Stripe removal

[mulligan]

Just puchased a boat with ugly maroon 4" stripes just below the rub rails and just above waterline. They are painted on but I have no idea what type of paint. The paint is bady oxidized and beginning to flake off. I plan to remove the stripes and the name lettering as well. How do I do this without damaging the gelcoat? There are original blue stripes moulded into the gelcoat and I would like to restore these stripes. My boatyard recommended using oven cleaner but I'm a bit hesitant to attempt this. Any better ideas?Mark

 

[Bregan]

Use an oven cleaner

Go ahead, use an oven cleaner. EZ OFF would be nice. This is a common approach for removing painted on boat names.

 

[Rob]

We used Oven Cleaner

Our old name was painted on ...it was about 6' long on the port and starboard sides of the boat...about 6" tall.I sprayed EZ off ..(dont buy the cheap stuff you want strength) on waited a few mins and started wiping...it was a mess...the paint was red...I was on my dingy...it was dripping all over my inflatable......after numerous attemps it all came off.....My dingy is now pink!...I got most of it off but still some remains......Then I wiped the areas down with acetone...NOT LACQUER THINNER!.....Acetone.......I had a slight yellow haze after I was done...but after 1 season of the boat in the sun its gone......However the old name still has a slight ghost showing.....That is from the fact that all of the gel coat has been exsposed to the sun for many years...except for the part that was under the name paint.....eventually it will fade........I placed the new name over the old so that is the main attention getter now.Good LuckRob

 

[Wright Ellis]

One more time ...

Go to an auto paint supply store and get a 3M eraser wheel for about $15. Chuck it in your variable speed drill and, at low speed, wipe the stripe off. This is what the detail pros use. Forget chemicals and scrapers.

 

[Wright Ellis]

Ooooops!

I misread your post. Your stripes are painted on. The wheel removes taped stripes. Sorry.

 

[Allen]

More EZ-Off Advice

I used EZ-Off to remove my boat's name & it, too, left a yellow haze on the gel coat. I removed the yellow haze by lightly scrubbing the area with soft scrub with bleach & a white colored flat scrub pad (the white pads are less abrasive than the black or the red ones). The area looked perfect when I was done.Be sure to wear gloves when you use the oven cleaner & make sure it's not windy when you spray it. Getting that stuff on your face, in your eyes or breathing in vapors is no fun at all. I used a painter's mask just to be on the safe side.Good luck!!Allen Schweitzers/v FalstaffC-30 Hull #632