Removing trim decals

[RicW]

1994 Regal 9.8 Ventura. Nice boat in excellent condition. Has a 12"-14" wide maroon factory trim decal along the sides. Would a heat gun soften the glue enough to remove the decal after all this time? Thanks

[pnw2022]

I have used a heat gun to remove assorted trim lines in the past. Just be caution when getting started with temperatures so you don't burn the gelcoat. Soften up the vinyl and it starts coming off with a plastic scraper pretty easy and after the first 10 minutes or so you will get into the groove about the appropriate amount of heat, etc.

[Pete7]

Chances are sun damage will have weakened the original material and it will pull off in small pieces. I used a Stanley knife blade on its own with no holder to slowly remove ours. Take you time and do it on a hot day so the glue is softened. Just round off the corners of the blade and get the angle right and it will work.

Pete

[Bobby Lex]

There are some useful YouTube videos on this topic. A couple highlites: Heat helps, but as previously mentioned, not too much or gel coat damage can occur. Also, use PLASTIC razor blades, available on Amazon. Anything metal can damage the gel coat. Lastly, usually the gluey residue is harder to get off than the vinyl itself. If Goo-Gone or Goof-Off doesn’t work, 3M makes a rubber wheel that goes in a drill called an “eraser wheel” that works like magic. But it’s pretty pricey.

Bob

[ChrisJHC]

I used a battery-powered heat gun which worked really well.

As others have said, you need to keep the heat low enough so you don’t damage the paint.

[Jammer]

A fact to consider is that the gelcoat under the decal will be in like-new condition compared to the surrounding gelcoat, forming a "shadow" once the decal is gone.


To some extent you can wet sand and compound and polish the area to blend it.


Or you can install a new decal.