Getting silicon off of gelcoat

[ssobol]

I had a GPS mount on the console of my boat. It was held in place with a couple of screws and silicon sealant. I've changed the GPS unit and moved the mount (for space reasons). I am left with a patch of dried silicon stuck to the console (on the gelcoat). I thought it would sort of peel off after the GPS mount was removed, but that doesn't seem to be happening. Rubbing it with my fingers also does not get it off.

What is the best way to get this off?

Thanks.

 

[spoilsofwar]

Re: Getting silicon off of gelcoat

First things first, is it really silicone, or is it a polyurethane such as 3m 4200/5200?

Silicone by nature does not have much adhesion, and is primarily a sealant only where there is compression via mechanical means involved. Polyurethane sealants have much more grip, as anyone who has used 5200 on a fitting, and then attempted to remove it, can atest to. If its polyurethane, the only way to remove it is by mechanical means such as sanding, scraping with a knife or razor blade, etc.

Even fully cured silicone can only be removed by very caustic chemicals or prolonged soaking with stuff such as mineral spirits... But, it should peel off rather easily.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Getting silicon off of gelcoat

acetone. No problem.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Getting silicon off of gelcoat

acetone. No problem.

X2 x3

 

[ssobol]

Re: Getting silicon off of gelcoat

The stuff I used is Attwood Marine Silicon Sealant. I think this is just Silicon RTV. It does not easily come off the gelcoat.

Won't acetone damage the gelcoat finish?

 

[spoilsofwar]

Re: Getting silicon off of gelcoat

Won't acetone damage the gelcoat finish?

Nope, go ahead and use it.

 

[delirious]

Re: Getting silicon off of gelcoat

cleaning off old silicon frm boats when doing warranty work stuff at the boat factory was done with a homemade scraper made frm plexiglass. we would sharpen a piece of plexi making it look like a wood chizzle, then scrub the area clean with a cloth and methal hydrate. the plexi would shave off the sealant like a razor blade but not cut into the gel coat.

 

[Thalasso]

Re: Getting silicon off of gelcoat

cleaning off old silicon frm boats when doing warranty work stuff at the boat factory was done with a homemade scraper made frm plexiglass. we would sharpen a piece of plexi making it look like a wood chizzle, then scrub the area clean with a cloth and methal hydrate. the plexi would shave off the sealant like a razor blade but not cut into the gel coat.

That's the same type of thing used to scrape inspection stickers that were on earlier models of Cadillacs with a plastic lamination on inside of windshield

 

[V153]

Re: Getting silicon off of gelcoat

cleaning off old silicon frm boats when doing warranty work stuff at the boat factory was done with a homemade scraper made frm plexiglass. we would sharpen a piece of plexi making it look like a wood chizzle, then scrub the area clean with a cloth and methal hydrate. the plexi would shave off the sealant like a razor blade but not cut into the gel coat.

Yup! And a plastic chopstick nipped at an angle with diagonal cutters helps get in to those hard to reach areas. Great tool for sticker peeling too imo ...

 

[BlkY2k]

Re: Getting silicon off of gelcoat

You can buy scrappers now with plastic single edge razor blades, they work nice. If it is silicone a little xylene or tolulene on a rag and will slide right off.