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View Full Version : Removing painted on hull numbers...what worked for me, with pics.



Mandelon
05-23-2004, 03:33 PM
I bought a Lavey 21 from RiverHolic a few months ago. He had it registered in AZ, but I live in San Diego and I do most of my boating in California. So I registered the boat here in CA. Unfortunately the CA numbers the state issued to me were not the same as the AZ numbers I already had. :confused: Imagine that. How inconvenient. :mad:
So we have to remove the old numbers and make way for the new. I searched here for advice and heard that Easy-Off might work. A quick check of the kitchen revealed that we did not have any. :( Wow, we have a self cleaning oven. :idea: Too bad I can't get a truck like that........
Anyway I went to the trusty local Home Depot to look for some paint removers......I found many brands to choose from. Unfortunately all of them said "not for use on fiberglass." :( Not to be so easily defeated I kept searching until I found a "Graffiti Remover" that was supposedly safe to use on anything! :)
I picked up a spray bottle of that and a plastic 1.5" putty knife to aid in the persuasion process of number removal.
Here is a pic of my supplies: The remover, rags, scrubby sponge, some tape and the putty knife. I thought it would be nice to have a helper, so I picked up the Saint Pauli Girl. She is easy to get along with and has big hooters.
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/42March_17__2004_025-med.jpg
Here is the start of the project. I taped off the surrounding area, to minimize the mess and any damage (just in case). Notice that the bottom row of the tape has the edge turned out to act like a drip edge and keep the stuff from running down the hull. It worked well, but did get a little wet from the liquid remover.
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/42March_17__2004_027-med.jpg
I sprayed the numbers liberally with the graffiti remover and let it sit for a minute. The Saint Pauli Girl and I had a brief encounter....
After the first pass with the scrubby sponge, it had roughed up the paint just a bit. I think it took some just to get through the wax coating. Once the first pass is done, it seems to soak into the paint a little faster. I wiped up the excess as it dripped off the tape.
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/42March_17__2004_028-med.jpg

Mandelon
05-23-2004, 03:45 PM
After the first pass with the scrubby sponge, respray the letters and let it sit for a minute or two. Then hit it again. This pic is after the second pass with the scrubby sponge. This was a simple dishwashing sponge with the white nylon pad on it. Not a green scotchbrite pad.
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/42March_17__2004_029-med.jpg
After that pass I then used the plastic putty knife to work the stubborn areas. It was interesting that some areas were much harder to remove than others. Probably the prep work makes the difference here.
This is after scraping and a quick wipe with a rag. Most of the paint is gone now, and it will only need a final cleaning.
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/42March_17__2004_030-med.jpg
The last pass and it is all gone. Work time probably took about 20 minutes including my private time with the Saint Pauli Girl. It shined up nicely. I think a touch up with a polish wax would be the next step. But of course I will need to paint on the new numbers too....Here is the final product.
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/42Lavey_afterpic-med.jpg
Not too difficult and the results were great. No fiberglass damage, and the painted on numbering is gone.
Here is the stuff I used. I think it was about $5.00 and the putty knife was 65 cents..
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/42March_17__2004_032-med.jpg

OutCole'd
05-23-2004, 04:24 PM
Thanks for the tip. If anyone ever tags my wall with CF numbers, I know what to do.:D
Boat looks good.

phebus
05-23-2004, 07:17 PM
Thanks Mandy. I am getting ready to do the same thing in reverse. The boat I bought has CF numbers, and I am registering it in AZ since we have a house there and do most of our boating out of there. Also that way I won't have to pay the luxury tax in CA. I was planning on using Easy Off oven cleaner as well, but after seeing your results, I think a trip to Home Desperate is in order.
Thanks,
Rick

Havasu Hangin'
05-23-2004, 07:25 PM
Originally posted by phebus
Also that way I won't have to pay the luxury tax in CA.
Smart man.
Wait...did you buy Rocky's boat?

powerplay230
05-23-2004, 07:30 PM
As long as "Lettering" paint was used, then Easy Off oven cleaner is the quickest easiest way to do it, won't hurt Fiberglass and I have even used it on lettering on side of truck a few yrs back. Any method you choose just try not to use anythign abrasive- even those green scotchbrite pads can scratch up your gel coat. Worst thing about Easy Off is the fumes have not tried the lemon scented or Fume Free yet...

phebus
05-23-2004, 08:19 PM
Originally posted by Havasu Hangin'
Smart man.
Wait...did you buy Rocky's boat?
No, didn't buy Rocky's. Loved it, but bought one not as tricked out because of a limited budget. Also, he had a buyer at the time we pulled the trigger on the one we bought. Here is the one we bought:
http://www.hotboatpics.com/pics/data/500/1753Carrera_5-22-04_005__2__cropped-med.jpg

Havasu Hangin'
05-23-2004, 09:07 PM
Originally posted by phebus
No, didn't buy Rocky's.
Alright...then you are a smart man.

