I run camouflage-themed wraps on my boat and truck because the demographic I’m appealing to includes hunters as well as anglers. Some of my social media posts feature hunting for deer, hogs and gobblers. This year’s wraps incorporate Cabela’s awesome TrueTimber VSX camouflage pattern.
When you tow your boat down the highway, a boat wrap is as eye-catching as a billboard. It’s a small but important part of the investment your sponsors make in you. If you’re a Bassmaster Elite Series angler, B.A.S.S. rules state that your boat must be wrapped.
The rule does not apply to the tow vehicle, but a truck wrap completes the whole image. It looks cleaner and more professional going down the road. And, it looks terrific when your rig circles the stage at the Bassmaster Classic.
Besides promoting your sponsors, a wrap provides an identity. NASCAR fans love to see racecars with colors that signify the driver’s personality and sponsors. The same is true with a boat wrap. Something as simple as a color choice can provide an identity or brand for an angler. When I think of a red boat wrap, my brain pictures KVD.
You should settle on colors and a design that match your personality. If you have a bright, outgoing personality, your boat wrap should have vibrant colors and an intricate design. If you’re a more reserved individual, go with a classic one-tone design that has simple, pronounced sponsor logos.
A boat wrap will set you back from about $1,800 to more than $3,000, so it’s critical that you choose a reputable wrap shop. The last thing you want is to have your gel coat damaged by the razor sharp tools used in this process. I’ve seen it many times. I’ve relied on the Tyler Wrap Shop in Tyler, Texas, for the past five years and highly recommend them.
It took three days for them to finish the job on this year’s boat and truck. There’s more to this process than most people realize. Before the wrap can be applied, areas of the boat and truck must be masked off and the surface prepared for good adhesion.
A wrap shop should have an artist who will help with your design. Consulting with the artist gives that person a good idea of your personality and what you’re looking for. You want something that catches the eye and reveals something about your identity. But, you don’t want a design that’s so busy it makes your sponsor’s logos hard to read.
Elite pros must have their designs approved by B.A.S.S.’s Elite tournament director. You have to be careful promoting things like alcohol and tobacco. Profanity is against B.A.S.S. rules, and it’s a bad idea even if you are not an Elite angler.
An added benefit of a boat wrap is that it provides a protective vinyl layer for your $80,000 gel-coated bass boat. That skin really helps when fishing stump and timber filled lakes like Toledo Bend and Lake Fork.
Bear in mind that just because your boat wrap looks cool, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re getting the job done for you and your sponsors. You might have the most eye-appealing boat wrap on the planet, but if you don’t work at social media and do poorly in tournaments it won’t get you where you want to go.
