Rubbing out sun bleached shadow from gelcoat

[sb in gp]

My boat was likely a model that sat in the sun for a while with the "320 Sundancer" decal on the transom. The decal left a shadow that I need to rub out of the transom before I put the new name on it. Can anyone suggest the best approach. I don't want to be too aggressive.

Here is a picture and you can see the "320" shadow in the gelcoat.

 

[skolbe]

Have you tried rubbing compound and start working your way to wax - or just a light compound/polish - worse case you may need to wet sand it a bit and then polish it. I would try a mild compound first.

 

[sbw1]

You will probably need to wet sand it followed by compound, polish and wax.

 

[sb in gp]

The only thing I've tried is polish, and that was not aggressive enough. I'll try rubbing compound with the Porter Cable 7424 and see how that goes. If that doesn't cut it, I'll wet sand.

 

[Dave S]

Save your self some time and wet sand it with 1500 or 2000 Grit wet sand paper. After wet sanding a quick buffing with some polishing compound will have this area looking like new again.

 

[FireIsland1]

The sun will do 90% of the work in one season. I would not wet sand

 

[1956olds]

The glue actually melts into the pours of the gelcoat from the sun .first try something like a few wipes with denatured alcohol that should loosen it up a bit then use a light compound followed by polish.just remember to ask your sign guy about the polish to use prior to applying the decals.Or if you are having them installed let them know what you have used .

 

[Newbie]

The glue actually melts into the pours of the gelcoat from the sun .first try something like a few wipes with denatured alcohol that should loosen it up a bit then use a light compound followed by polish.just remember to ask your sign guy about the polish to use prior to applying the decals.Or if you are having them installed let them know what you have used .

Exactly. The dealer or whoever used cheap vinyl numbers, probably mailbox #'s, from Home Depot and the gelcoat has absorbed some of the glue and pigment of the vinyl. Every single small fishing boat I have ever bought has had exactly the same issue because of cheap lettering. Acetone first then a good compounding should take care of it.

 

[sb in gp]

Thanks to all. I've got some good ideas. I'll start in a small area, and let you know how it goes.

Scott

 

[skolbe]

On a side note - why did the previous owner put a second 320 - label on the back of the boat?

 

[Skuza]

I would just rub it out with a good quality compound and a rotary buffer. I doubt the gelcoat is discolored from anything. I removed emblems on our boat and found no discoloration. The area just looks dark because it is shiny and not chalky which is making the rest of the boat look whiter. When you polish your probably still going to see the outline of the letters as the gelcoat around them has actually worn away. That is where wetsanding will level out the area and then when polished you will never know the difference.

 

[sb in gp]

On a side note - why did the previous owner put a second 320 - label on the back of the boat?

I don't think the PO did this. I think the PO bought the bought new and never removed the lettering properly. If you're referring to the small corner of a decal you can see in the picture I posted, that was the name that the PO put on it. "Seabreeze" was the name. Sounded like a blow-boat. That was the first thing removed.