Boat noob - Best way to remove old boat numbers??

[hotkey]

Just got used fiberglass bass boat. Need to remove old numbers and looking for best way to do that.

 

[TyeeMan]

Re: Boat noob - Best way to remove old boat numbers??

Get a heat gun, carefully heat up the number, start pulling in one corner and if your lucky the whole thing will pull right off. You may have to follow up with some sort of Goo Gone or something like that to get any adhesive residue off.

 

[hotkey]

Re: Boat noob - Best way to remove old boat numbers??

Get a heat gun, carefully heat up the number, start pulling in one corner and if your lucky the whole thing will pull right off. You may have to follow up with some sort of Goo Gone or something like that to get any adhesive residue off.

Will a hair dryer work??

 

[TyeeMan]

Re: Boat noob - Best way to remove old boat numbers??

You can give it try but real heat gun will work better. Usually you can get heat gun pretty cheap at any home improvement store. I'd say about $30.00 on up. It will be a time saver.
Besides, the wife might not take to kindly to having her hair drier in the garage.

 

[hotkey]

Re: Boat noob - Best way to remove old boat numbers??

Besides, the wife might not take to kindly to having her hair drier in the garage.

LOL ya dont wanna anger the finance committee!

 

[flippee]

Re: Boat noob - Best way to remove old boat numbers??

If they have been on there for awhile you may have to compound that area....

 

[hotkey]

Re: Boat noob - Best way to remove old boat numbers??

If they have been on there for awhile you may have to compound that area....

Oh oh! Another new word! What does that mean??

 

[lcmains1]

Re: Boat noob - Best way to remove old boat numbers??

Will a hair dryer work??

If you let the boat sit in the sun for a day that will usually warm them up enough to peel off. You may need a razor blade (be careful with it) to get the corner started. I just did this about 4 weeks ago!!!

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: Boat noob - Best way to remove old boat numbers??

I agree with the above:
1. Let it sit in the sun all day.
2. Use a one sided razor blade to pry up the edge, and pull off the decal--being careful not to scar the boat.
3. Get some of the Goo Gone or other such product that's an adhesive remover. You might also try mineral spirits.
4. As last resort, use a heat gun with the razor blade. Using one on a fiberglass boat can be a problem, as they'll melt gelcoat if left too long.

 

[flippee]

Re: Boat noob - Best way to remove old boat numbers??

that means buff it you will be able to see the old numbers after there gone....it will leave a hump in the gelcoat where the numbers were

 

[hotkey]

Re: Boat noob - Best way to remove old boat numbers??

that means buff it you will be able to see the old numbers after there gone....it will leave a hump in the gelcoat where the numbers were

I get it for sure now. Just finished taking old #s off and sure enuf they left a ghost. Coincidently I had just talked to local boat shop about getting natural color and luster back and guy told me to buff with rubbing compound. Then polish with macguires. But I'm noticing hull still is pretty shiny and blue stripe looks right in color and shiny. So maybe compound the numbers area and only polish the hull?? Compound and polish faded chalking top side?

 

[flippee]

Re: Boat noob - Best way to remove old boat numbers??

Good idea hotkey

 

[jopes]

Re: Boat noob - Best way to remove old boat numbers??

I did not own a heat gun, so I used a hair dryer on mine, then removed the adhesive afterwards.

 

[sw33ttooth]

Re: Boat noob - Best way to remove old boat numbers??

putty knife or razor blade in 80 degree full sun should do the trick my first boat had like 15 registration stickers down each side took me a few hours getting all that crap off i dont understand how people dont know how to stick the new one over the old one or peel it off instead of making wall paper. to get that glue off have fun, the best way is probably a harsh cleaner like a can of brake cleaner will help dry it up and then go over it with a razor blade. if your putting new numbers on that the sticker is about the same size getting all the glue off is not very important if you get most of it off it will work just as good, just make sure its a dry surface before you sticker.

 

[oops!]

Re: Boat noob - Best way to remove old boat numbers??

the only problem with the ghosting is that the area under the old letters has not faded......you can try to sand starting with 400 grit....then working up to 1000 then compounding and polish.
this will work some what......but the ghosts will allways be there unless you re gell the area, but you will never be able to match the faded gell any how

 

[aspeck]

Re: Boat noob - Best way to remove old boat numbers??

Another idea is to call Bob_VT. He is an explosive expert and after he visits your boat you will not have to worry about the numbers ever again!

(Of course, you won't have to worry a boat either! )

 

[NHGuy]

Re: Boat noob - Best way to remove old boat numbers??

I just did that, needed to wet sand the boat to get rid of the ghosts. I used a rubber flexible block and 2000 grit wet sandpaper, then aggressive compound, then polishing compound, then wax. I was doing the whole boat any way because I never had done it in my three years and there had always been a little bit of cloudiness along the waterline that needed removing.
Sounds like a lot but it will make things "right".