I have some old stripes that are on my boat and I want to take them off. They are pretty old and are waring through in places and cracked in other places and faded. I have read about erasers that you put on a drill and some folks have said to use a heat gun and scraper. I just want to take them off as easy as possible and not hurt the gel coat under them. I haven't done this type of project before, so I am looking for all of your responses to hold my hand and walk me through it. Thanks in advance for all your help. Capt. Paul s/v Magic Wind 1986 Hunter 31' Hull #714
Getting Really Old Stripes Off My Boat
- Thread starter Bro Paul
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Heat Gun
Hi Capt. Paul - I have been successful removing stripes from a vintage 1986 boat with the old heat gun and plastic scraper routine. Take care not to overheat and blister the tape - if you go cautiously, especially at first, you'll get the hang of how much heat to use. Use adhesive remover for residual adhesive. Best of luck, Trevor
Hi Capt. Paul - I have been successful removing stripes from a vintage 1986 boat with the old heat gun and plastic scraper routine. Take care not to overheat and blister the tape - if you go cautiously, especially at first, you'll get the hang of how much heat to use. Use adhesive remover for residual adhesive. Best of luck, Trevor
The "eraser" is the best way to remove these....
Capt. Paul: The "eraser" is the easiest way to remove these stripes. Once they are that "cooked" on these other methods do not seem to work well. If the vinyl is still plyable a steamer that you would use on wall paper also works quickly.
Capt. Paul: The "eraser" is the easiest way to remove these stripes. Once they are that "cooked" on these other methods do not seem to work well. If the vinyl is still plyable a steamer that you would use on wall paper also works quickly.
If you could get the wheel in John's
post, maybe you could mount it on a drill or grinder instead of the air tool. The flappers on the wheel seem like the important part.
post, maybe you could mount it on a drill or grinder instead of the air tool. The flappers on the wheel seem like the important part.
Paint scraper and acetone
Removal of vinyl stripes is the same as vinyl lettering. I recently removed the letters on the transom of my boat with a paint scraper. These are the tools you can get at the hardware store that are used to scrape paint off of windows. They use a single-edge blade and cost about $2. If you are gentle, you will not harm the gel coat and you can get the vinyl off. For particularly stubborn pieces, you can use acetone to help dissolve the glue before or during your scraping. Removing the the vinyl is often the easiest part of the job; getting the gluey mess that is left on the boat off is often more difficult. I rubbed acetone onto any stuck on mess, let it sit for a few seconds and then scraped again. It took several passes with the scraper and acetone to get all of the glue off. Once that was done, I used a light compound and orbital buffer to try and even out the color of the gelcoat. I was marginally successful, but decided to let the sun do most of the work. I didn't want the area where the letters had been to be a different color from the rest of the hull.
Removal of vinyl stripes is the same as vinyl lettering. I recently removed the letters on the transom of my boat with a paint scraper. These are the tools you can get at the hardware store that are used to scrape paint off of windows. They use a single-edge blade and cost about $2. If you are gentle, you will not harm the gel coat and you can get the vinyl off. For particularly stubborn pieces, you can use acetone to help dissolve the glue before or during your scraping. Removing the the vinyl is often the easiest part of the job; getting the gluey mess that is left on the boat off is often more difficult. I rubbed acetone onto any stuck on mess, let it sit for a few seconds and then scraped again. It took several passes with the scraper and acetone to get all of the glue off. Once that was done, I used a light compound and orbital buffer to try and even out the color of the gelcoat. I was marginally successful, but decided to let the sun do most of the work. I didn't want the area where the letters had been to be a different color from the rest of the hull.
Goof-Off
Paul, Try a product called Goof-Off. You can get it at any paint store or Lowes. I have used it for removing all types of adhesives, and it works great. Buy the liquid in the can , and not the spray. Wear gloves when you use it to be on the safe side. Also works great for removing 4200 etc.
Paul, Try a product called Goof-Off. You can get it at any paint store or Lowes. I have used it for removing all types of adhesives, and it works great. Buy the liquid in the can , and not the spray. Wear gloves when you use it to be on the safe side. Also works great for removing 4200 etc.
