Smoothing the gelcoat after painted name removal

[Kopite]

Hi,
I just removed the painted on name from my '84 Catalina 27. It was on both sides, near the stern. Getting the paint off was easy - I used Easy Off oven cleaner and it is down to gelcoat. However, where the letters used to be the gelcoat is proud of the surrounding area by up to 0.01". I can only assume that the paint was protecting the gelcoat behind it from 30 years of buffing and polishing, and hence the gelcoat behind the letters never wore down.
The only solution I can think of is to carefully block wet sand with 600 grit by hand to even out the surface. A little color ghost is not an issue as I'll place the new Vinyl name over the same area, but if I don't do something the old letter shapes will show through. I'm nervous of the unintended sanding the area around the letters will get, and the potential to wear through the gelcoat.
Are there any better solutions I might try ?
I do have both line and DA air sanders in the garage which would be easier/quicker, but I suspect they would be more likely to remove material from the wrong places.

Thanks,
Andrew

 

[Steve Dion]

or just leave it alone. Use some compound to buff it out and then let mother nature take care of it.

 

[woodster]

if you block sand with 600 g and use water as you go you will be ok as long ans you don't stay in one spot and keep it wet with soapy water ...don't push on the block just let it glide over the area...and ck you paper for build up or knots from time to time

 

[Kopite]

Steve, thanks for the thought, and if it was just the color I'd do as you suggest. However, this is a 3 dimensional issue, kind of like the raised letters on a number plate, which is not going to improve over time.
Woodster, thanks for the confirmation that I'm on the right track..

 

[Roadking Larry]

I had the same issue on my '76 Cal when I took off the old lettering. I used 800 and 1000 wet/dry paper very wet and knocked the "edges" off before I applied the new name. With the light just right it could be seen and I could still feel it just barely but with the new name in place it just isn't noticeable.

 

[Benny17441]

You can use the 600 grit wet sand paper by hand and once you get rid of the high spots finish the area with 1000 grit before applying a protective cover.

 

[Jean Guy]

If this can help with the two pictures below you will see that I remove the name that was on both side of the boat. Wash the hull with on & off and wet sand where the name was with 600 then 1000 and 1500. Follow with gelcoat compound as Main Sail post on this site. The second picture show that the name doesn't show anymore. Lot of work and time
Good luck

 

[Kopite]

Thanks for the advice, have used the 600 wet with a long block and it has got the hull nice and smooth. I can't even feel the letters any more. However, the hull where the letters were is noticeably darker than the surrounding area . ( my hull is off white, cream color ).
Is there any way to bleach the letters to blend, or it is just a case of letting nature fade it together ?
The old name was on the side, and I was going to put the new one only on the transom, but maybe it will have to stay on the side..

 

[woodster]

do what post number 7 did and if that don't get it then just let it fade from uv rays