How to remove painted boat graphics (stern name)

[JonHupp]

I'm finally getting around to properly renaming my 53' Hatteras. There is a great local firm in Annapolis that does the graphics, but when they came out yesterday to remove the old stern graphics, they discovered that the PO had the name painted on the stern (as was commonly done, years ago).
Any advice as to how to remove this painted-on name without destroying underlying paint job. I've hear that people use oven cleaner (and elbow grease) but I'd love to hear some pointers if you have them. Thanks. Jon

 

[SeaEric]

I used Easy Off Heavy Duty oven cleaner. http://www.easyoff.us/products/easy-off-heavy-duty-oven-cleaner/ Wet the surface, spray on the oven cleaner, let it sit a while and rinse off. Repeat if necessary, use a small scrub brush if necessary for the stubborned spots. It worked for me on my boat that is painted with Awlcraft 2000. YMMV.

 

[Fish Tales]

Ditto on the easy off. I bought a 25 Mako years ago and the owner had painted the work MANTA, down both sides in huge red letters. I was thinking I would have to repaint the boat. I was told about the easy off, thought that was the most stupid thing I ever heard, tried it and it worked like a charm..

Hope it works for you as well.

Have a great weekend,
Tim

 

[SEVEN]

I agree with the easy off oven cleaner. However please note that you may have to repaint the transom because the paint around the name has faded dramatically compared to what's under the name.

 

[Pascal]

Easy off oven cleaner indeed. Some paints are harder to remove than others but it works

You may need to polish the area after to get rid of the shadow

 

[Cricket]

Don't let the Easy Off dry. Might be best to think about doing it lightly multiple times to make sure you don't do any damage.
Had a buddy who thought he would be able to use Easy Off for removal; unfortunately name had been painted with Imron or Awlgrip, had to repaint the transom..

 

[Scarlett]

Also be careful if your stern was painted with something like Briteside instead of a 2 part LPU that paint will come off also, ask me how I know. John

 

[jim rosenthal]

Also, some boats had the name painted on, and then clear-coated. I don't think Easy Off will work on that.

 

[Avenger]

Wet sanding will take off names done with high dollar paint, clear etc. But you need to make sure the base coat can be polished. Some systems don't work well with that.

 

[fissioneng]

Also, some boats had the name painted on, and then clear-coated. I don't think Easy Off will work on that.

Wet sanding will take off names done with high dollar paint, clear etc. But you need to make sure the base coat can be polished. Some systems don't work well with that.

This was my case. LOTS of wet sanding, started with 320 to get the clear/paint off. Then 1000, 2000, Finesse It. Shined up nicely. Original Imron.

 

[JonHupp]

OK. No better way to spend Father's day than with oven cleaner on the swim platform of my 53MY.

It actually worked well (wet, apply, set, scrub, set, rinse, repeat). All of the painted letters are off and all of the boat paint is still there!

The problem is, that I can still see the letters. In my case, it isn't a color change. It is just that the clear coat (or wax) or whatever is shiny is where I removed the letters and not on the rest of the stern. I've attached some pictures, but they may be hard to interpret.


(You may be able to see a big 'Y' or the word 'Baltimore' on the bottom)

Anyway, what do I do next. The graphics company, sight unseen, said I need my stern 'recompounded' (whatever that means).

Do I just need to get my detail guy to detail the stern and get it all to the same 'gloss'? (may be the same thing).

I know a fair amount about boats, but I'm a real novice in fiberglass care and restoration. Thanks.

 

[SEVEN]

Yep, that's what I warned you about. I had to have the transom repainted. The yard tried to buff it out but it was to far gone. Who knows you might get lucky. Good luck

 

[RonNP]

I had the same problem. Solved it by painting the stern

 

[SeaEric]

I had the same issue. I did a good cleaner and wax on the transom. New name went on and the old name "shadow" was then no longer visible or obvious.

 

[Boatsb]

The paint was protected under the letters. You have to tear it down to belike the rest or repaint the transom

It's not unusual to have that out come

 

[JonHupp]

My 'detail' guy thinks he can do it but he's wondering what compound he should start with on this old boat? Any Fiberglass experts out there to run through the compounds that we should use in order? Thanks.

 

[jim rosenthal]

I'd start with the mildest one and work up from there.

 

[Walter P]

In some cases it can be wet sanded with super fine grit paper, then compounded with clay. Tricky but an experienced detailer should be able to do it. The problem as mentioned in an earlier post is that the paint was protected under the letters so you would need to "level" the protected paint to the same as the exposed paint.

Walt