I live in Missouri and I'm buying a sailboat which is located in IL....MO says I have to title, register, etc. it in MO....and I'll need all new decals placed on the bow.....any ideas what's the best way to get the old numbers off? Thanks for your imput, Bill
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They are usually easy to get off.
Bill: These number are usually fairly easy to get off. If you can get something under the vinyl (razor, scraper etc) you can usually lift a corner and just peel them off. If they take a little bit more, then try a hair dryer to soften up the vinyl. You can then clean up to goo with a little "Goo Gone".
Bill: These number are usually fairly easy to get off. If you can get something under the vinyl (razor, scraper etc) you can usually lift a corner and just peel them off. If they take a little bit more, then try a hair dryer to soften up the vinyl. You can then clean up to goo with a little "Goo Gone".
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Rich Wallace
Little Red Wheel
Someone on these forums put me onto an eraser wheel that you mount in your drill and "erase" the decals. It really peels them off and it cleans off the glue as well. They are available at auto parts stores that cater to auto body repair shops, about $22.
Someone on these forums put me onto an eraser wheel that you mount in your drill and "erase" the decals. It really peels them off and it cleans off the glue as well. They are available at auto parts stores that cater to auto body repair shops, about $22.
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Bill
These numbers have been on for probably 15 years so I expect there will be "shadows" when they are removed.....any thoughts on how to minimize the "shadows"?
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Glenn Haake
Why register it in MO????????
I live in MO and keep my boat in Ill, (Carlyle). I have my boat registered in ILL. Why pay MO sales tax and personal property tax for a boat that is in Ill? My trailer is registered in MO, but not the boat. I think you've been given false information. Where do you plan to keep the boat? It will need to be registered in the state that you plan to keep it.
I live in MO and keep my boat in Ill, (Carlyle). I have my boat registered in ILL. Why pay MO sales tax and personal property tax for a boat that is in Ill? My trailer is registered in MO, but not the boat. I think you've been given false information. Where do you plan to keep the boat? It will need to be registered in the state that you plan to keep it.
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Keith Wolfe
A Spoon
I went through the same ordeal over Easter weekend. I had some numbers that were slightly thicker and peeled off the bow easily. Other numbers were thinner, brittle and almost like paint. What I did to remove the stubborn numbers was to spay WD40 on the area for lubrication. Then using a dinner table serving spoon (sometimes called a tablespoon) I scraped the decal off by placing the rounded bottom of the spoon agains the boat and using the edge of the spoon to flake off the old decal. It still took some time but was much easier than a knife or razor blade. It was also easier to avoid scratching or gouging the gelcoat this way too. For the glue left on the hull I used the WD40 and a clean towel to get that off. To get rid of the shadow of the old letters I used Meguiars Color Restorer and Meguiars One Step wax and polish to finish up.
I went through the same ordeal over Easter weekend. I had some numbers that were slightly thicker and peeled off the bow easily. Other numbers were thinner, brittle and almost like paint. What I did to remove the stubborn numbers was to spay WD40 on the area for lubrication. Then using a dinner table serving spoon (sometimes called a tablespoon) I scraped the decal off by placing the rounded bottom of the spoon agains the boat and using the edge of the spoon to flake off the old decal. It still took some time but was much easier than a knife or razor blade. It was also easier to avoid scratching or gouging the gelcoat this way too. For the glue left on the hull I used the WD40 and a clean towel to get that off. To get rid of the shadow of the old letters I used Meguiars Color Restorer and Meguiars One Step wax and polish to finish up.
Island Girl, rubbing compound, polish....
Bill: One you get them off, you will have a better idea about the shadow. This area is usually not as bad as something like the stern. You can use Island Girl Pink with some synthetic wool, a little rubbing compound or some polish. I doubt that any of these will make the shadow totally go away, but it will make them fade a little. Within a few months you probalby will not be able to see the shadow.
Bill: One you get them off, you will have a better idea about the shadow. This area is usually not as bad as something like the stern. You can use Island Girl Pink with some synthetic wool, a little rubbing compound or some polish. I doubt that any of these will make the shadow totally go away, but it will make them fade a little. Within a few months you probalby will not be able to see the shadow.
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Bill
Glenn
Maybe I did get some bad info.....sure would like to hear how to go about reg. in Il.....your help would be appreciated....will keep the boat at Crab Orchard...Carbondale
Maybe I did get some bad info.....sure would like to hear how to go about reg. in Il.....your help would be appreciated....will keep the boat at Crab Orchard...Carbondale
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Tim
Heat Gun
Get yourself an inexpensive heat gun at Home Depot or the like. I don't think a hair dryer has the heat to help out much, but you could try it first. Use the low heat setting on the heat gun, and don't overheat the gel or the decal, just enough to make it soft at peel off. I've found Goof-Off works a little better than Goo-Gone, and I always keep a can around as its gets a lot of different stuff off very easily. I had the shadow problem on my boat (on the transom) where I removed the name recently. The gel is "plateau'ed" and was a lot shinier after 20 years of the name decals being there. I couldn't get rid of the "plateau", but 3M Fiberglass restorer and wax seemed to do a good job blending the dull areas in with the shiny. If anyone knows how to remove the "plateau", please let me know. Good luck, Tim
Get yourself an inexpensive heat gun at Home Depot or the like. I don't think a hair dryer has the heat to help out much, but you could try it first. Use the low heat setting on the heat gun, and don't overheat the gel or the decal, just enough to make it soft at peel off. I've found Goof-Off works a little better than Goo-Gone, and I always keep a can around as its gets a lot of different stuff off very easily. I had the shadow problem on my boat (on the transom) where I removed the name recently. The gel is "plateau'ed" and was a lot shinier after 20 years of the name decals being there. I couldn't get rid of the "plateau", but 3M Fiberglass restorer and wax seemed to do a good job blending the dull areas in with the shiny. If anyone knows how to remove the "plateau", please let me know. Good luck, Tim
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