How to remove “ghost lettering” from old vinyl stickers on gel coat

[tamicatana]

UV wear differential between covered/non covered gelcoat. Wet sand, buff, the usual...

[GWilly]

I did that same thing, tho the ‘background’ was a forest green stripe, and not a large white area. Once the lettering was removed, I used a rubbing compound on a buffing wheel. Took my time, went slow, but the shadows were eventually eliminated. I’d be very leery of doing any actual sanding. As someone else said, the gel coat is pretty thin, and you’ll find yourself through it before you know it.

[Rumrace]

Mothers wax clay bar. And possibly Goo Gone in advance.

[HopCar]

Park the boat where the transom gets a lot of sun. Close your eyes and count to 31 million. When you open your eyes the ghost letters will be gone.

[Glacier Crews]

Removed old lettering in 2015. Boat was originally named in 2008. After rename we moved boat from Washington State to Alaska. Boat is on the water all year every year except about a week each year when we do all annual work. Boat is fully exposed to all weather, no winter cover over the name.

2015 to 2022 with new name over the old. Plenty of light and sun. Every year as I wax, I note the ghosting is less. But it is still lightly in place.


Very glad that we did not try to remove it completely. Now all I see are the hours I saved by “letting go” of perfection.


Have fun carrying your ghost with you. I’m pretty finicky, a bit OCD about cleaning and annual chores, etc. Work on your inner Captain. You’ll be good.

[Rumrace]

Lots of people know how to wax a boat few know how to dewax their boats.
I’ve used mothers systems for years on paint of glass. The first step strips old wax. You can clay bar the hull as an additional step to pull dock spider stains bird poor etc. Then a filler which fills all the cracks a sealer and finally wax. If you choose to use only amazing marine wax still use Mothers to get the old wax off and clay bar it where it’s dirty dull or where any ghosts appear.

[SailRN]

Originally Posted by HopCar

Park the boat where the transom gets a lot of sun. Close your eyes and count to 31 million. When you open your eyes the ghost letters will be gone.

I had pretty good luck with "Exorcist" line of products. Before I found this product I saw a lot of heads turn as I passed by.