Removing Old Pinstriping

Submitted by lucky_jack on Fri, 09/25/2009 - 16:21
Hi all, Thanks for all the posts- they have been so helpful. I just purchased FS 4347. The boat is in decent shape, but a lot of staining of the gelcoat from a colony of mice living in the boat while it lay dormant for a couple of years. FSR is working slowly but surely. I wanted to ask if anyone has removed old pinstriping from the boat. Mine is beaten up pretty bad. It seems like a razor blade would work, but I am afraid of messing up the sides. Any advice would be appreciated... Lucky Jack
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Comments

West Marine sells flexible plastic scrapers, that are like plast

Submitted by sawyerspadre on Fri, 09/25/2009 - 21:07.
West Marine sells flexible plastic scrapers, that are like plastic razor blades. They fit in a holder to get a grip. I warmed the stripe with a hair dryer and then it came right off with one of these scrapers. They are soft and flexible enough not to scratch the gelcoat. A little solvent takes off the residual glue. Have fun, Phil Scheetz FS 4086

Phil Scheetz

FS 4086

Fleet 163, Nockamixon Sail Club

Thanks Phil.

Submitted by lucky_jack on Sun, 09/27/2009 - 14:25.
Thanks Phil. That sounds perfect! Take care, Rob Volpe FS 4347 Lucky Jack

if you do have a razor blade, that's what i used and it worked j

Submitted by KasbeKZ on Mon, 09/28/2009 - 21:26.
if you do have a razor blade, that's what i used and it worked just fine. no worries about digging in at all. acetone or naptha to clean up the solvent worked too.

Thanks for the advice.

Submitted by lucky_jack on Tue, 09/29/2009 - 19:50.
Thanks for the advice. I did end up buying a plastic razor blade set from West Marine. They come in different colors based on how hard they are. All they had was orange (all purpose). With a little shot of the hairdryer, it worked like a charm. I used a citrus-based product called "Goop off" to take off the residue of glue because I was concerned about using acetone- I know, it would have been fine, I was being overcautious. In any event I found that if you apply a light coat over the glue, it comes off pretty easily with the plastic scraper. Now I need to deal with the stain left by the tape. I have a product called FSR (a blue gel). It has been working pretty well on the other stains on the boat, so I will give it a try. Rob Volpe FS 4347

The "stain" may actually be your original gelcoat color.

Submitted by sawyerspadre on Tue, 09/29/2009 - 22:07.
The "stain" may actually be your original gelcoat color. Mine was faded around the stripe, but the original ivory color was vivid where the stripe was. Phil Scheetz FS 4086

Phil Scheetz

FS 4086

Fleet 163, Nockamixon Sail Club

Yes, that is most likely the situation.

Submitted by lucky_jack on Wed, 09/30/2009 - 07:51.
Yes, that is most likely the situation. I should probably redo the stripe. As I recall from my 1969 Mustang back in the 80s that is a job best left for professionals- I remember a pretty wavy line... Rob Volpe FS 4347

quote:[i]Originally posted by lucky_jack[/i] [br].

Submitted by fssaeditor on Wed, 09/30/2009 - 16:44.
quote:
[i]Originally posted by lucky_jack[/i] [br]...I remember a pretty wavy line... Rob Volpe
Yes, be very careful about getting a straight line. Any suggestions from others out there on keeping the new pin stripe line straight?? Hank Sykes FSSA Forum editor

I solved it by leaving the stripe off.

Submitted by sawyerspadre on Wed, 09/30/2009 - 18:55.
I solved it by leaving the stripe off. The ivory is the new pinstripe. I plan to buff out the gelcoat and see if I can get the faded gelcoat closer to the original. Phil Scheetz FS 4086

Phil Scheetz

FS 4086

Fleet 163, Nockamixon Sail Club

Yes, the ivory does look like a new pinstripe! Has anyone done t

Submitted by lucky_jack on Wed, 09/30/2009 - 19:33.
Yes, the ivory does look like a new pinstripe! Has anyone done their own pinstriping with the decals from FS? Rob Volpe FS 4347

Auto parts stores sell a 3M adhesive remover that will not harm

Submitted by TomT on Mon, 10/05/2009 - 23:52.
Auto parts stores sell a 3M adhesive remover that will not harm the gel coat. A plastic scrapper and a rag will help remove the pinstripe once the adhesive remover has been applied. I used this process to remove and replace my boat registration numbers and non-slip strips on the deck. No residue. TomT FS4610

TomT

FS4610