removal of lettering...

[Broadsword]

Hi everyone,

can anyone advise on the removal of lettering? We are re-naming our new acquisition and want to remove (safely) the lettering stuck on just above the rubbing strakes... Any suggestions?

The yacht is GRP - not wood!

Ta,

Danny

[jillR]

hi danny

i hope shes out of the water

they say its bad luck to rename a boat unless shes out of the water

jill

[Broadsword]

She is at the moment, but not for long! :-D

[jillR]

hi danny

a piccy of the lettering might help as there all sorts

is it painted on or vinyl etc

maybe gentle use of a heat gun and scraper?

but ive not delt with GRP so there will be better advise on the way

jill

[Broadsword]

It's vinyl I believe, stuck on... Pauline on NBF has suggested a heatgun or hairdryer...

[Brian]

Hairdrier is best as its not too hot-hot-hot

[Broadsword]

I'll give it a try when we go up after Easter...

thanks all...

[Mowjo]

Here you go Danny! full instructions, just a note though, when they mention chisel it's a little hard plastic gizmo made for the job, be very careful if you use a scraper or stanley blade one slip and you can do a lot of damage to your Gel-coat, if the vinyl has been on there a year or two the chances are it will be brittle and come off in small bits, personaly i'd spend an hour or two with a finger nail getting it off, if you do it very slowly once you get a corner up it may come off in whole letters,,

http://www.harrisdecals.com/tips/howtoremove.asp

[Antares_9]

Danny, you may find that even when you do get it off, that the surrounding area has sunbleached and the lettering is still visible, some oxyalic acid solution should at least fade it a bit.

[Broadsword]

Thanks David, a useful suggestion... I had thought that an application of a cutting compound might help to restore it?

[Antares_9]

Thanks David, a useful suggestion... I had thought that an application of a cutting compound might help to restore it?

It may well Danny, but it will take off some gel coat too, Oxalic does not remove any coat at all, but you may find after you have done an area that you need to do a bit more as it can show even the best kept boat is not as "deep down" clean as you might think. We had to do our entire topsides after cleaning the waterline with it once but boy did she look white when finished. If you do go down the Oxalic acid route don’t waste money on weak solution Y10 or other proprietary gels, make your own good strong stuff with crystals and wallpaper paste to make it cling. Usual caveats as to use, read instructions yada yada yada. And BTW it works much better in warm weather

[Broadsword]

I appreciate that David, thanks. I will try that first... the caution about 'cutting' has put me off a bit!

[Broadsword]

Just read up on it... sounds pretty toxic stuff!! I'lll chat to my local hardware man, (who knows everything worth knowing about most things...) and see what he can suggest. I may need to do at least the side edges of the topsides...

[Boaters]

Hi ,what a lot of great info this site throws up and where do these usefull webbsites come from as I never come across them .We found getting the old licence sticker off was a pain I found a light rubbing of the surface with wet and dry paper to take off the top surfaceand then treated the adhesive with a remover.Also fond scaping with a blunt chislele can do the job Best of luck with it.

[Stranger]

just a safety note

http://constructionchemicals.co.uk/acat ... icacid.pdf

[Guest BernardBarnett]

I too had trouble with a stuck-on licence plate. Got the paper off but a sticky residue remained. Tried all the usual suggestions - soap and water, hairdrier etc. None of them worked. I had some Meguiars Bug and Tar Remover in the garage - applied that and it worked immediately. As it's formulated to be safe with car finishes it won't damage the paint.

[Mowjo]

:-D Good old WD 40 removes these adhesive residues, just make sure you clean it off well or it will eat your new adhesive as well,, :-D