I recently bought a 1989 Hunter 28'. I am desperately trying to find a reasonable way to remove the old vinyl lettering. They have been on since 1989 and are terribly difficult to get off using a hair dryer for the heat source and my thumbnail. How do the pros do it? Are there any solutions that will break the adhesive down without damaging my hull at all? My email address is mwolf7@visteon.com Help! H28 s/v Wu-Wei (soon to be!)
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Will Hunt
Removing vinyl numbers
More heat! Need to get the vinyl "hot to the touch" to break down the adhesive. Try a concentrator on the hairdryer output pipe , or a heat gun with a blower (not the lamp type) that has a smaller tip. Mine is 1", 1400 watt.
More heat! Need to get the vinyl "hot to the touch" to break down the adhesive. Try a concentrator on the hairdryer output pipe , or a heat gun with a blower (not the lamp type) that has a smaller tip. Mine is 1", 1400 watt.
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Joe Hanna
Try "Oops"
After you apply the heat to soften the letter as noted in the previous post, you will probably find residue glue and a "shadow" where the old letters were previously in place. Try a product called "Oops" that can be found at hardware or wallpaper stores. This product will remove the previous glue residue. You may then need to lightly compound the old area to minimize the shadow area.
After you apply the heat to soften the letter as noted in the previous post, you will probably find residue glue and a "shadow" where the old letters were previously in place. Try a product called "Oops" that can be found at hardware or wallpaper stores. This product will remove the previous glue residue. You may then need to lightly compound the old area to minimize the shadow area.
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Bill Watson
Removing old name
Matt, what was your success, and how do you recommend a newcomer go about the successful removal of an old name or Hunter decal? Mine challenge is the Legend 37.5 decal..or is it painted. Either way, I want to remove it and post my boat name in the same area. What's your advice? Thanks!
Matt, what was your success, and how do you recommend a newcomer go about the successful removal of an old name or Hunter decal? Mine challenge is the Legend 37.5 decal..or is it painted. Either way, I want to remove it and post my boat name in the same area. What's your advice? Thanks!
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Dutch Rauch
Off with the old
The vinyl name and 'hail' letters were 28 years old when I had to change them. After heat, chemicals and all else, the good old razor blade applied with great care finally did the removal job and light sanding with very fine grit removed the discoloration. I restored the finish with a couple of good coats of wax, though a touch-up of topside paint would have worked, also.
The vinyl name and 'hail' letters were 28 years old when I had to change them. After heat, chemicals and all else, the good old razor blade applied with great care finally did the removal job and light sanding with very fine grit removed the discoloration. I restored the finish with a couple of good coats of wax, though a touch-up of topside paint would have worked, also.
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Jeff
Island Girl product
Island Girl, Cyrstal Clear took the registration numbers and the old name off without any problems.. Check the archives... Good Luck.. Jeff
Island Girl, Cyrstal Clear took the registration numbers and the old name off without any problems.. Check the archives... Good Luck.. Jeff
Another option
Matt: There is a tool called the Eraser that work good. If the vinyl is cracked this works really good. http://www.sailboatowners.com/upload/display.tpl?folder=Dion73043149949&fno=17
Matt: There is a tool called the Eraser that work good. If the vinyl is cracked this works really good. http://www.sailboatowners.com/upload/display.tpl?folder=Dion73043149949&fno=17
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Matt Wolf
Not finished
Bill, I didn't have the patience to complete more than one 10" letter. It took me 50min to get it 90% off by hand. Successful? I haven't got there...yet. I'll try more heat and either Goo Gone or Oops to remove the leftover glue. Thanks to everyone that responded!!!
Bill, I didn't have the patience to complete more than one 10" letter. It took me 50min to get it 90% off by hand. Successful? I haven't got there...yet. I'll try more heat and either Goo Gone or Oops to remove the leftover glue. Thanks to everyone that responded!!!
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Tom
Smart eraser pad
I have ordered the Smart Eraser Pad and plan on removing the stripes on my 1986 H34. I'll update when the stripes are gone. I have not decided whether to replace the stripes. Last year I did remove the vinyl lettering with a plastic scraper and used acetone for cleanup. The plastic scraper actually came with my wife's stoneware she uses for baking. The scraper worked well and did not scratch. The job took less then 4 hours to complete. Tom
I have ordered the Smart Eraser Pad and plan on removing the stripes on my 1986 H34. I'll update when the stripes are gone. I have not decided whether to replace the stripes. Last year I did remove the vinyl lettering with a plastic scraper and used acetone for cleanup. The plastic scraper actually came with my wife's stoneware she uses for baking. The scraper worked well and did not scratch. The job took less then 4 hours to complete. Tom
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Rich Wallace
Little Red Wheel
There is a little red eraser wheel that you chuck up in a drill and go to work. It erases the vinyl letters. They are available from auto body supply houses. With the mandrall they are around $22, without about $18. If you have a large decal I am guessing you will need more than one. They take off the decal and the glue in one operation.
