Off with the Old. On with the New

[rtooh]

Hello All - I plan to change the name of a boat I purchased several months ago. The previous owner reports that he used a Petit topside urethane product to paint the current name on the transom. I'll be adding a new stitched name to the port and starboard cockpit privacy cloths. So, my question: Is there a way to remove old paint from the transom without harming the gelcoat underneath? Will a paint remover chew through the gel coat as well and force more extensive rework to remove the name completely? I've asked Petit the same question but haven't heard back yet. I thought I'd ask for "on the water" experience from this group as well.


Thanks and I look forward to your sage advice!

Rich

[misfits]

Try oven cleaner on a small part.
Works on vehicles.

[rtooh]

Never heard of that approach. I'm off to the grocery store as we speak to give it a try! Thanks!

[psk125]

Don't forget the required name-changing rituals to avoid upsetting Poseidon, Aeolus, their relatives & friends!

[coopec43]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f6gaitH91Xc

Removing paint from fibreglass gelcoat - Yachting and Boating World


www.ybw.com › Forum › Forum › Practical Boat Owner's Reader to Reader
Apr 29, 2003 - Default Removing paint from fibreglass gelcoat. I want to strip off some dark blue paint from our cabin roof - painted with International Interlux ...Painted gelcoat - stripping back to gelcoat ??
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https://www.thehulltruth.com/boating...t-gelcoat.html

[rtooh]

Thank you very much all for the insight/tips. I've got several ideas now. Thanks all!

[fschaefer4]

Not to hijack the thread, but what are the "required name-changing rituals to avoid upsetting Poseidon, Aeolus, their relatives & friends!"???

I know I could google it, but since you brought it up.

@rtooh Let us know what you choose to do and how it works.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by rtooh

Hello All - I plan to change the name of a boat I purchased several months ago. The previous owner reports that he used a Petit topside urethane product to paint the current name on the transom. I'll be adding a new stitched name to the port and starboard cockpit privacy cloths. So, my question: Is there a way to remove old paint from the transom without harming the gelcoat underneath? Will a paint remover chew through the gel coat as well and force more extensive rework to remove the name completely? I've asked Petit the same question but haven't heard back yet. I thought I'd ask for "on the water" experience from this group as well.


Thanks and I look forward to your sage advice!

Rich

You may find the previous name has caused a difference in the hull discoloration for lack of a better term? If you find that to be the case add a name plate if a light compound doesn't solve it.

[psk125]

Originally Posted by fschaefer4

Not to hijack the thread, but what are the "required name-changing rituals to avoid upsetting Poseidon, Aeolus, their relatives & friends!"???

I know I could google it, but since you brought it up.

@rtooh Let us know what you choose to do and how it works.

Poseidon has a special relationship with every boat owner. The name-changing ritual varies according to the owner and the boat. Like for a christening, you might be able to get away using beer for a kayak or dinghy, but that would certainly not do for a keelboat. Different libations might be called for depending upon the local relationship with the Gods. It seems that in California, wine is used, while on the East Coast, rum seems to obtain better results. The pattern of turns (clockwise, counterclockwise, figure 8's), toasts and petitions to the gods also varies and develops as one's relationship and experience with them grows. Having only changed the name of two vessels over the past 50 years, neither time recently, imho the OP should definitely consult the Internet to determine what the best thing to do might be in his case, so as not to offend anyone.

[coastalexplorer]

I attended one of these name changing ceremonies once..what a lot of hocus pokus and considerable waste of high quality wine? My boat's name has never been changed and I have no intention of doing that either. Different strokes for different folks?

[hamburking]

I changed the name of my old boat, and needed to get the old name off. I tried oven cleaner. I tried solvents. I tried just about every chemical I could think of, or the internet suggested.

In the end, I broke a plastic ruler in half, and used the sharp edge at the break to painstakingly scrape off the letters, mm by mm. It took a long, long time, and it worked. But like others have said, the gelcoat had discoloured differently, so even when it was all done, you could still see the old name and port.

[dfelsent]

Hamburking it’s great to see such a fair bottom without decades of accumulated paint !

[hamburking]

Originally Posted by dfelsent

Hamburking it’s great to see such a fair bottom without decades of accumulated paint !

The first winter I owned the boat, I had it trucked to my driveway. Having the boat right there made doing a refit much easier. Thanks for noticing the hull. I spent a lot of time under the boat with a power sander while my kids spent a lot of time on the boat goofing around and dreaming of sailing adventures.

Getting the old name off the boat was a real chore, but well worth it.

[MV Wanderlust]

Upon advice from others, we successfully used Easy-Off oven cleaner to remove the painted-on name of our boat. It leaves the gelcoat intact but slightly yellowed. Wipe the area down with straight white vinegar afterwards and a few hours later the gelcoat will be white again. Worked perfectly for us.

[Baba Buoy]

Don't use paint stripper on gelcoat (methylene chloride). This is from hard learned experience.