How do I remove masking tape glue from my deck

stephennoble

stephennoble

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I have been posting here since I acquired my new boat and I am learning much so thank you all. Now; all over my decks and topsides are long sticky strips about 3/4 of an inch wide, which I think must be some form of masking tape residue. They are all around where the deck was painted and between timbers on the cockpit where the timber was stained. I think they must have been there for some time as the decks need repainting again. The are unsightly and attract all sorts of airborne fluff. What chemical, elbow grease or combination do you think will work on it.
 
Ordinary masking tape is vile stuff, which is why most boaty people use the blue tape. You're going to have to try to attack the residue with solvents on rags. Suggest you try white spirit, meths, acetone, etc. You may need to use a scraper (very gently). Set aside a fair amount of time, I'm afraid.
 
Excellent, I knew someone would have a cunning plan or two. I will try as few suggestions on the sticky issues and see what works best. My girlfriend suggests cif cream cleaner applied by small brush; neat and leave to soak. I cant try the hot gun as I am on a river mooring with no power but could try when I come out of the water. Just now a bit concerned with Housemaids knee and sticky stuff elbow, any thoughts!:rolleyes:
 
stephennoble said:
Excellent, I knew someone would have a cunning plan or two. I will try as few suggestions on the sticky issues and see what works best. My girlfriend suggests cif cream cleaner applied by small brush; neat and leave to soak. I cant try the hot gun as I am on a river mooring with no power but could try when I come out of the water. Just now a bit concerned with Housemaids knee and sticky stuff elbow, any thoughts!:rolleyes:
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In my experience (with old masking tape and old gaffa tape residue on quite a few occasions), it will come off, but it does take a fair bit of time and some effort.

Solvent such as meths or white spirit may soften it a bit, but won't be a magic solution making it disappear like in the ads for house cleaning products. Stronger solvents like acetone need to be used with caution, as they probably soften the grp near as much as the old tape glue.

The chap at Hadlow Marine Windows (Jean-Claude?) sells some stuff called Detak, which he says is the best he's found for removing old sealant. (It's actually marketed for removing chewing gum.) But it is also solvent base and the instructions on it (I've just recently got some, but not yet used it) warns that its effect on the base material (GRP in your case) should be tested before getting carried away with the job.

I would be vary wary anything abrasive, which IIRC Cif is. You are likely to end up with a polished (or even scratched) surface in the area you are working, and even if nicely polished would require you to do the whole top of the boat to make it blend in again.

Definitely DO NOT USE SANDPAPER!

You need a sharpish but soft scraper - not metal (you almost certainly will scratch the grp with that), wooden -spatula as Vic says, or a sharpen flat 'blade' of wood, or you may find something suitable in soft plastic. A thumbnail is almost the perfect tool in shape, hardness and controllability, if a little small for fast progress. GENTLE topical application of a washing up sponge may help catch and remove the last odd bits left.

Knees are a serious consideration. Get yourself a foam garden kneeler pad, or foam kneepads.

Good luck with it.
 
I removed masking tape and duct tape residue from my GRP with Auto Glym Tar remover. It also shifted stubborn tree residue that Star Brite wouldn't move. Instant results.
 
LittleSister said:
You need a sharpish but soft scraper - not metal (you almost certainly will scratch the grp with that), wooden -spatula as Vic says, or a sharpen flat 'blade' of wood, or you may find something suitable in soft plastic. A thumbnail is almost the perfect tool in shape, hardness and controllability, if a little small for fast progress.
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Can I suggest that an old expired credit or debit card cut in half will work very well as a non-metallic scraper (using the cut edge).
 
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