Best boat lettering removal?

[tank1949]

I have to remove current boat's name. It is a decal and not painted. Once removed, I can buff area and hopefully make it look decent. There are many products on the market, but I thought I'd seek advice from boaters.

 

[Scott Danforth]

3M woodgrain and stripe remover. then use the 3M woodgrain and stripe adhesive remover

alternately, WD40 and time....

 

[alldodge]

If its vinyl letter I use a heat gun or hair dryer

 

[Grub54891]

The heat gun or hair dryer works well, just don't get it to hot as the decal will come off in little pieces. Gently pull and it'll come off unless they are old and cracked.

 

[mike_i]

My vote goes to the hair dryer or heat gun option too.

 

[jlh3rd]

heat gun/hair dryer...really nice if it has variable temp settings.....

 

[tank1949]

3M woodgrain and stripe remover. then use the 3M woodgrain and stripe adhesive remover

alternately, WD40 and time....

WD?

 

[Andy74]

I have to remove current boat's name. It is a decal and not painted. Once removed, I can buff area and hopefully make it look decent. There are many products on the market, but I thought I'd seek advice from boaters.

QWORK has a wheel that goes in your drill it works very well I used it multiple times

 

[Chris1956]

Get the letters off anyway you can. A heat gun plus a plastic scraper can help. Remove the excessive adhesive with acetone.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,..... If yer Lucky,..... The letters won't be visible in the gelcoat's fade,....

 

[legalfee]

 

[leosmdp]

Heat gun or hair dryer! with a Plastic Scraper Putty Knife, and alcohol. that it!. done

 

[airshot]

just did that last summer, bought a boat out of state, the decal type numbers/ letters were stuck on a decorative decal so had to be carefull... Tried everything, can't say anyone worked well, it took hours and there is still some residue left but not real noticible. It is a real pita to remive them, no easy way !! Go slow and be prepared to have some sore fingers...good luck....

 

[tank1949]

Ayuh,..... If yer Lucky,..... The letters won't be visible in the gelcoat's fade,....

I am never lucky. I suspect I will have to get new lettering to cover up crap.

 

[tank1949]

View attachment 384514

I have used that before to remove gummed up adhesive after my wife's glued on molding needed replacing. I pulled off molding but then the adheasvive was left. It works but very slowly. Thanks

 

[stresspoint]

try a heat gun first with a plastic razor blade .
if that is too hard and the sticker keeps breaking and leaving a mess , my go to is a 3m eraser wheel and just deal with the mess later with acrylic thinner (on gelcoat not painted ) when the sticker has gone .
if you have shadowing where the stickers were , a sand back with some 800 and then 1200 wet and dry on a palm sander will get rid of most of the shadows .

be patient its a PIA but eventually the stickers are gone .

 

[Grub54891]

Forgot, yes those rubber eraser wheels work really well!

 

[flashback]

I am never lucky. I suspect I will have to get new lettering to cover up crap.

Or live with the name already there

 

[legalfee]

I have used that before to remove gummed up adhesive after my wife's glued on molding needed replacing. I pulled off molding but then the adheasvive was left. It works but very slowly. Thanks

I used the 3M eraser to remove my cowl decals. I spayed them first with Goo Gone.

 

[Keyboardman]

I own a small sign shop and we do custom boat graphics a lot. Today's digitally printed vinyl like 3M Controltac will come off using a little heat and leave little to no adhesive residue. Older lettering jobs that are just applied cheap vinyl can be a challenge to remove from time to time, especially if it's been baking in the sun for a few years. We use 90% isopropyl alcohol, small non marking plastic scrapers, microfiber rags and elbow grease. We also use a trade product called Adheze Off in tougher residue situations. I don't use any kind of rubber wheel because of the potential of burnishing the surface you're working on. Either way there is an increased potential of Ghosting from the old graphics showing up in the gelcoat as a slight discoloration. Not much can be done about that except try to cover it over with the new design. Goo Gone and WD 40 type solvents are greasy and can soak into older hulls' surfaces leaving some discoloration too. Just my experience, hope it helps.