May not need the heat gun in SC ... it might be hot enough if you have the boat out in the sun
Get a plastic scraper (something soft) to get an edge up. Let the vinyl get nice and hot, use the scraper to get an edge up and gently peel it back. You might spray a little rubbing alcohol on the back as you go to help loosen up the adhesive.
Heat gun means just warm it up. If is too hot to touch, it is way too hot.
Once you get up a corner, keep pulling slowly and it will come off in one piece.
It might take 5 seconds to pull back an inch.
I you get in a hurry you will keep breaking it.
Yes! it is going to take a while!
My "smiley" might have betrayed me. I was actually serious. Parking my boat in the driveway for about 2 hours gets any vinyl (have removed letters and some striping) plenty hot enough to remove.
+1 on the 3m wheel... Something about the right tool for the right job, the single purpose for that wheel is to remove decals. It removes the decal and any adhesive, just a quick wipe with some rubbing alcohol when you are done and there will be zero signs it was ever there. (assuming the gelcoat hasn't oxidized or faded, in which case you have other issues.)
