Remove paint from Gel Coat

[Jeff Hagen]

I am trying to remove a painted on boat name from the hull. I am fearfull of damaging the gel coat with certain removers. Thanks for your help.

 

[Steve O.]

paint remover

Without knowing the type of paint used, I would try the following in this order: 1)Paint thinner or mineral spirits (probably wont work) 2)acetone 3)lacquer thinner--shouldn't hurt gel coat but proceed with caution 4)oven cleaner. Use several applications of oven cleaner, leave on for several minutes to let it work, and scrub with a WHITE 3M pad (not green). After the paint is removed use bleach then rubbing compound to remove traces.

 

[Steve Dion]

Oven Cleaner

Jeff:Use oven cleaner. It works better when the weather is warmer, so wait as long as possible for the weather to warm up. It will not hurt the gel coat. I would be careful with acetone. It is a good cleanup for the little spots but only apply it to a rag and then use it to clean up. Once the old paint is off you can determine what you are going to do about the shadow. I used Island Girl Pink and a scrubbie pad. You can also wet sand it with very fine wet/dry paper. There was still the outline of the painted name. We applied the same name the old and you cannot really see any difference. The sun will pretty much take care in the next few months.

 

[Jim Willis]

ISLAND GIRL CLEANERS REMOVE LETTERING

Our cleaners will remove painted on lettering, stuck onlettering (carefully applied to penetrate under letters) from gelcoat, vinyl,hypalon etc AND WITHOUT DAMAGE TO THE UNDERLYING SURFACE. CLEAR AND SEA GLOW are a bit faster than PINK and can also be used to remove the shadow. Oven cleaner contains solvent and caustic ad may work but I would be careful if I were you.NEVER USE ACETONE IF YOU CAN HELP IT. THE PROBLEM IS THAT IT DISSOLVES?SOFTENS GELCOAT, VINYL ETC AND CAN INCORPORATE THE THING BEING CLEANED OFF (SEALANT, PAINT) WITH THE THING BEING CLEANED (GELCOAT, VINYL ETC).Of course you would be mainly buying the IG products for other more mainstream uses..........ThanksJim Wyour.