Hull striping removal

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B

bakeroo

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Aug 29, 2010
6
Catalina Capri 18 So Cal
I need HELP! i want to restripe the hull of my Catalina Capri 18. The tape is very worn in spots and missing chunks in others. I've been told that removing the old tape is next to impossible. My boat is a 2000 model. Please, anyone that has done this ,I would appreciate any advice you can offer.
thanks,
bakeroo
 
Rick I

Rick I

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Jan 6, 2007
414
CS36Merlin and Beneteau 393 - Toronto
It's not impossible but very time consuming if it's breaking up in little pieces. It will all come off though. A hair dryer helps a bit on the larger pieces.
 
B

Barnacle Bill

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Jun 9, 2008
1,850
- -- -Bayfield
Use a hair dryer or even a butane torch (but be careful not to burn the gelcoat) to soften up the tape. Then take a carpet knife razor blade and carefully peel it away from the hull. Sometimes, if it softens nicely you can just pull it away. When off you will find an adhesive residue. Use mineral spirits on this. Let it soak in for a few minutes to loosen it up and then remove it with a rag. It is not that difficult. 3M used to make a special wheel attachment that fit onto a drill where it removed striping too, but the above method is cheaper and materials are easy to find.
 
D

duality

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May 25, 2004
446
Catalina 400 mkII Harbor
i used a wallpaper remover steamer that i bought on craigslist. it made quick work steam with one hand and pull off vinyl with the other.

if you are replacing with more than one stripe (not familiar with your model) check with catalina. they supplied me with their current silver and blue stripe already spaced at a bargain price.

mike
 
Cpt. Jon

Cpt. Jon

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Dec 9, 2008
426
1980 Hunter 30 "Denali" Seaford, VA
'Smart Eraser' is the only way to go... I tried the other methods heat gun, razor blade, etc... they were a real PITA, the smart eraser just attaches to your drill and will peel the old tape off with ease. I will use this product again it saved me so much time and effort. Google it and look for the best price, here's an example http://www.autobarn.net/xxxw-ap-400e.html?site=google_base

Make sure to get the right one, some are made to attached to air compressors etc, but the one I had I just attached to my drill.
 
catsailor

catsailor

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Jan 10, 2009
590
PDQ 32 Deale, MD
Also consider xylene, if the hair dryer fails, and to remove teh residue; Home Depot should have it. It will not hurt the gelcoat and is MUCH faster than mineral spirits.
 
B

bakeroo

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Aug 29, 2010
6
Catalina Capri 18 So Cal
Hello All
Thank you for all your advice on removing a terribly worn hull stripe. The removal of the stripe itself was easy, but the glue removal was a slow tedious job. I have finally finished and have bought replacement stripes from West marine. Does anyone know a service that would apply the stripe for me in So.Cal. I'd try it myself, but not sure I'm up for the job.
 
C

Calif. Ted

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Jun 8, 2004
3,013
Catalina 320 Dana Point
I'm the only one I know but I'm too expensive, you've already done the hard part, putting new ones on is the fun part. I've done several, it's not as hard as it looks, you have a shadow line to follow from the old one and just lay it down a couple feet at a time, not inch by inch.
 

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Roger Long

Roger Long

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Nov 22, 2008
3,562
Endeavour 32 Portland, Maine
Once again, this subject pops up. Once again...

My experience with 1980 vintage tape, really baked on:

Alll of the above will work to some extent. But, please, buy a real heat gun. It's not expensive and will be handy for all sorts of other things. A hair dryer won't do it (at least on tape as old as mine) and torching your fiberglass boat is, well, crazy.

You will however be left with a residue that all the above suggestions just move around without completely removing. This stuff takes it off:

http://www.marineformula.com/
 
LuzSD

LuzSD

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Feb 21, 2009
1,009
Catalina 30 San Diego/ Dana Point, Ca.
bakeroo said:
Hello All
Thank you for all your advice on removing a terribly worn hull stripe. The removal of the stripe itself was easy, but the glue removal was a slow tedious job. I have finally finished and have bought replacement stripes from West marine. Does anyone know a service that would apply the stripe for me in So.Cal. I'd try it myself, but not sure I'm up for the job.
Click to expand
Maybe I am not reading this correctly because those who have responded are still talking about glue and it sounded to me like you already got through that part. If so, and you are ready for the tape, I will just tell you that we were doing the same thing a couple years ago and decided to go with having the stipe painted on instead and we are so so happy we did that. We were advised to do paint vs tape and it was good advice for us. Also, we changed the boot stripe also so maybe that made it an easier choice than if it was only the one stripe you are doing.

attached here: 1st picture is of the bottom new and black, but the boot and upper stripe are still original. 2nd picture is boot and upper are all dark navy.

We are in SD and the guy who does the paint there in Shelter Island Boat yard is really good. If that is of interest, let us know and we can give you more info. Good luck, it sounds like you have already done the most difficult part.:)
 

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