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Author Topic:   Removing Lettering From Side of Boat

Aquia Revenge posted 08-14-2008 11:13 AM ET (US)
I just got a 1991 27' Walkaround that has it's old name on the side of the boat in large letters, does anyone know of the best way to remove the lettering without causing damage?
Casco Bay Outrage posted 08-14-2008 11:17 AM ET (US)
Hairdryer on medium speed and a plastic putty knife. Let the vinyl warm up. Start in a corner and get the heat under it.
Use Goof - Off for the residue.
Tom W Clark posted 08-14-2008 11:19 AM ET (US)
A heat gun or hair dryer will soften the adhesive and allow you to peel them off with your fingernails. Clean up the residual adhesive with acetone.
You will then likely have to wet sand with a hard block to remove the raised gelcoat that has been protected under the decals all these years. Rubbing compound and wax will finish the job.
It is possible you will never be able to completely remove the shading of the gel coat after all is said and done.
Tohsgib posted 08-14-2008 11:28 AM ET (US)
Although they assumed you meant vinyl lettering I am going to assume you meant paint.
EZ-Off oven cleaner...not an immitation and not the lemon scent, just regular EZ-Off. Spray it on, let sit a minute or so and wipe off or use a scotchbrite pad.
contender posted 08-14-2008 11:48 AM ET (US)
wd-40 also brakes down the the numbers/letters adhesive, however Tom is correct you will always see it, unless you repaint the hull. There is a saying that it is bad luck to change a name on a boat...good luck
Tohsgib posted 08-14-2008 12:25 PM ET (US)
There is no bad Karma in removing a name, There is only bad luck if you change a name on a "Christened" boat and supposably if you rechristen the boat it is Ok. I have removed just about every name that came on a boat, never renamed it JUST IN CASE ;)
pglein posted 08-14-2008 12:57 PM ET (US)
For paint, I found the best thing was 600 grit sandpaper, followed by a mechanical buffing with 3M Restorer and a coat of 3M Protective Wax.
It was a lot of work, but the results were worth it. There is no trace of the paint, and the hull is smooth and shiny.
Tohsgib posted 08-14-2008 01:08 PM ET (US)
I do the 600 and then 1000 after I get the paint off with EZ-off. If you keep it waxed you will never see the old letters.
Aquia Revenge posted 08-14-2008 02:17 PM ET (US)
Thank you all for the information. I will be trying the hairdryer and let you all know how it came out.
SpongeBob posted 08-14-2008 05:24 PM ET (US)
Nick's right on the EZ-OFF. I stripped the paint off of an old MFG skiff with it. Worked well and rinses off with water.
Jeff
Whalerdog posted 08-14-2008 08:39 PM ET (US)
EZ Off
RNelson posted 08-15-2008 01:36 PM ET (US)
Actually ... They make a tool just for removing lettering and pin striping. It is like a big pencil eraser about 3" to 6" diameter that fits to a drill. They are not that much in cost and you could probably get by with using only 1 for the entire boat. You may try autozone or a detail / body shop. We used them at the police dpartment when we were switching graphics on the cruisers. They work awesome as well. Very easy to take off lettering and pin striping.
R. Nelson
Tohsgib posted 08-15-2008 01:42 PM ET (US)
3mmakes them but about $30 or more...awesome tool and a must have. Thanks...I forgot about mine and I need to remove some decals off my 11'.
Aquia Revenge posted 08-16-2008 08:54 AM ET (US)
I am very interested in this tool, what is it called and where did you get it?
Draftmanswife posted 08-19-2008 04:30 PM ET (US)
You can obtain this item at any local automotive paint store. It's like working with a grinder, you have to control it and not let it set in one place or you will burn the gelcoat. I've used this mostly on applications of removing old paint or severly damaged stripes. It becomes messy, use proper saftey gear when using this product. I've never used wd-40, I might try that sometime. As for the easy oven cleaner...I have used this method a few times, and have watched several people use it before. I went to go letter a boat one day that the owner removed the old graphics using easy off. It appeared that the gelcoat was starting to 'spider' ,for lack of better terms, crack in the shape of spider webs. Easy off kicks upon heat. He claims he rinsed it very well, but seems there was still some sort of residue that kicked when the Florida sun blasted it that afternoon. Since that, I have not used it and stopped recommending it to my customers for removal. I recommend a heat gun or hair dryer along with a plastic razor blade,then removing the old adheasive with acetone or goo-gone.
I then would give it a nice compound and waxing before applying any new graphics.
