How to get old registration numbers off the boat - not vinyl

[rmorit01]

Hello,

Curious what tips or tricks for removing registration numbers?  The numbers affixed to my boat are more like something you stick on a mailbox so are not just the plain vinyl -   They are the reflective kind.  Curious if something like "Goo Gone" would help loosen them without hurting the gelcoat.

All suggestions welcome -

[Hyperacme]

Try the wife's hair drier ... DON'T LET HER CATCH YOU !
Gas work OK for glue ... All though not socially acceptable ...

[Jerry]

Yep hair dryer, and clean up with goo-gone.

[Jason]

And use one of these:

[Jerry]

NO!
That can scratch the Gel-Coat. Just heat they peal off or a plastic scraper.

[dorelse]

That can scratch the Gel-Coat. Just heat they peal off or a plastic scraper.

Hopefully Jason's just messing with us with his new sleep deprived life...don't worry, you get used to being a functional diaper changing zombie for a years.

Heat & Goo Be Gone worked for me!

[fireman24mn]

I use a razor blade all the time when removing decals and stripes. You have to be careful or you can damage it. However its gel and its thick. Under the decals is probably going to be faded and you are going to need to buff the area to get it to look good again anyway.

[dorelse]

I use a razor blade all the time when removing decals and stripes. You have to be careful or you can damage it. However its gel and its thick. Under the decals is probably going to be faded and you are going to need to buff the area to get it to look good again anyway.

On mine, under the decals looks great b/c there is no fading (protected from UV)...the rest of the boat looked faded once I removed them...

[fireman24mn]

Thats what I meant. It probably will NOT be faded under the decals

[Jason]

I use a razor blade all the time when removing decals and stripes. You have to be careful or you can damage it. However its gel and its thick. Under the decals is probably going to be faded and you are going to need to buff the area to get it to look good again anyway.

I was not kidding about using the razor. I've done it to multiple boats. As long as your careful it works great and like Shawn said the minor scratches buff out.

[Fuzzbutt]

I'd use a plastic version of that scraper at least as leverage to pull it all off easily. Heat will help a great deal. Use acetone in a good rag to get rid of the glue and apply wax when you are done.

I moved my registration numbers from above the rub rail to below and the nearly 30 year old vinyl came off no problem using this technique. I even restuck my registration decal from the state and didn't need to get another $42 pair of them.

[Jerry]

Acetone will melt Gel-Coat.
Why does everybody want to scratch or melt?
Heat, a plastic scraper, and Goo-Gone = no damage!
You need to be careful heat will melt Gel too, but when you get the sticker warm you should be able to just pull it off.

[Fuzzbutt]

Not cured gelcoat and not in the short duration it is on the hull removing the sticker. Goo-gone is fine too

I used acetone on my CVX16 without issues. It even removed polyester resin that I spilled on the gunnel when I was re-doing the floor. Floating your boat in it isn't recommended.

[higgins]

There is a rubber wheel that you can purchase at an automotive paint store that attaches to your drill.  This rubber is the same material of a pencil eraser.  It works great.