Boat name removal advice

[GPatron]

The previous owner of my 2002 Sabre splashed the boat’s name in stainless steel script across the transom and on the cabin sides. I want to remove them but don’t have any idea of what adhesive was used or how to remove them without damaging the fiberglass surface.

Any suggestions?

[SVHarmonie]

I assume you do not care if you bend and mangle the stainless lettering. This is going to vary from an annoying job to an absolutely awful one, depending on what was used. It might be a simple pressure sensitive adhesive (likely if the letters were professionally made), or you might be cursing the PO to hell and back if they used 5200. Seriously, amateurs should need a license to use that stuff...

Find one corner you can pry up a bit. Use wood shims to protect the gelcoat. Start soaking the adhesive with "Goof Off". for almost anything other than a polyurethane this will do the trick to soften and dissolve it. Give it time.

If it was stuck down with silicone, just keep tension on it, and cut what you can reach with a very sharp blade. Keep tension on it with wedges and shims, stretch it and pull, it will start to peel.

If it IS polyurethane, then it will take longer. Stretch it, and use Debond Marine Formula to soak the exposed adhesive. Cut into it with a very sharp blade where you can. it will be a VERY slow job if you want to avoid damage to the gelcoat. This is the internet, other people will have other suggestions for other products. None of them work quickly.

I hope the name has a minimal number of letters...