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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Removing Decals

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts

Initially Posted - 08/11/2008 : 12:09:56

Yesterday I removed the name the PO had applied to my boat approx. 2 years ago. Using a heat gun it took me about an hour to remove the vinyl letters from one side. Obviously the glue did not come off which left a yellowish imprint on the boat. I tried Goo Gone multiple times to no avail (it did take off the remains of the duct tape I put on last Monday for the storm).

Does anyone have any suggestions for removing the sticky glue imprint that remains?

Association Member

GaryB
Andiamo
'89 SR/WK #5862
Kemah,TX

Edited by - on

Renzo
Admiral

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USA
621 Posts

Response Posted - 08/11/2008 : 12:32:37

I'm no expert but, many adhesives are petrolum based and can be removed with petroleum distilates and good-old-fashioned lighter fluid has worked for me on a number of occasion and it is inexpensive. Give it a try. Even if it gets rid of the sticky residue you may still have to use some rubbing compound tyo remove the yellow.

Edited by - on

Steve Blackburn
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
1091 Posts

Response Posted - 08/11/2008 : 12:38:58

I used paint thinner, then wet sand the area to remove the ghost image.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/11/2008 : 12:53:16

Sometimes the best tool is the decal itself. Reheat the residual adhesive, and then "blot" it with the decal to allow the adhesive on the decal to pull the residual up. (It probably works better on glass.)

You could also try WD40--let it soak and then rub with a cloth. (It's probably not much better than Goo Gone) As a last resort (carefully), acetone--hold a soaked cloth to the adhesive for a minute or so, but don't soak your skin--then rub before it dries (which is almost instantly). Another tip I heard is to use PVC pipe cleaner--supposedly available in hardware stores and Home Dopey--I haven't tried it.

Then there's light-duty rubbing compound...

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 08/11/2008 12:54:09

delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 08/11/2008 : 14:41:10

When I removed the PO's decal on SL, I used a blow drier to heat it up as you did with your heat gun. What little residue I had came up pretty easily with Goo gone. However, the "ghost" image was a bit tougher (there's a thread on this way back). I managed to get rid of the ghost image from the PO with polishing wax, but if you stand in the right place, you can still see the ghost image of the PPO's boat name. Apparently SL began life in Arizona & the name was baked into the hull over the years by the sun. I decided that it was faint enough that nobody would ever notice unless you pointed it out. I a few coats of wax over where the new decal went which was enough to polish out the PO name, and it looks pretty good.

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stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 08/11/2008 : 20:11:21

After you've used the heavy duty cleaners and you still have ghosting - the only way to remove the ghosts is to remove a little of the gel coat.
I used 200 + 400 grit sand paper. Then I ended up sanding the entire topsides because the area I sanded looked better than the rest of the hull. Completely sanded, I removed about a half ounce of gel coat dust.

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redviking
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1771 Posts

Response Posted - 08/11/2008 : 20:24:03

Live with it. Gives the boat Character. Some say you aren't supposed to rename the vessel anyway. If you leave it alone, you aren't messing with the boats original or most recent kharma.. Dunno, but I do know that when we redid Zephyrs letters we had the same problem especially because we had that silly cream colored hull Frank thought was cool in '82.

I personally would not sand the gelcoat. Who knows how thick it really is? Ease into it. In a year you won't be able to tell and somewhere I have pictures to prove it. Yes, so could see a hint up close, but if you are that close to my vessel one year after i put new letters on, you are A. Coasties boarding me B. Pirates C. Drunko's that mistook my vessel for their own D. Thieves...

Sten

DPO Zephyr - '82 C25, FK, SR
SV Lysistrata - C&C 39 - Newport, RI - In the Anchorage 24/7

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts

Response Posted - 08/11/2008 : 21:14:22

The interesting thing is that under the vinyl letters I discovered a previous name. I can't tell yet if it's painted on or another set of decals but I liked the font. The letters are the same color as the boat and I can't tell if it's just the residual effects of having decals or if it's been painted over (it doesn't appear to be). I couldn't make out all of the name due to the ghosting and it was getting dark.

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Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 08/11/2008 : 22:38:56

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by redviking
 ...but if you are that close to my vessel one year after i put new letters on, you are A. Coasties boarding me B. Pirates C. Drunko's that mistook my vessel for their own D. Thieves...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">A little short on friends, Sten? I should buzz over to Providence and cheer you up!

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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts

Response Posted - 08/12/2008 : 06:53:58

Easy Off is what we used to remove painted letters. In your case however acetone will do it - just be sure to wash rinse well afterward and use sparingly. (Note: Acetone can harm gel coat and resin when used in large quantities. It is not meant to be an all around boat cleaner. ) Use a lot of paper towels too, re-use will only insure that you move the adhesive around and not actually remove it.

When finished be sure to re-wax the area, the acetone will have removed all prior wax. If applying a new name, wax after application thereof.

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stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 08/12/2008 : 10:25:31

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">I personally would not sand the gelcoat. Who knows how thick it really is?<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

I know exactly how thick my gelcoat is. There were several chips and dings that showed exactly what I had to work with.

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GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4303 Posts

Response Posted - 08/16/2008 : 22:48:46

Finally got a chance to go back down to the boat today. I took off the decals on the other side of the boat so "LaFawnduh" is no more.

For some reason a lot of the adhesive from the decals remained on the boat. As I mentioned before I tried Goo Gone the other day. Today I tried Lift Off, Magic Eraser, and finally Goof Off. Goof Off took the adhesive off in a flash! It required very little rubbing.

I tried wet sanding with 1000 and 1500 grit sandpaper but it didn't really remove much of the ghosting. I may try some 600 grit tomorrow.

I still can't make out the name that was originally on the boat but maybe tomorrow if it's not raining it will show up better. It appears that it was painted on. The letters are slightly raised but not with a sharp edge like decals.

Thank you for all the suggestions above!

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