Removing boat name - chalky Dilunett

[sv_telemachus]

Hi all, first post.

I followed the advice of the forum and tried Owatrol Dilunett to remove painted name on a white gelcoat. Tested it on a small area and seemed fine. Left for ~3-4 hours.

The Dilunett did not remove all the paint, and the white gelcoat has lost its lustre and is chalky.

What should I try? I’ve contacted the yard about polishing as an option to restore it.

 

[wiggy]

I’d wet and dry it to remove the old name then cut and polish.

 

[Concerto]

Definitely need to sand the paint off and then compound to a high shine. You will probably need to refinish all the topsides. Full details can be found in this file.

https://wiki.westerly-owners.co.uk/images/8/86/Gel_coat_renovation_19May2020.pdf

 

[sv_telemachus]

Thanks - forgive the ignorance, why does the whole topside need refinishing and not just the offending areas?

 

[earlybird]

Thanks - forgive the ignorance, why does the whole topside need refinishing and not just the offending areas?

The newly refinished area probably won't match the older areas in colour or gloss.

 

[Neeves]

The newly refinished area probably won't match the older areas in colour or gloss.

Welcome to the forum - sorry your first encounter with the forum is with a problem.

Its not the reason that in certain cultures it is bad luck to change a boat name (if you believe in such things), but there are other implications (not to change) as you have found out. If you are a believer there are religious rites to remove or minimise the bad luck (of which I know nothing).

Jonathan

 

[sv_telemachus]

Thank you Jonathan

The boat may stubbornly cling to her heritage but next will be her third name. Rest easy that Poseidon will be appropriately appeased once I polish this out…!

 

[Caer Urfa]

Removed names on a few boats over the years I would simply give it another coating of dilunett and leave for longer and then jet wash off

 

[sv_telemachus]

Removed names on a few boats over the years I would simply give it another coating of dilunett and leave for longer and then jet wash off

That's interesting Caer Urfa, have you seen that chalked effect on the white gelcoat before?

It gave me brief concern that the white was painted and not gelcoat. However (i) two recent surveys have stated it is white GRP, and (ii) if it was painted, I'd have expected Dilunett to cut straight through to the gelcoat.

 

[johnalison]

Since you are going to have to do it anyway, I would blast it off with wet and dry and then decide how to make good with what is left. It is likely that the old name will remain as a ghost, having shielded the gelcoat. The next decision will be whether to remove more gelcoat, hope to mask it with a new name, live with it, paint over the lot or whatever other methods come to mind.

 

[ithet]

Its not the reason that in certain cultures it is bad luck to change a boat name (if you believe in such things), but there are other implications (not to change) as you have found out. If you are a believer there are religious rites to remove or minimise the bad luck (of which I know nothing).

Jonathan

I understand that if enough alcohol is used in the ceremony then there will be no future issues.

 

[sv_telemachus]

I understand that if enough alcohol is used in the ceremony then there will be no future issues.

An entire bottle of Sainsbury's finest value sparkling wine was commemorated onto the foredeck prior to the delivery. I am hopeful.

Since you are going to have to do it anyway, I would blast it off with wet and dry and then decide how to make good with what is left. It is likely that the old name will remain as a ghost, having shielded the gelcoat. The next decision will be whether to remove more gelcoat, hope to mask it with a new name, live with it, paint over the lot or whatever other methods come to mind.

That's helpful, thank you John

 

[Caer Urfa]

That's interesting Caer Urfa, have you seen that chalked effect on the white gelcoat before?

It gave me brief concern that the white was painted and not gelcoat. However (i) two recent surveys have stated it is white GRP, and (ii) if it was painted, I'd have expected Dilunett to cut straight through to the gelcoat.

Dilunett will not damage GRP, depending on what quality paint the sign writer used I have usually done it twice then after jet wash off and drying used 'T' cut to bring back to normal colour.

 

[sv_telemachus]

Dilunett will not damage GRP, depending on what quality paint the sign writer used I have usually done it twice then after jet wash off and drying used 'T' cut to bring back to normal colour.

Thanks Caer Urfa - just to check, when you say "bring back the normal colour", do you mean you've seen it 'discolour' the gelcoat before cutting and polishing?

 

[Concerto]

Gel coat can age over time. Some gel coat is not UV stable and can go a creamy colour rather that stay white. Removing the top surface will restore the original colour.

Most boat builders until the mid to late 1990's applied one coat of gel coat brushed on, and it should be 1 to 1.5mm minimum thickness. However Westerly used a double later of gel coat and is much eaisier to remove the top surface without worrying about rubbing through. Later builders change the method of application of gel coat to using spray gun and is only 0.5 to 0.75mm thick.

 

[sv_telemachus]

Helpful response from Owatrol (reassuringly in line with the views here)

As we do not know what paint was used for the name, Dilunett will need to be used again to remove the remnants of the name. As for the chalkiness I have encountered Dilunett causing that issue and as we know Dilunett is perfectly safe to use on gelcoat. I wonder if in fact the chalkiness very fine, broken-down paint from the stripping process is that has not been fully washed away. This is like sanding paint in a house with wet and dry abrasive and using it wet, if you don't rinse it down properly then you are left with a chalky surface, and I suspect a similar thing has happened here.​

​

With regards to the bleaching, I see that the gelcoat is white. The colour of gelcoat whether it is white, or any other colour will degrade overtime, with white losing its initial bright white look and possibly ending up a grey white or creamy white as it ages, but still looking a white colour to the naked eye. This discolouration is not noticeable until you come to work on the area. Dilunett has removed some of the name paint, revealing the original white colour underneath while at the same time deep cleaning (it's the only phrase I can think of) any surrounding area to further reveal the original white colour.​

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Thus, my suggestion would be as follows​

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1. Re-treat the name with Dilunett
2. Thoroughly rinse off
3. Abrade area with fine Wet & Dry used wet to remove any remnants of the name
4. Thoroughly wash down and rinse off.
5. Leave to dry.
   
   

Consideration will then need to be given by the boat owner as to blending the area in with the remainder of the hull.​

​

Regards,​

The Owatrol Team​

 

[Caer Urfa]

Thanks Caer Urfa - just to check, when you say "bring back the normal colour", do you mean you've seen it 'discolour' the gelcoat before cutting and polishing?

There will be an outline when you have done two times with the dilunett and I found using 'T' cut finishes the job but you may then notice the rest of the upper hull also looks better after using 'T' cut

 

[Refueler]

Note that T-Cut is generally advised not to be used ... I do use it but take care about the reason not to ....

T-Cut can if not fully washed of and polished out - can lead to yellowing of GRP Gel ... as can use of wrong polish.

I am sure someone is now going to argue about this ... but it is fact.

A good substitute - even its similar product - is Bluebell - often used by car restorers / silverware polishers etc.

 

[sv_telemachus]

Hi all - an update for anyone interested.

The hull was painted... The professional finisher said the paintjob was remarkably hard to detect. My fault for relying on the seller's insurance and purchase surveyors who both said gelcoat. I also should've gone over the hull with a fine tooth comb to find evidence of painting, and should've tested it on the hull for longer than I did.

Thankfully the paint appears to be white over white gelcoat, and may have been a 2 pack epoxy paint that Dilunett doesn't work effectively on.

We sanded and polished the affected areas and the difference is negligible now, likely zero once the new names are applied on top.

Thanks for all your help!