What Shrink Wrap Boat Supplies will you Need?

Prepping for your boat or industrial equipment containment correctly is the foundational step to a proper Shrink Wrap installation. Taking these steps prior to shrinking your material will help to ensure you have the supplies handy to create a packaging system to exceed your transport and storage needs.

Storage Wrapping for Months or Transporting for Weeks?

Wrapping equipment, you essentially follow the same steps as shrink wrapping a boat. A key element is knowing the difference of wrapping for transport or wrapping for storage. When wrapping for transport it is crucial to have zero air-flow getting into your wrapped area. You want a complete seal so air/ wind cannot enter and balloon-out the wrap job. The boat or equipment may be on a flat bed or on an open trailer. You want the cover tight and secure for any conditions it will encounter. For seasonal storage you may want to use vents, desiccant bags or other anti-moisture products to prevent moisture build up within the wrapped enclosure when it is closed for months or longer. If you are concerned with corrosion and rust within your wrapped equipment, you can add anti-rust VCI Capsules that are designed to fight against airborne corrosion. So for these shrink wrap supplies storing a boat for storage requires more supplies than wrapping for transport.

How will you Attach the Shrink Wrap

You will also need the correct accessories to attach the job to the marine equipment. Deciding if you want to 100% wrap the equipment, or use a hard attachment with tape and/ or strapping will determine your supplies needed. You can also use a shrink wrap adhesive that can be sprayed on the overlapping pieces of shrink wrap to tack the pieces together. Then with a shrink wrap heat gun you can fuse the overlapping pieces and shrink the overall film so it secure, airtight and stays in place as long as you need. We sell all of these items you may need.

A minimum list of supplies may include: Propane fired heat gun, 7 or 8 mil roll of material, Heat Shrink Tape (and/ or strapping) for attachment & spray adhesive for heat seaming.

Shrink Wrap is an impermeable material, so it is crucial to have some type of ventilation/ anti-moisture system in place if your boat is shrink wrapped for storage purposes. Moisture can lead to mold, mildew and bacteria that can ruin the interior and upholstery of the boat. Shrink wrap vents are a great, in-expensive choice. They are simple to install (our vents come w/ step-by-step straightforward instructions). The “Louver Vent” is a 2 piece, self-sealing, adhesive vent. The vent cover is applied to keep weather and debris out. Another economical alternative is industrial desiccant bags, formulated for boats and equipment. One 300 gram bag can guard a 12ft. boat- no problem! It’s important to make sure your boat is clean inside and out before shrink wrapping.

Do you need access to your wrapped item while wrapped?

If there is a chance you may need to enter your wrapped boat during the weatherization period, install zipper hatch doors for easy access.

Protecting your asset from moisture is key to a successful weatherization. It’s an inexpensive step that saves headache and money down the road. Use these boat storage shrink wrap tips the next time your boat goes into storage.

Choosing the Correct Roll Size

When measuring your equipment you want to get the highest and widest point to determine which roll size will be the best for your project and upcoming projects. If you have multiple projects, you want to choose the best width roll that will cover the dimensions for all objects being wrapped. The material will be draped over equipment, and depending on attachment method, you may want to measure out an extra foot. A 7 mil is perfect for storage and/ or transport. It is formulated with a 1 year UVI for Ultra-Violet Resistance. If you are wanting a heavier thickness, the 8mil is also a good choice for transport and storage jobs.

Padding Off Sharp Edges and Delicate Areas

You can use poly foam padding and/ or any scrap plastic or fabric you may have laying around. Walk around perimeter of equipment and pad off any protruding areas that may need cushioning to prevent tears in the plastic. -A fully-sealed area makes for the best packaging system. Also, pad off any sensitive areas for extra protection. Make sure the equipment you are wrapping is clean and completely dry inside and out.

Draping the Shrink Wrap & Eliminating Heavy Concentrated Overlaps

On wrap site, open the film at center fold and carefully drape the pre-cut film over equipment. Try to prevent dirt and debris coming in contact with shrink wrap. Equally trim off excess film around perimeter. Cut out heavy overlaps of the plastic to prevent concentrated Shrink Wrap bunches.

You are now Prepared to Proceed to the Shrink Wrapping Process!