Rice Graphic Images

Have you ever seen a boat getting 'wrapped'?" asked Rice Graphic Images' development manager, Jim Gibson. Well, no I hadn't, because it conjured up a picture of a boat being shrink-wrapped for transport and I couldn't see the point.

"Not that sort of wrapping," explained Jim Gibson, "It's an alternative to signwriting or air-brushing a boat."

So, there I was, one week later, at Rice Graphic Images' modern Wodonga facility, watching as a team of skilled tradies clambered over a plain white Deep V 260 powerboat.

The first step was a thorough clean-up, until the hull fairly glistened. Then out of a huge printer ticked an adhesive vinyl sheet with an emerging image of pelagic fish. This three-square-metre sheet was tacked into place on the hull and the backing sheets were gradually removed as the huge 'sticker' was applied to the hull. With the critical positioning finished, the 'scalpel team' set to work.

I couldn't see how this operation was going to work, because slap bang in the middle of the sheet it had to accommodate an engine air-inlet moulding of considerable size. I've stuck shelf liner inside drawers and cupboards, and I know how intolerant of surface irregularities sticky sheets can be.

It soon became apparent that the RGI boys know a lot more about plastic film than the people who make shelf liners! With the aid of a hand-held heat gun the flexible film was worked around the proud moulding until it was almost a snug fit. At this point a pressure-relieving cut was made around the base of the moulding and a blue 'filler' tape covered the narrow strip of hull show-through.

While the moulding expert was in action his partner trimmed around the design, removing excess plastic material from the boat topping and under the gunwale. Then the boys did the same process on the starboard side, before the relatively simple job of positioning the Dreamcatcher logo on the transom. At the end of the day the Deep V 260 looked like a different boat.

This craft is the display vessel for Albury-based Wizard Tackle, owned by Adam Furst ('Boxhead' to his mates). Adam settled on a fish logo for his new business and RGI's ability to re-jig the design layout on the computer to suit his car, and van fleet, as well as the boat, meant that Wizard Tackle's recognisable logo could be used widely without the cost of air-brushing.

AS GOOD AS PAINT
David Rice, RGI's managing director, explained that the wrapping process is at least as durable as paint and much easier to repair or replace than a painted design. Each wrap-job comes with a four-year warranty.

RGI's finishing touch is a two-pack 'hypershield' clear coat that's applied to the vinyl panel after installation.

RGI wraps have been used on high-speed 'bridge to bridge' competition boats and jet aircraft, so the peeling question appears to be irrelevant.

Ron Trengove's boat Totally Senile is vinyl-wrapped by Rice Graphic Images and as testament to the strength and endurance of the wrapping technology, was put through the rigours of travelling 112km at 165kmh in last year's annual Bridge-to-Bridge Water Ski Classic.

Trengove says: "This is the first speedboat I've used RGI's wrapping on instead of paint – and I'd never go back to painting a boat again."

He says paint on a boat is forever chipping and the vinyl wrap with RGI's exclusive Hypershield coating system, has stood up to 10 months of hard race and trial miles resisting the unforgiving force of water, at up to 106mph (170kmh).

"When Chris Walton from Maverick Boats in Corowa suggested the RGI system as an alternative to paint, I was a little sceptical, but the success of the wrapping under extreme conditions has more than justified my decision," said Trengove.

Trengove is a fast-boat nut, having worked with them for longer than he can remember. He has another speedboat River God (a real glamour) that RGI has also wrapped, and is in partnership with a third raceboat Flamen' Senile with his son-in-law, it's presently on the wrapping production line at RGI's multi-million dollar facility at Wodonga.

The cruiser is part-wrapped. A job like this would cost approximately $2500 including artwork by RGI's graphic studio.

The speedboat is completely wrapped and the cost for this type of job is around $7000 including design work.

For more information, phone 1300 660 744 or visit www.rgi.com.au