What to use to remove old boat name? Avoid bird crap? etc...

poormonkey

New Member
Jan 9, 2007
156
St. Charles, IL (burbs of Chicago)
Boat Info
290 Sundancer 2001
Engines
Twin 5.0 w Bravo 3's
We bought our boat, and we would like to strip off the old location name on the boat and the boat name. I was told to use paint thinner, and I did that and it didn't work. What can I use that will take the paint off (old boat name, and boat location)?

Also, does anyone have any suggestions to try and keep the birds from pooping all over our boat when we aren't around? We are in an open slip, and every time I come back I have about 6-8 bird droppings. Someone said to put up a wind sock.

I also have to change the numbers on the boat. I was told to use a heat gun to pull the old numbers off. They are the rubber ones is what I was told. Any other tricks then using the heat gun?
 
Easy Off oven cleaner will remove a painted name. Put it on. Let it sit awhile and clean it off with old rags. Wear rubber gloves. A heat gun or even a hair dryer will remove the old numbers. Clean up the risidue with Goo Off or acetone. Goo off is easier on the gel coat, but both work well.
 
Just remember that the Gelcoat underneath those names and letters will like likely be brighter and shinier than the rest of the boat. You can let it fade somewhat which will happen over time. Otherwise you may have to resort to wet sanding and polishing to make it presentable. Even then it still may not match.
 
Removing old name

Getting old decal vinyl names and such off is best done with a heat gun. These are cheap tools and are going to be needed from time for many purposes.

Hold the gun about 6 inches away from the edge of a letter and start heating and moving the end of the gun slowly so as to not cook any one spot. After 10 seconds begin scraping with a plastic putty knife. You want to be careful to not over heat the gelcoat ... just go slow and careful and the letters will just peel right off. Wipe off any adhesive that remains with Xylol or Goof Off which eve ryou have.

Once the material is off you will have a ghost image of the old name. Try progressive passes with rubbing compound and a rotary polisher. Start with HD compound, then go to medium and then light ... do the entire stern from the medium grit passes. you'll just have to keep compounding with medium until the ghost is gone.

If you can't get the ghost out that way, you'll need to perform a wet sanding of the ghost area. How to do that migth already be addressed here in these threads run a search. if you can;t find any infor on "wet sanding gelcoat" come back.

Good luck.
 

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