Mandelon
05-24-2004, 05:53 AM
The Graffiti Remover doesn't smell bad at all. No fumes. I did not have Easy Off so I can't compare the two. This did take a little elbow grease, but not much.

CustomCruiser
05-24-2004, 07:35 AM
Nice job, but I don't think you gave enough credit to your helper :D

Desert Rat
05-25-2004, 01:35 PM
Where are the pics????:confused:

franky
08-13-2004, 10:27 AM
Easy Off and a credit card works great. One coat and a swipe with the credit card. Second coat and a rag. Done. You have to mask it off and use plastic (trash bag works fine) to keep it where you want it. Follow up with a wet rag. The lettering guy told me about it and I have done it a couple of times.

Mandelon
08-15-2004, 09:15 AM
I was worried about damaging the gel and decided to play it safe. I read here that the Easy Off could damage the fiberglass if left on too long......maybe that's wrong, but I didn't want to find out on my boat....:)

Mandelon
08-31-2004, 05:39 AM
Well there you have it folks. An effective alternative method.
Easy-Off oven cleaner and a plastic scraper like a credit card. Keep a few shop towels ready to wipe off the melting paint and to clean up any extra dribbles, be careful not to get the overspray around or on your seats, and wear eye and hand protection. I'd say to wax around the area to make sure its well protected before and after.....and maybe do it outside so you get plenty of fresh air.

BarryMac
08-31-2004, 06:05 AM
Did you end up getting the new CF numbers airbrushed on? I am yet to pull the trigger, that may end up being a good winter project...
gjb

Mandelon
09-02-2004, 09:41 AM
No not yet, too busy to drop it off......

Kilrtoy
09-06-2004, 03:11 PM
My boat needs to be detailed, Ill stop by in two weeks, Can you get it done in one day , PLEASE

Mandelon
09-11-2004, 06:42 AM
Sure, but can you take all the dildos out of it first....?

Mighty Thor
09-30-2004, 02:41 PM
Ok, I tried the Graffiti remover stuff and it took off the lettering allright, it also took the clearcoat off as well. No big deal, since I plan on repainting the clear anyhow. I suspect that any remover would have had the same effect since you can't remove paint without removing the paint too. Did that sound as dumb as I think?

Mandelon
09-30-2004, 06:58 PM
Your boat was painted and not gel? Oops. But I guess paint remover would pretty much remove the paint....whether it was clear or numbers....Good Warning.

Mighty Thor
09-30-2004, 10:42 PM
you do realize that it takes twice as long to read your posts as the others! I can only use one eye to read the words, for some strange reason the other one keeps wandering off to one side. Gives me a hell of a headache after about a half hour.

Riverkid
07-14-2005, 08:28 PM
Just watch out for the EZ-Off drippage - it WILL stain any of your anodized fittings if it gets to them (rubrails, cleats etc.)...

magic29
12-30-2005, 10:04 PM
Once you removed the numbers and cleaned the area could you see any sign of the old numbers?
Iam looking at a boat the has large letters on the side of the boat and I need a way to remove the airburshed paint.
Iam not going to repaint in its place.

Mandelon
01-01-2006, 12:08 PM
There wasn't any outline of the old numbers visible on my hull, but it was less than a year old when I got it, and did the work. If the hull has faded, it would be possible to see the old outline.
I took off some vinyl trim tape off my first boat years ago, and you could see where it used to be..... Maybe test a small area first???

magic29
01-01-2006, 03:39 PM
Thanks
The boat is a 03 with 50 hrs under a dock or covered during summer and inside during the winter.
I will see if the owner will try a spot.

ccfdland
05-22-2007, 07:03 PM
I used the EZ off method yesterday to remove registration numbers and it worked perfect. A couple of sprays and a Rebel Rewards card to scrape. Thanks for the instructions HBers.

SCR INC
05-23-2007, 10:59 PM
I used the EZ off method yesterday to remove registration numbers and it worked perfect. A couple of sprays and a Rebel Rewards card to scrape. Thanks for the instructions HBers.
EZ off did the trick on my old boat... i took off a rather large name on the side of the baot.... No big deal... I just covered the trailer..

bikerboater
05-25-2007, 09:42 AM
Just as a side note, oven cleaner works good on cleaning up grease , sludge and burn carbon from engine parts too if you don't want to pay for hot tanking. Spray it on real good & let it set a bit then hit it with the garden hose. I had some numbers painted on my boat when I first got it & they looked hideous. I wiped them back off with plain old lacquer thinner. Didn't hurt the gell but then they weren't on there that long. Usually well cured urethane clearcoat is pretty impervious to lacquer thiner. It may dull slightly but can be buffed back after it resets. Blaster makes a decal & sticker remover that works well also. And finally, auto paint stores usually carry paint remover for fiberglass. Used mostly on Corvettes.