Removing boat name

[Paul]

I am planning to remove the name from the boat I just bought. I have the denaming ceremony rules but haven't decided on the best way to remove the painted name from the gel coat. I think wet sanding with, say, 200 grit may do it but of course I don't want to damage the gel coat. Any recommendations for getting the old paint off?

 

[Bob Shafer]

The simplest way to remove a painted boat name is to rub gently with acetone and a clean cotton cloth. Go slowly, and the name will come right off without any scratches, etc, that could come with sanding, etc.

 

[Peter Dalsgaard]

Removing Enamel

I've just finished removing sloppy varnishwork (Cetol) by previous owner from decks andhull using West Marine's Peel-Away. In oneword, the results were phenomenal! The odds are that name on your boat was letteredusing One-Shot Lettering Enamel. This paint hasan extremely high pigment content which makesremoval using solvents (laquer thinner, etc.)a tedious and dirty job smearing the pigmenteverywhere your solvent rag goes. On an olderboat with aging gelcoat, this won't be fun.Peel-Away does what it says! It lifts the paintoff the surface. Any remaining residue can bewiped off with a sponge and water, with nodamage to the gelcoat.

 

[Lauraine]

EZ Off Oven cleaner works, too.

There may be some pigment that has soaked into the gelcoat, which is porous. A little rubbing compound will take that out.