Getting stick on boat name letters off?

[graham]

We are changing the name on our boat .The letters have been on about 2 years and are stuck on top of painted GRP. I think the paint is international toplac or something similar.

Dont want to damage the paint if possible.

Any suggestions appreciated.

 

[VicS]

Gentle warmth from a hair dryer.

A hot air gun could damage the paint.

 

[sarabande]

received wisdom is that you use a hair dryer or heat gun, and wave it gently to and fro over the vinyl letters, and then unpeal. I've seen this done on a Police car to remove the retroflective panels, and it left occasional blobs of adhesive which white spirit removed.

 

[charles_reed]

Agreed with Vic, once started keep peeling and don't use a scraper - just your fingernail.

 

[vyv_cox]

I did exactly that last week, plastic letters on a painted surface. I used my hot air gun, initially on the lower setting but later on the higher. I found it best to heat two or three letters initially as a pre-soak, then go back to remove each one individually. I had no problems and came nowhere near damaging the paint. Take it steady.

 

[SvenglishTommy]

If it isn't easy to set up a heat gun or hairdryer, try just peeling them off. I just took the old registration letters of my boat and they peeled off cleanly with no need for heat at all.

 

[Shuggy]

I tend to use boiling water to the same effect as I don't have a hot air gun.

 

[Deleted member 36384]

You may find an impression is left on the hull from the letters. On my boat this was nearly removed by cleaning the stern, however a light T cutting was required to remove it such that it is only noticeable if one knew it was there.

 

[WF36]

Hair dryer + then if required, a bit of T- Cut.

 

[ghostlymoron]

I used boiling water and finger nail. Then turps to remove glue residue. There was a slight 'ghosting' when the letters were removed but this was not noticeable when I applied the new name. It was only when I'd completed the re-application and stood back to admire my handiwork that I noticed a spelling mistake! Quelle domage - Hey, that's a good name for my next boat!

 

[capetown]

All good advice here, will ony add that "Sticky Stuff Remover" will remove the adhesive.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Mykal-Stick...T4GM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319456855&sr=8-1

 

[graham]

Thanks for all the replies.

Many thanks for all the replies. The forum is a mine of information.

We sold our Coronado 25 "Banjo" a few years back and recently bought her back again , she had been renamed "Varadero" which is a Cuban coastal town which the interim owner had some memories of but While it does roll off the tongue nicely the boat will allways be Banjo to us.

 

[Plevier]

In cases where the adhesive has hardened too much for the hair dryer and peel to work, I have found it very effective to use a brand new Stanley knife blade held very flat. You can literally slice through the adhesive layer. Works very well provided surface is flat in one direction, probably not a good idea if very curved.

 

[2Tizwoz]

If it isn't easy to set up a heat gun or hairdryer, try just peeling them off. I just took the old registration letters of my boat and they peeled off cleanly with no need for heat at all.

The hairdryer's already turned on in Spain. Things may be different in South Wales

 

[monkfish24]

You may find a chemical called Methyl Ethyl Ketone will help.

It won't damage the paint after you have removed the stickers and will take all the tack off and leave it free of any residue. Wear a decent filter mask if using indoors though.

Use it at work to take old hyd oil off and it is brilliant stuff.

 

[electrosys]

In the past I've used petrol - applied with a small camel-hair brush to the edge of the stick on letter. As it begins to lift (helped by a thin blade), keep applying drips of petrol with the brush.

 

[BlueSkyNick]

Great to see you back on the Forum Graham.

Looks like the boat has had a paint job while she was out of your hands!

We have just peeled the old letters off with some patience and fingernails, then cleaned up the residual mess with white spirit.

 

[electrosys]

We have just peeled the old letters off with some patience and fingernails, then cleaned up the residual mess with white spirit.

White spirit is the stuff to use to lift-off self-adhesive stamps, if you happen to be a phila ..., phil ..., . . . . stamp collector.

 

[graham]

Thanks Nick. I think she looks better with the blue hull. Also the huge dinette table is gone replaced with a U shape settee area which is more comfortable for lounging around in the evening. People have said you shouldn't rebuy the same boat but I don't see why not.

 

[Seajet]

I'm surprised no-one has mentioned U/V !

Without T-cutting and possibly re-painting - Toplac is a boon on GRP but it will be difficult to match a part of the transom ( ? ), may well need painting the whole thing - nb thinning often required-, otherwise a shadow of the former name may well show.