How Do I Get Rid Of Boat Name Stickers?

Paulkarlsven

Paulkarlsven

New Member
Dec 29, 2010
436
Port Stephens, Australia
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Hi All,

As the title states, how do I get rid of boat name stickers? The boat we bought has the worst name and we really want to rename her. But the previous owner was not content with just putting the name on the rear he also put it on both sides. :smt021

I am guessing it is vinyl stick on signage type stuff but I don't want to damage the gelcoat getting this stuff off, any ideas.

The current name for our boat is "Beer Garden" as it was used to carry clients around canal estates to view waterfront homes for sale by the developer.

Needless to say my wife says the name has to go and I agree with her.

boat%20001.jpg
 
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Several things come to mind, first would be an eraser wheel, or buff it off. Heating with a hair dryer and peeling could work if its fairly new, but this could be a tedious job.
 
Try a hair dryer first to see if it will lift off. Once it is off you will likely need to buff it out as the outline of the lettering will probably show through. Good luck!
 
A hair dryer or commercial heat gun will remove the vinly letters however the gelcoat under the letters will be like new. That is to say that the surrounding gelcoat may be faded due to age and you will see the name almost as clear as when the letters were on. It will take a fair amount of buffing to get the surrounding gelcoat to match if at all.

Hope they have not been on that long and I am wrong.
 
Thanks for the ideas everyone, unfortunately the lettering has been on the boat for almost 10 years so I reckon you are right that the gelcoat will still show where they have been. Maybe a good cut and polish will get it off. I reckon we will look at getting it done next time we have it out of the water.
 
I agree the heat gun is best for removing large stickers, such as the boat name. I have tried a hair dryer in the past but they don’t seem to get enough heat. After the sticker is removed I use acetone on a rag to remove any extra glue left behind but this will take any wax with it. As Bill said you may have some work to do if the name has faded into the fiberglass.
 
If the hairdryer is too slow, I've had good success with a quartz light (square type used in the workshop, cost about $10). The light bulb gets plenty hot enough and still won't damage surrounding areas. Once softened, the letters can be scraped off with an old credit card.
 
Why would you want to change a great name like "BEER GARDEN". But if you really want to change it-a hair dryer will not work, you need a heat gun. Just be carefull don't get the gelcoat to hot. As the great name heats up it will just peel off. Then you will have to deal with the fading. Do the stern name first!
 
I took the old decals off my boat with a heat gun then I used my polisher with Buff Magic to get the gelcoat looking homogeneous on the stern.
 
I had to remove the state registration decals and annual stickers from my boat and picked up a heat gun at Harbor Freight for around $10. At first I was giving the decals too much heat and they didn't peel off easily. They would fall apart as I pulled them and I ended up having to scrape some off with a plastic scraper.

Then I smartened up and used less heat. I could lift one edge of each letter/number and they came off in one piece with just a steady pulling.

Acetone works to take off any residual glue, but like someone mentioned it also takes off all the wax.
 
You will need to wet sand the hull. A fine cut polish will not touch the name under the decal.
 
Easy Off oven cleaner. Spray it on. Let it sit for 30 mins. Wipe off any runs as you let it sit. Then scrap off with a plastic scraper. Acetone to get rid of any left over. Then it's 3M rubbing compound and some elbow grease.

The shadow will remain. Wet sanding may help but I suspect that after a season the name will fade away.
 
Probably the only solution to not being able to see the name 100% when removed is putting the new name over the area the old name was.

10+ year old colored gelcoat will never be the same as whats under that name.
 
Carver370 said:
Probably the only solution to not being able to see the name 100% when removed is putting the new name over the area the old name was.

10+ year old colored gelcoat will never be the same as whats under that name.
Click to expand...

Oh yeah colored gel coat it would show up more. Mine was white. Also not sure they want the name on the side of the boat either.
 
sfergson727 said:
All of the above is good advice. I've used my wife's hair dryer with great success (I say my wife's, because my hair waved good bye a long, long, long time ago.) although the cost is my fingernails, and arthritis.

But as usual we here at CSR have overlooked the most simple obvious solution.

Something that should be part of every boat owner's arsenal......a stick of dynamite. Works all the time, everytime.
Click to expand...

Scott, are you on your meds again?
 
sfergson727 said:
All of the above is good advice. I've used my wife's hair dryer with great success (I say my wife's, because my hair waved good bye a long, long, long time ago.) although the cost is my fingernails, and arthritis.

But as usual we here at CSR have overlooked the most simple obvious solution.

Something that should be part of every boat owner's arsenal......a stick of dynamite. Works all the time, everytime.
Click to expand...

That's how I fished when I lived on Pa. :grin::grin:
 
MonacoMike said:
I think you mean OFF your meds. :grin:
Click to expand...

No, he is fine without the pain meds...slightly whacked but fine. I used to say some funny things while on strong meds after surgery!
 
i used the 3m wheelon my 1988 sea ray. the shadow still remains, but i just bought some of that buff magic and goin to see if i can get it to fade in with the rest of the boat
 
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I removed the name on my boat using a heat gun and a couple of PLASTIC scrapers. I tested a small area using a razor and I damaged the gelcoat. Do not use a razor. The plastic scrapers start to melt with the heat gun, so it helps to have a few of them.

Picture077-1.jpg


Picture083.jpg


When I had the vinly off, I was left with this:
Picture084.jpg


I removed the remaining glue with Lacquer Thinner and paper towels. Acetone will do the same thing.

This is the new name:
P1030047.jpg


Of course I had the benefit of having a white hull and the original name was only on for less than 2 years.

Good Luck.
 
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