Which Compound?

rpell1@msn.com

rpell1@msn.com

.
Sep 25, 2008
464
Catalina 30 MKIII Varuna Boat Club
Hi Guys,
I've got one more winter project.....(yeah, right)....I need to remove the "ghost" left from removing the painted name on the hull.

Does anyone recommend a particular compound that they have had experience with, that I can use with a rotary buffer?

Thanks all....
 
Parsons

Parsons

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Jul 12, 2011
1,165
Leopard 40 Jupiter, Florida
Based on all my reading on this problem a few years ago, including very stern warnings by @Maine Sail , it's best to just wait a year or two for the sun to hide that old ghost. To clarify, you are referring to the ghost left in gelcoat from the vinyl lettering, not 'painted on'? The ghost in gelcoat is not that noticeable from any distance, especially if you're not the owner looking for it! The likelihood of grinding a whole in your thin gelcoat if you're not experienced is pretty high.
 
Gunni

Gunni

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Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
I have never been able to completely remove the previous name from my boat. It was buffed off but it appears again each year. In hindsight I should have wet sanded the area starting with 800grit and finished out with compound and ultra polish. I like Maine Sails recommended Presto brand, very good stuff.
 
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njlarry

njlarry

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Sep 23, 2009
1,477
O'Day 34-At Last Rock Hall, Md
Mine also never went away, even after aggressive wet sanding, compounding, polishing and five more seasons of sun. But you can't really see it anyway as the eye is drawn to the new lettering. If I really felt the need to totally remove all traces I would have to start sanding with 80 grit and finish with new paint or gel coat. Which is not that bad a job if all one has to do, is just a transom. No one has ever noticed it and I can only find it using the swim ladder and looking for it.
 
daviddp

daviddp

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Aug 7, 2018
180
Catalina 350 Great Sodus Bay, Lake Ontario
I am adding our new our "new name" with vinyl. I was planning to use adhesive removal and a plastic putty knife to get the old stuff off then a cleaner wax or mild buffing compound. I think I need to then "strip" the wax off with dawn detergent to get the new vinyl letters to stick. Correct?
 
D

dlochner

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Jan 11, 2014
13,992
Sabre 362 113 Fair Haven, NY
daviddp said:
I am adding our new our "new name" with vinyl. I was planning to use adhesive removal and a plastic putty knife to get the old stuff off then a cleaner wax or mild buffing compound. I think I need to then "strip" the wax off with dawn detergent to get the new vinyl letters to stick. Correct?
Click to expand
Use a heat gun to loosen the vinyl and it will peel off with a little help from a plastic scraper. You'll need to use something stronger than Dawn get the wax off. Interlux sells a wax remover as do other paint companies.

When the old vinyl comes off, you'll find the gelcoat under it is raised a bit from the rest of the hull because it has been protected from UV and oxidation. If the new name is going in the same place, the old name will be less visible because it will be camouflaged by the new name.
 
shemandr

shemandr

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Jan 1, 2006
7,975
Slickcraft 26 Sailfish
I used Maguire's Fiberglass Restoring compound on one boat. I wouldn't say it removed the ghost completely but it did bring the surrounding gel coat up a bit to "Fade" the ghost. I tried the MS technique on another boat and stopped the wet sanding early because I thought I was going through the gel coat. You could always make out the name if you looked carefully. I didn't mind in either case since the past name was part of the gal's dance card.
 
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