Well worth it
If you like a nice looking boat! The old stripes do not come off easy with heat like my lettering did so basically it is elbow work....or the eraser! This also is what I am doing with my 20 year old stripes this winter.... Greg 1986 P36-2
If you like a nice looking boat! The old stripes do not come off easy with heat like my lettering did so basically it is elbow work....or the eraser! This also is what I am doing with my 20 year old stripes this winter.... Greg 1986 P36-2
Erase took 45 mins.
I took the stripes off the cabin with the Eraser in 45 mins. We removed the stripes off the new Hunter Vision with a steamer in about 35 min. The heat gun will not work on this old cracked vinyl. If it is soft and plyable it should work fine. The Eraser costs about $15 and you can find them at most automotive paint stores. They use them at body shops to remove pin stripping.
I took the stripes off the cabin with the Eraser in 45 mins. We removed the stripes off the new Hunter Vision with a steamer in about 35 min. The heat gun will not work on this old cracked vinyl. If it is soft and plyable it should work fine. The Eraser costs about $15 and you can find them at most automotive paint stores. They use them at body shops to remove pin stripping.
Steve: re Stripes
Which stripes did you remove from the Vision? Did you replace them? I had the stripes on my Legend replaced but am not satisfied with the job. I have pulled a little tape in my life, so I'm thinking about replacing them myself this time. Did you go original? Rick D.
Which stripes did you remove from the Vision? Did you replace them? I had the stripes on my Legend replaced but am not satisfied with the job. I have pulled a little tape in my life, so I'm thinking about replacing them myself this time. Did you go original? Rick D.
Paddle wheel eraser
After spending several hours with a heat gun. I borrowed a snapon tool with a paddle wheel from a friend at a body shop. They call it a pin stripe eraser. It made mincemeat out of the stripes and the name on the back of the boat. Ive had some friends use the solid wheel but it takes alot longer than the paddle wheel. I removed the stripes from the cabin top, topsides and the name. Every piece of stripe on the boat Tim Welsh Hunter 34 S/V Cabo Wabo
After spending several hours with a heat gun. I borrowed a snapon tool with a paddle wheel from a friend at a body shop. They call it a pin stripe eraser. It made mincemeat out of the stripes and the name on the back of the boat. Ive had some friends use the solid wheel but it takes alot longer than the paddle wheel. I removed the stripes from the cabin top, topsides and the name. Every piece of stripe on the boat Tim Welsh Hunter 34 S/V Cabo Wabo
Old Stripes
I simply used a flat razor blade and took off the sticky residue with "Goo Begone" or something like that. Worked well.
I simply used a flat razor blade and took off the sticky residue with "Goo Begone" or something like that. Worked well.
Thank You!
Thank you all for your comments and recommendations. Can anyone tell me if you can see where the old stripes were after you use the eraser to take them off? May seem like a silly question, but since this is the first time doing this job, I am trying to know what to expect when I do it. Once again thanks a lot and it looks like I'm not the only one that is faced with this project. But always a first time and I'm thankful for this form for the guidence of folks that have been there. Capt. Paul s/v Magic Wind
Thank you all for your comments and recommendations. Can anyone tell me if you can see where the old stripes were after you use the eraser to take them off? May seem like a silly question, but since this is the first time doing this job, I am trying to know what to expect when I do it. Once again thanks a lot and it looks like I'm not the only one that is faced with this project. But always a first time and I'm thankful for this form for the guidence of folks that have been there. Capt. Paul s/v Magic Wind
You can see the outline.
Capt. Paul: You will be able to see the outline of the original vinyl. It is usually shinny too. The area is also slightly raised. It provides you a good time to totally condition and wax the area (regardless if you decide to replace the stripes). Good luck.
Capt. Paul: You will be able to see the outline of the original vinyl. It is usually shinny too. The area is also slightly raised. It provides you a good time to totally condition and wax the area (regardless if you decide to replace the stripes). Good luck.
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