Janis

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Author	Topic: Removing Lettering From Side of Boat
Aquia Revenge	posted 08-14-2008 11:13 AM ET (US) I just got a 1991 27' Walkaround that has it's old name on the side of the boat in large letters, does anyone know of the best way to remove the lettering without causing damage?
Casco Bay Outrage	posted 08-14-2008 11:17 AM ET (US) Hairdryer on medium speed and a plastic putty knife. Let the vinyl warm up. Start in a corner and get the heat under it. Use Goof - Off for the residue.
Tom W Clark	posted 08-14-2008 11:19 AM ET (US) A heat gun or hair dryer will soften the adhesive and allow you to peel them off with your fingernails. Clean up the residual adhesive with acetone. You will then likely have to wet sand with a hard block to remove the raised gelcoat that has been protected under the decals all these years. Rubbing compound and wax will finish the job. It is possible you will never be able to completely remove the shading of the gel coat after all is said and done.
Tohsgib	posted 08-14-2008 11:28 AM ET (US) Although they assumed you meant vinyl lettering I am going to assume you meant paint. EZ-Off oven cleaner...not an immitation and not the lemon scent, just regular EZ-Off. Spray it on, let sit a minute or so and wipe off or use a scotchbrite pad.
contender	posted 08-14-2008 11:48 AM ET (US) wd-40 also brakes down the the numbers/letters adhesive, however Tom is correct you will always see it, unless you repaint the hull. There is a saying that it is bad luck to change a name on a boat...good luck
Tohsgib	posted 08-14-2008 12:25 PM ET (US) There is no bad Karma in removing a name, There is only bad luck if you change a name on a "Christened" boat and supposably if you rechristen the boat it is Ok. I have removed just about every name that came on a boat, never renamed it JUST IN CASE ;)
pglein	posted 08-14-2008 12:57 PM ET (US) For paint, I found the best thing was 600 grit sandpaper, followed by a mechanical buffing with 3M Restorer and a coat of 3M Protective Wax. It was a lot of work, but the results were worth it. There is no trace of the paint, and the hull is smooth and shiny.
Tohsgib	posted 08-14-2008 01:08 PM ET (US) I do the 600 and then 1000 after I get the paint off with EZ-off. If you keep it waxed you will never see the old letters.
Aquia Revenge	posted 08-14-2008 02:17 PM ET (US) Thank you all for the information. I will be trying the hairdryer and let you all know how it came out.
SpongeBob	posted 08-14-2008 05:24 PM ET (US) Nick's right on the EZ-OFF. I stripped the paint off of an old MFG skiff with it. Worked well and rinses off with water. Jeff
Whalerdog	posted 08-14-2008 08:39 PM ET (US) EZ Off
RNelson	posted 08-15-2008 01:36 PM ET (US) Actually ... They make a tool just for removing lettering and pin striping. It is like a big pencil eraser about 3" to 6" diameter that fits to a drill. They are not that much in cost and you could probably get by with using only 1 for the entire boat. You may try autozone or a detail / body shop. We used them at the police dpartment when we were switching graphics on the cruisers. They work awesome as well. Very easy to take off lettering and pin striping. R. Nelson
Tohsgib	posted 08-15-2008 01:42 PM ET (US) 3mmakes them but about $30 or more...awesome tool and a must have. Thanks...I forgot about mine and I need to remove some decals off my 11'.
Aquia Revenge	posted 08-16-2008 08:54 AM ET (US) I am very interested in this tool, what is it called and where did you get it?
Draftmanswife	posted 08-19-2008 04:30 PM ET (US) You can obtain this item at any local automotive paint store. It's like working with a grinder, you have to control it and not let it set in one place or you will burn the gelcoat. I've used this mostly on applications of removing old paint or severly damaged stripes. It becomes messy, use proper saftey gear when using this product. I've never used wd-40, I might try that sometime. As for the easy oven cleaner...I have used this method a few times, and have watched several people use it before. I went to go letter a boat one day that the owner removed the old graphics using easy off. It appeared that the gelcoat was starting to 'spider' ,for lack of better terms, crack in the shape of spider webs. Easy off kicks upon heat. He claims he rinsed it very well, but seems there was still some sort of residue that kicked when the Florida sun blasted it that afternoon. Since that, I have not used it and stopped recommending it to my customers for removal. I recommend a heat gun or hair dryer along with a plastic razor blade,then removing the old adheasive with acetone or goo-gone. I then would give it a nice compound and waxing before applying any new graphics. Janis