HIN covered in gel coat, how to recover

[Bikewfish]

I have a Corbin 39 whose HIN is obscured by years of paint and gel coat. I know its location and am looking for tips on removing the gel coat in just that area and not damaging the underlying HIN.

Are there any recommended solvents or techniques for recovering an obscured HIN?

Thanks

[UNCIVILIZED]

You'd probably be better served by adding (re-doing) a new HIN plate. As if you use a stripper that's strong enough it may also eat the resin in the laminate. The rules for eHIN numbers are fairly well covered in some older threads here, available via the search function. And they also have links to the officaldom type websites of governmental bodies that make the rules for HIN numbers.

[Badsanta]

The numbers are molded into the gell coat. Some paint removers will soften gell coating and it would be real easy to destroy the numbers as you try to remove the paint. Maybe try a spot not on the numbers first to see how the chemical and your skill and patience work before you tackle the numbers.

[four winds]

The numbers are likely recessed in the gelcoat.

Maybe hand sand carefully until they begin to appear. And proceed with caution.

[senormechanico]

Imho, four winds has a good idea.
I'd go a little further once the numbers are found.
Use a dental pick.

[four winds]

And maybe use a block to keep the sandpaper flat, sanding flat.

[Bikewfish]

I believe four winds is right.

Thanks for all the advice.

[gjordan]

I will shortly be going through a similar project, except that my boat came with no HIN so the state of California issued me one. I intend (havent tried it yet) to use a vibrating pencil to etch the gel coat deep enough and then seal it with thin epoxy. I am going to try it on an old piece of fiberglass first, but I think it will work. _____Grant.

[Brewgyver]

To "install" the HIN, you could mold it in. Purchase the numerals/letters needed, coat them with suitable release agent. Make a suitably sized picture frame (with 1x2 wood or scrap aluminum, frame also coated with release agent) with a crossbar on top to hold the characters in place against the hull. Paint in a few layers of thickened epoxy. Remove frame and characters, leaving the molded-in HIN. Gelcoat to finish. Could even color the new HIN, if so desired.

[ramblinrod]

Originally Posted by Bikewfish

I have a Corbin 39 whose HIN is obscured by years of paint and gel coat. I know its location and am looking for tips on removing the gel coat in just that area and not damaging the underlying HIN.

Are there any recommended solvents or techniques for recovering an obscured HIN?

Thanks

If the overcoat is just paint, a paint stripper or oven cleaner may remove the and leave the underlying gelcoat intact.

There is no solvent that will dissolve a gelcoat overcoat that will not also dissolve the gelcoat and polyester resin under it.

If the HIN is molded into the gelcoat and the overcoat (paint or
gelcoat) is a different colour, then the overcoat can be sanded
to reveal the HIN.

If the overcoat is the same colour of gelcoat, there is no solution I know of.