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Tony B · 21-10-2012, 02:29

What is the best way to remove vinyl lettering from a fiberglass boat?

rebel heart · 21-10-2012, 02:36

They sell little plastic "razors" that fit in a razor scraper. One of those, then some soap and a greenie to knock off any residual. If it's been on for a while you'll have a shadow, but that will go away in a few months so don't let it freak you out. If it's really bad you could polish it down I suppose.

Stray-Cat · 21-10-2012, 02:38

For a large area, 3M makes a wheel that fits in a drill called a
stripe off wheel
It does not harm the finish,it is made of what to me looks like a pencil eraser
I used it to remove the lettering on a truck a few years ago

resilientg · 21-10-2012, 02:50

A little heat to the sticker to maker it easier to remove then a scraper blade

then wd40 and a rag to remove the glue residue

easy

Matthew

Morrissey · 21-10-2012, 22:17

Heat gun and a scraper, but avoid sharp blades as the warm/hot gelcoat is quite soft. If the letters have been there a long time, and been polished over you might have high spots where they were. I just ignored them - the new letters in the same area dominate......

Target9000 · 21-10-2012, 22:19

I second what Rebel Heart said. About a year ago we replaced the vinyl for the hailing port on our boat. When we boat the new lettering the sign shop gave us a small plastic "razor". Worked perfectly without hurting the gelcoat.

**minaret** · 21-10-2012, 22:33

Quote:

Originally Posted by Target9000

I second what Rebel Heart said. About a year ago we replaced the vinyl for the hailing port on our boat. When we boat the new lettering the sign shop gave us a small plastic "razor". Worked perfectly without hurting the gelcoat.

Those plastic razors get dull really fast and stop working well. Get lots if you go that route. I prefer a regular utility razor. Sand the corners off first. Then put it an plastic window scraper holder so it sits flat, or know that no utility razor is flat. They all have a curve to them, but as long as you use them convex side down so the corners don't gouge it's fine, even helps a little. Heat makes the adhesive soft, so once you start a corner you can just carefully peel off the letters. I'm a little OCD, I like to try to pull them in one piece. It's easy once you've done it a lot. If you use a stripe remover be sure to do it at low RPM's, I've seen many people burn their gel with one of these.

SmartMove · 21-10-2012, 22:34

I used a plastic light switch cover to remove the old name on our boat. It was just wide enough to do the job and the right hardness to do the job without damaging the fiberglass. It was also flexible enough to work with the small curvature of the surface. But do not ask me why I had one on board, I do not even remember -- it was not something we could have ever used on our boat!

Celestialsailor · 21-10-2012, 23:07

Geeez...mine were like rocks on the hull. But with a heat gun, they almost fell off.

Jacana · 22-10-2012, 03:00

Second that ,heat gun and you can just peel them off.

jmackay · 22-10-2012, 03:26

Heat gun and olive oil will remove everthing but the shadow

savoir · 22-10-2012, 03:33

You can remove the glue residue with any of the petroleum based cleaning solvents. Acetone is also good.

Auto cutting compound plus a dollop of elbow grease will remove the shadow.

**carstenb** · 22-10-2012, 03:49

Borrow your wife's hair dryer. Blow lots of hot air and the letters will peel right off. If you have a shadow, a little gelcoat polish and some elbow grease will have it shining like new.