Replacement Striping.

[Dave Pawloski]

Hi,

I am a Hunter 31 owner (new to the forum). My next project will be replacing the hull striping on my boat.
Is there a process for removing the old (somewhat cracked) striping or can the new be applied over the old without the imperfections of the old showing through the new??

 

[Steve Dion]

If the vinyl is very thin and cracked there is a device that goes on an electric drill called an eraser.

If the vinyl is not quite so thin you may want to try an electric wall paper steamer. These cheapo units work fine for this purpose.

Personally I have tried both and the paper steamer was the easier of the two.

 

[Ralph Johnstone]

Try a Hair Dryer First ...................

.................... and if that doesn't work, progress into the more exotic tools.

 

[Dave602]

Just did ours last year. Cheap heat gun from harbor freight and a plastic scraper. keep the heat gun moving and on a low setting. it will soften the glue and allow you to scrap the stripe off. cleaned with acetone to get the residue off. She looks almost new wiith the new stripes and buffed hull.

 

[Dalliance]

Did this a few years ago. P.O. had vinyl stripes on the boat in five colors, three layers deep in some places. Same as Dave602, heat gun on low setting and a plastic scraper, but a guy in the yacht yard turned me on to using MEK (Methyl Ethyl Keytone) instead of acetone. It doesn't evaporate as quickly as acetone, so it gives you a little more time to work.

 

[jtm]

I did my lower toerail stripe last season. my stripes were 25+ yrs old- and on the sunny side of the cabintop, parts looked like chinese at a distance. I thought a heat gun ( have the Harbor Freight gun) was prolly too hot and might scorch the fiberglass (or fingers) or overblow into the upper stripe which I wanted to keep. So I used a hairdryer we had around the house..

Getting a lift started is the hardest part. I used the hair dryer and a trapezoidal razor/holder to inch up the first couple inches- then once I could get a good grab of the separated strip I simply moved down the stripe with the hairdryer pretty close to the work area, constantly lifting the stripe with the other hand. You could get much of it off in 3-4 lifts. It ( the stripe) might stretch a little bit as the vinyl softens but within about 3 feet of effort you'll get the feel of it and the lifting off of the stripe will move alot quicker than you might have thought. Yes, you may break/tear/snap off in a spot or two- but get it started again quick as re- heated you are move likely to have a snap/tear of the vinyl. Try move at a consistent speed and pull strength.

You can try use a red devil plastic scraper but i found it didn't work well for me- just don't gouge your fiberglass with a steel razor- keep it a very flat angle. Let the hairdryer do the job of softening up the tape. You can go back and clean up the spots or clean up with acetone. then wash off with soap/water well to neutralize residuals.

to apply the new tape/stripe- might be easier if you set up a catwalk across 2 saw horses and have a ladder for a helper. Mark the hull with a pencil for the lower edge of the tape every 6-8 inches. The area where the hull is almost vertical is the most visible if you wobble the tape line- so mark that area every 3-4 inches- (ask me how i learned.)

the helper on the ladder can hold the taperoll level and off the hull while you reposition the catwalk/horses before you lay on the next 3-4 foot section.

 

[Jared1048]

How much does a new strip cost?

 

[Dave Pawloski]

How much does a new strip cost?

Jared,
Am doing a number of upgrades/renovations.
Have not yet had the opportunity to price the materials.
( Wanted to first understand if the removal process was something that a reasonably intelligent & capable person could undertake.)

If you go on the HunterOwners.com site, you will find striping offered in a number of sizes and colors. Calculate what you will need & email a request for a quote.
Good luck.

 

[Mark Nooney]

We did our stripes this spring. I used the eraser and found that I had no issues getting the stripe off. I used a old drill and would work an hour or two a day. I don't think any process is easy - just your preference. I wasn't interested in the chemical solution and
when I was working the temp was still pretty low. In 40's F at night. I used about 5 disc's for the whole project. I recommend a scaffold as it was much easier than a ladder. I picked up the erasers at a auto supply, but not one of the chains.
They're used by auto body shops for the same purpose. After I learned the technique
I took the stripe and the adhesive off. I finalized with a quick acetone wipe.
We opted to paint stripes and use 1/4" black tape where the lines met. Read up on
the taping technique. You not working with a straight line. We followed the old tape lines to block out the tape for painting. I'll get some pix of the new lines. We're very happy with them and they give the boat a fresh look.
Good Luck