sort of leverage the background color of the vehicle as a backdrop for high-resolution images. It does make an impact, though I’m not sure it’s quite the same result as a full vehicle wrap.

Click here to see some examples.

Here’s a quick look at Sandness’s van. This is the first step towards learning vinyl application or vehicle wraps — starting with a small logo and some lettering. You will get in over your head if you try to do a vehicle wrap without educating yourself. But you can’t do much damage on a small job like this one. Kudos to Krumme Designs for a true professional vinyl application.

Avery Dennison’s Graphics & Reflective Products Division is teaming up with Roland to make the lives of vehicle wrappers a little easier.

Avery just announced that its Easy Apply RS Technology – popular with vehicle wrap installers – will be featured in the Roland Restyling Solution, the newest addition to Roland’s award-winning media line.

“We are excited to bring our new Roland Restyling Solution featuring Avery Dennison Easy Apply RS Technology to the vehicle wrap market,” says Rick Scrimger, vice president and general manager for Roland DGA Corp.   Read the rest of this entry »

ElevenTen Color has some good news for you. The company just announced  two new products in its Luminosity media portfolio, Ultra-Removable Adhesive Vinyl and Pressure Sensitive Laminating film.

Ultra-Removable Adhesive White Vinyl is available in 54 inch and 60 inch by 50 yard rolls. The film is compatible with Solvent and Eco-Solvent based inks and has an indoor lifespan of up to two years. The adhesive technology allows for this material to be removed and re-applied multiple times with out tools or cleaners.

This ultra-removable vinyl is a valuable tool when creating advertisements, promotions, wall graphics and trade show displays along with being ideal on painted walls, wallpaper, windows and wood paneling.