hand painted boat name - how to remove

[TwoCan]

Looking for advice on how to remove a hand painted boat name from either side of our bow. Big problem is that it is painted on to RED gelcoat - see image. Is there a simple and gentle way of doing this?

 

[BruceK]

It's been discussed a number of times on this site but in your case it's probably best to seek the services of a professional in fibreglass / gelcoat repairs as the gelcoat under the lettering may now be a bit proud and of a different hue due to oxidation of the surrounding gelcoat

(I dont know if it's a guy thing or a camera / monitor issue but the gelcoat looks black to me?)

 

[TwoCan]

thank you for your advice. I can confirm its very red

 

[Firefly625]

Our Boat name was painted on. Very quickly removed by machine polisher and compound, about a 20 minute job....but name was quite worn.

Then new vinyl stickers made up as per previous sign writing . Only posted this pic a few weeks ago when discussion about Boat vinyl sticker providers requested, from Funky monkey if you are interested..

 

[VicS]

thank you for your advice. I can confirm its very red

If it is painted directly onto the gelcoat try a solvent free caustic soda based paint stripper such as Owatrol "Marine Strip"

Provided its been painted with a single pack paint that will remove it without harming the gelcoat. It won't however remove a two pack paint.

 

[Montemar]

Try nail varnish remover, this should remove name but gelcoat may be a different colour underneath. Some rubbing compound may then blend it into the surrounding area.

 

[Robin]

We used a grp safe stripper on one boat which had very large painted name graphics. That and light wet sanding with 1200 grit wet/dry followed by compound and polish took it off but it was still visible as a faint shadow years later if caught at the right angle to sunlight.

Another option might be new varnished wood nameboards, mounted over the existing paint job?

 

[BruceK]

thank you for your advice. I can confirm its very red

ah, then it's a guy thing or my monitor. It's the fact that it is red that bothers me when it comes to compound polishing as suggested by some and indeed done by myself on hulls coloured everything but red. Red is notorious for hue changes with age and I fear that you may struggle to feather in any hue changes with a polisher, hence why I suggested get a pro's advice and services if necessary.

 

[Jim@sea]

Try nail varnish remover, this should remove name but gelcoat may be a different colour underneath. Some rubbing compound may then blend it into the surrounding area.

Nail varnish remover is Acetone.

 

[Montemar]

Nail varnish remover is Acetone.

The glue sniffer's solvent of choice!

 

[Blue Sunray]

We used oven cleaner to remove ours (on the advice of a previous thread IIRC), it worked very well.

 

[Leighb]

Ours came off easily with 1000 grade W&D used with soapy water. Then a good polish.