Removing old lettering.

[Kapt. Kipper.]

We've had the boat just over 12 months. The people we bought it off had there names painted on the sides. They are unfortunately not our names. So question is how do I remove these names. I know it will leave a mark of some description and I am willing to replace will some sort of decal. Any ideas how to remove with minimal collateral damage.

[dave moore]

You'll be lucky to find something to cover the existing lettering in vinyl. If you are going down that route I doubt if the stuff there already would show through it. The alternative is to flat the panel completely, removing every trace of what's there now and then repaint it. Any lettering left will show through otherwise, as a specialist boat sign writer it's a conversation I've had many times. And no, I'm not bidding for your job! There's no quick fix to my mind. If you could add a picture of what's there, I could advise further.

 

Dave

You'll be lucky to find something to cover the existing lettering in vinyl. If you are going down that route I doubt if the stuff there already would show through it. The alternative is to flat the panel completely, removing every trace of what's there now and then repaint it. Any lettering left will show through otherwise, as a specialist boat sign writer it's a conversation I've had many times. And no, I'm not bidding for your job! There's no quick fix to my mind. If you could add a picture of what's there, I could advise further.

 

Dave

[Guest]

We've had the boat just over 12 months. The people we bought it off had there names painted on the sides. They are unfortunately not our names. So question is how do I remove these names. I know it will leave a mark of some description and I am willing to replace will some sort of decal. Any ideas how to remove with minimal collateral damage.

 

What Dave said (and he should know!)

 

I have seen numerous boats where the panel with lettering wasn't flatted properly and in certain conditions it was possible to see the old name, at least in part under the new paint.

[Phil Ambrose]

With care and the use of a detail sander you may well be able to remove the name, flatting the area affected. It will be likely that the name will still show so yes a decal would cover it up.

Many people hate vinyl decals but they are easy to apply and stay looking good long after paint has faded.

Our boat name is a scroll type curved banner in two colours and still looks like new 6 years on.

Search for vinyl boat names and you should find plenty.

Phil

[Alan de Enfield]

If the current 'names' are in vinyl, even taking the panel back to bare metal, priming, undercoating and glossing, can sometimes, in certain light, still result in the old name being seen.

 

It seems as if the adhesive in the vinyl has an etching effect into the metal.

[Machpoint005]

We had this problem (wrong name that is) which I solved temporarily by sanding and repainting the affected panels, but a fully satisfactory solution wasn't possible until we had a complete professional repaint three years ago. Down to bare metal, then lots of coats, then professional signwriting, and there is absolutely no trace of the old lettering.

 

As in many things in life, you get what you pay for.

[johnmoly]

If its vinyl lettering, just get a hairdryer and apply over the letters, that always brings them off, then using white spirit remove any traces of adhesive.

[Kapt. Kipper.]

Thanks for all above. Seems that all only confirm my scenario. My new thoughts are sand down the lettering then prepare and paint a smaller oblong panel in a contrasting colour (ie. Cream ) so that no matching up needed and put decal over.

One thing I ain't going to do is put our names on and pass the problem on.

[Machpoint005]

Thanks for all above. Seems that all only confirm my scenario. My new thoughts are sand down the lettering then prepare and paint a smaller oblong panel in a contrasting colour (ie. Cream ) so that no matching up needed and put decal over.

One thing I ain't going to do is put our names on and pass the problem on.

 

Amen to that. The only lettering on our boat is its name, and the CRT number (OK that's not lettering, it's numbering...)

[Opener]

I've got 'before' and 'after' pictures somewhere if you are interested. Previous owner had the boat name - looked like a professional job with shadowed lettering - in four locations viz side panels and at the bow. Looked like a personal name and I got a bit sick of towpath users shouting "Hello X, are you OK X?"

Set to with a detail sander with decreasingly violent grits taking it back until I could not see the original name from any angle with the surface wetted. Then primer plus top coat (with a bit of red lead where the metal was showing in spots). I think it has worked well and, after a couple of years now, there in no sign of the old name. We ended up with the new name on a vinyl panel but that was just for ease of application and cost rather than having to hide anything.

So, well worth trying sanding it out yourself - results will probably depend on how the original names were applied.

[Odana]

Change your names by deed poll. Problem solved!