Removing decals, numbers, names, etc.

[Don T]

Hello:
If they are the usual vinyl type, use a heat gun / hair dryer. Warm it up and start pulling gently in one corner and it should come off in one chunk.
If they are painted on you can use which ever solvent is "hotter" than the paint and it should not harm the gel coat. IE: you can use laquer thinner to remove enamel quickly. Acetone is ok too. Then buff the area to remove the UV caused shadows from the gel coat.

[simian]

I also had very good luck using a standard hair dryer...I used a PLASTIC putty knife to get several really old decals off. I then used denatured alcohol thinner to loosen the old adhesive left on the surface. I finished up with some rubbing compound. None of this seemed to hurt the gel coat, and it looks fine now.

Good luck!

[richandlori]

I have the blue hull and when I removed the old reg numbers managed to scratch the blue pretty badly. Part of it was my inexperience and impatience but DONT use a scotts green scrubber pad on blue gelcoat.......you will not like what it does!

[Paul S]

I have the blue hull and when I removed the old reg numbers managed to scratch the blue pretty badly. Part of it was my inexperience and impatience but DONT use a scotts green scrubber pad on blue gelcoat.......you will not like what it does!

Yea..I think even silk would scratch the blue! (Don't get me going!!)

I have removed stickers 10+ years old with a hairdryer with little or no residue. I just heat it til I can lift a corner with my fingernail and pull it off. If a scraper is used..use plastic of course. On a blue M...no idea..lol If you breathe on it the wrong way it scratches!

Paul

[craiglaforce]

I just removed all my 8 year old old numbers and stickers and it was very easy. I had a can of industrial strength "Goof off" and wet down the old stickers with a saturated paper towel, waited about 10 minutes and peeled them right off. Another paper towel with goof off to remove the sticky residue and I was all done.

[Moe]

Once you've used the hair dryer and peeled them off, WD40 is pretty good for removing remaining adhesive.

--
Moe

[Richard O'Brien]

I believe most of these adhesives are latex based, and alcohol would be the solvent of choice for that. Goof-off isa little stronger, but usually works. I don't know what's in it? I would avoid all the stronger solvents: acetone, MEK, toluene. All of them can attack the resin, and leave a blush to be buffed out.

[kmclemore]

...I had a can of industrial strength "Goof off" and wet down the old stickers with a saturated paper towel, waited about 10 minutes and peeled them right off...

That's the method I use for stuff like that. Goof-off works great on all sorts of sticker adhesives and residue. Just keep it away from polystyrene plastics as it will melt that type of plastic. Otherwise, it's pretty safe on nearly everything else.

[Scott]

Steve works cheap, Ill hook you up!!

[Sloop John B]

When I inadvertently pressure washer blasted the MacGregor sticker to bits, the open or white part was real sticky. Mate gives me this little white plastic bottle of 'Opps'. An adhesive remover.

Out I go, and I rub and rub and rub. Gees. Finally got the adhesive off.

Advice is to avoid this stuff and go with suggestions above.