Name removal

[Moonhowler]

Hey Y’all,

tried the easy off method of lettering removal. It lightened the letters a bit, but not close to removing them. The lettering is original to the boat, an ‘87 41C…. Wondering what other solvents may work without damaging the paint. MEK?

thanks, Moon Howler

 

[jap201]

Mine was the stick on lettering and it came off with a heat gun, and a hard plastic scraper. still had the name shadow, but at least the name was off.

oh yeah, don't forget the new name ritual when you put the new name on it...

 

[Captain Ralph]

Oven cleaner was a good choice.

Long ago a friend suggested NAPA "painters hand cleaner". Multi thinners, gel and a fine pumice.
We let it sit, kept it wet and lightly rubbed it in, keeping it wet as our friend instructed. Painted letters were gone.

I was just looking on line for it the other day. Now, NAPA sells the Big Orange brand on line. I do not know if the original is still available. Maybe an ole NAPA guy can order it for you.
We did not try the later project, just wet sanded the name off.

 

[Captain Ralph]

Oh, jap201 is correct. Don't forget the new name ritual.
I have it some where if you need the instructions.
You need witnesses and a case of champagne.

 

[SeaEric]

Be sure to use the extra heavy duty Easy Off extra strength oven cleaner. The fume free or environmentally friendly versions don't work. Spray it on, let it sit. Spray it on again and let it sit some more. Use a non scratch scruffy scrubber (wear gloves) and then rinse and repeat if necessary. As always - YMMV.

 

[SEVEN]

Is it paint or vinyl?

 

[Moonhowler]

Is it paint or vinyl?

Hey Seven, it’s original to the boat. The oven cleaner lightened it. I hit it with a pot scrubber after waiting 5-10 Minutes. Got some paint off, but not the lettering. Hit it again with the oven cleaner, waited, hit it with the plastic potscraper side of the brush, focusing on pushing back an edge on one letter. Wore off about 1/8th inch on one edge of one letter after about 10 minutes. Tried another letter same result. I don’t think it is vinyl, but I’m focusing on the hail port first and maybe….

heat gun?

Moon Howler

 

[Moonhowler]

And I promise, all appropriate procedures for naming will be observed!

 

[SEVEN]

Yes to the heat Gun. If it’s vinyl that will loosen it up quickly.

 

[Bob Quinn]

I'm guessing it is paint, I think you would know it if it was vinyl. We just remove our vinyl and it basically peeled right off, the entire stern area was gone in under an hour. Didn't even need heat. I think we got lucky. It also was not original so it wasn't on there more than a few years I'm guessing. Sounds like paint as it's being a bugger. Good luck and sorry I don't have anything really to offer for help. Paint thinner maybe? Or would that start to take off the gel coat too? There are also those gel paint strippers but again what would it do to the surrounding areas?
Maybe the gel pain stripper could be applied very carefully just to the lettering without getting on the surrounding gel coat?

 

[Captain Ralph]

Thru the many years of living at Huckins; They just sanded it off, fared, Sanded and prepped the transom and re-painted the whole transom.
Larry would come in and repaint on the new name and hailing port.
Then clear coat over all.

 

[SEVEN]

When I bought my 53’ we tried removing the vinyl lettering with a hair dryer. It worked but took 3 weekends. It was really aged and stuck on. Once it was off we realized the paint had faded everywhere the lettering wasn’t. We tried to have it rubbed out but it still showed the old name. We were forced to repaint the transom.

 

[Captain Ralph]

After our painted letters were removed from the fly bridge cowling and transom, the old name was still there in the not so old sun baked gel-coat. Took a couple of years but now gone. Just on a budget back then (19 years ago), We had no other options.
No idea how long it would take for any paint to fade out.