How Do I Remove a Painted on Stripe

[BlueChicago]

I have a molded in stripe on the hull that has been painted over with a different color stripe. The original in-mold gelcoat stripe is showing through in a number of places as the painted on stripe fades.

I would like to expose the original stripe. Are there solvents that I can safely try/use on the gelcoat that would allow me to remove the painted on stripe? I have no idea what was used for the paint.

Or, am I going to have to carefully sand and compound the paint off in order to expose the original?

Thanks

-BC

[four winds]

My Pearson has a gelcoat coach house stripe. Charcoal gray, which was painted over with blue. Luckily not very well, no primer. I was able to use a single sided razor blade to peel the blue paint off. It was old and that helped, too. Fresh paint probably would not come off this way.

If you try this, use the blade same side up the whole time. Don't flip it over. The razor edge curls ever so slightly. Flip it over, it digs in.

Fresh blade, start with very shallow angle. As the blade wears, increase angle to keep it able to bite into or rather under the paint edge.

May not work for you but worth a try.

[Ecos]

Buff it off with some compound on a 7" buffer.

[BlueChicago]

Are there solvents that I can try that will not affect the gelcoat?

[four winds]

Yes there are solvents to help with this. I'll let this post serve as a bump for the thread so others may offer a suggestion.

But possibly something mild like fast enamel thinner would work if it is sign painters enamel.

I think gel coat can resist most solvents except maybe MEK or other aggressive solvents.

Anyone?

[minaret]

Originally Posted by four winds

Yes there are solvents to help with this. I'll let this post serve as a bump for the thread so others may offer a suggestion.

But possibly something mild like fast enamel thinner would work if it is sign painters enamel.

I think gel coat can resist most solvents except maybe MEK or other aggressive solvents.

Anyone?

Any solvent which removes the boot stripe is likely to cause a mess with the bottom paint, unless there is a wide accent stripe. If there is an accent stripe then it might be worth taping off the boot and trying to solvent wipe, but only if it's a single part enamel. Probably much faster to go to sandpaper right away. Tape off 400 dry till the old paint is gone, then 600-800-1000 wet, then polish it out. Can go finer on the grits if a better finish is desired. Hand sand only with a block.

[BlueChicago]

Well, it looks like I will be carefully sanding off the paint on both the boot stripe and accent stripe.

I'll be following Minaret's suggestion of 400 grit on a block, dry, followed by 600-800-1000 (and maybe beyond) on a block as well, wet.

Thanks to all for your suggestions!

-BC

[minaret]

Originally Posted by BlueChicago

Well, it looks like I will be carefully sanding off the paint on both the boot stripe and accent stripe.

I'll be following Minaret's suggestion of 400 grit on a block, dry, followed by 600-800-1000 (and maybe beyond) on a block as well, wet.

Thanks to all for your suggestions!

-BC

Good luck! For the record:

The gel should be quite thick. You have to try hard to burn through with a block at these grits. Should go fine.

The accent stripe, where I'm from, is when the boot stripe is elevated above the waterline, i.e. there is a "stripe" of hull color between the boot and the bottom paint/waterline. This looks nicer and is easier to maintain (hence "accent"), but not all boats have this, instead having the bottom of the boot at the waterline/bottom paint. Just in case I was creating confusion.

[minaret]

If u wanna go finer than 1k, these are awesome and help you get a great finish.


https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001K...doL&ref=plSrch

Be sure you're getting the "microfine" pads. Grit equivalency is confusing. Microfine is 1200-1500.


Dry guide coat between grits is also a huge help, especially for the beginner.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00GT...dry+guide+coat

[minaret]

Then polish with a wool bonnet, a real buffer, and something like this:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003D...olishing&psc=1


Finish with two coats of a high quality paste wax by hand and you'll have a beautiful mirror finish that lasts.

[motion30]

Depending what the paint is I guess I was able to remove the painted on name on my boat with oven cleaner

[deblen]

Lacquer Thinner (Nail polish remover) will dissolve most non-lacquer paint & varnish. It will not harm gel-coat.
Len