There is a little red eraser wheel that you chuck up in a drill and go to work. It erases the vinyl letters. They are available from auto body supply houses. With the mandrall they are around $22, without about $18. If you have a large decal I am guessing you will need more than one. They take off the decal and the glue in one operation.
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Rob
Lacquer Thinner and flat razor blade
A division of my company has a sign shop and have used vinyl lettering on boats since Vinyl became popular.....My guys tell me that a soft rag,, lacquer thinner, a number of sharp razor blades. a heat gun and lots of Patience is the trick...Use the heat gun first to soften the vinyl... then use a blade to peel away.....use the Lacqer thinner on the balance thats left...after finishing with the gun...(do not use a heat gun directly on lacquer thinner ,,just thought Id mention that)..Most of the time a ghost image will still be there after everything is peeled off,,then use a little rubbing compound and then fiberglass cleaner then wax.....add new name before waxing but after cleaning......... I am working on the same process now,,but mine was painted on almost 10 years ago. good luck!
A division of my company has a sign shop and have used vinyl lettering on boats since Vinyl became popular.....My guys tell me that a soft rag,, lacquer thinner, a number of sharp razor blades. a heat gun and lots of Patience is the trick...Use the heat gun first to soften the vinyl... then use a blade to peel away.....use the Lacqer thinner on the balance thats left...after finishing with the gun...(do not use a heat gun directly on lacquer thinner ,,just thought Id mention that)..Most of the time a ghost image will still be there after everything is peeled off,,then use a little rubbing compound and then fiberglass cleaner then wax.....add new name before waxing but after cleaning......... I am working on the same process now,,but mine was painted on almost 10 years ago. good luck!
Rob, try oven off.
Rob: Find a nice warm day and spray on oven off oven cleaner. Let it sit for 10 min. or so and then scrub with a brush. It may take a couple of applications. Then you can usually use some IG or other products to clean up any residual. A little rubbing compound & wax and it will look like it was never there.
Rob: Find a nice warm day and spray on oven off oven cleaner. Let it sit for 10 min. or so and then scrub with a brush. It may take a couple of applications. Then you can usually use some IG or other products to clean up any residual. A little rubbing compound & wax and it will look like it was never there.
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Rob
Oven off really?
Wow thanks Steve, would have never thought of that one...... Wont hurt the finish??
Wow thanks Steve, would have never thought of that one...... Wont hurt the finish??
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Peggie Hall/HeadMistress
Easy Off works!
I've removed two painted boat names with it. And no, it doesn't harm gelcoat. In fact, 'twas a commercial boat name painter who put me onto it. Spray only a letter or two at a time...'cuz you don't want to let it dry. Wait about 5 minutes, then scrape with a metal spatula. That'll remove about 90% of the paint. Spray again, wait a couple minutes, scrub with a plastic scrubber. Rinse with water. Keep moving till you get the entire name off. If the name has been on a while, you'll be left with a "ghost" of it in the gelcoat because the rest of the hull has oxydized while the gelcoat under it hasn't. You can either compound it away, or just apply bleach and let the sun fade it in a few weeks.
I've removed two painted boat names with it. And no, it doesn't harm gelcoat. In fact, 'twas a commercial boat name painter who put me onto it. Spray only a letter or two at a time...'cuz you don't want to let it dry. Wait about 5 minutes, then scrape with a metal spatula. That'll remove about 90% of the paint. Spray again, wait a couple minutes, scrub with a plastic scrubber. Rinse with water. Keep moving till you get the entire name off. If the name has been on a while, you'll be left with a "ghost" of it in the gelcoat because the rest of the hull has oxydized while the gelcoat under it hasn't. You can either compound it away, or just apply bleach and let the sun fade it in a few weeks.
No problems!
Rob: This is what the name painter usually recommend to get the name off. We have done it to several boats at the marina. A couple of things. It works better if the weather is warmer. So if you get the stern to the sun to warm it up it will be quicker. You do need to scrub it with a brush to loosen up the paint. Then you can rinse it off and apply another coat if required. Once the paint is removed you will probably have a ridge (raised area) where the paint was applied. This is just like with the vinyl tape that has been removed. You need to deal with this depending on what you area doing. We left our name off for several months before applying the new name. We did not do this on purpose, just a timing issue. Obviously you don't want to use it on a painted hull (some paints may be imune but that is not my call)!
Rob: This is what the name painter usually recommend to get the name off. We have done it to several boats at the marina. A couple of things. It works better if the weather is warmer. So if you get the stern to the sun to warm it up it will be quicker. You do need to scrub it with a brush to loosen up the paint. Then you can rinse it off and apply another coat if required. Once the paint is removed you will probably have a ridge (raised area) where the paint was applied. This is just like with the vinyl tape that has been removed. You need to deal with this depending on what you area doing. We left our name off for several months before applying the new name. We did not do this on purpose, just a timing issue. Obviously you don't want to use it on a painted hull (some paints may be imune but that is not my call)!
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