Boat letter ghosting

[Arch37]

Hi all!
I'm removing and then replacing some boat lettering and was what kind of polish I could use to get rid of the ghosting, but won't harm the gel coat and still be ok to put vinyl on-top of when I'm done.
Thanks in advance!

 

[unclebun]

We do a lot of boat names (we are at a major resort lake) and we do not do that part of the work. There are plenty of people who do that kind of work. Detailers, fiberglass repair people, paint shops. They have the equipment and compounds on hand and do it all the time. Depending on how deeply the fiberglass around the old letters has been etched by the sun, it can take some pretty heavy cutting to level out. Sometimes even wet sanding. At minimum it will take some rubbing compound-type of buffing compound. When we see a boat that will need it we tell the customer while we are still in the design phase. If we don't see the boat until after that phase, when we are removing the old name, we stop, call the customer, and recommend they have it done before we proceed with putting the new name on.

That said, if it's only a very mild difference in gloss, without etching or discoloration, you don't need to do anything. The new name will visually mask the difference and the sun will even it out in a year or two.

 

[John Miller]

Try a car "cleaner wax" first, it's about the gentlest abrasive and has the least chance of affecting the gloss of the gel coat. If the ghosting is heaver, you'll have to use polishing compound. If that doesn't work the next liquid is rubbing compound, if you still need to go further you will have to wet sand the surface. Start with 1200 wet/dry paper and use water, keep it wet. Dry off and check often. Then you'll need to buff with the rubbing or polishing compounds to get the gel coat gloss back to matching the rest of the transom. We tell the client to have it done by the yard. If they want us to do it, I say it may take 3-4 hrs. to do it right.

 

[monroesigns]

Try a car "cleaner wax" first, it's about the gentlest abrasive and has the least chance of affecting the gloss of the gel coat. If the ghosting is heaver, you'll have to use polishing compound. If that doesn't work the next liquid is rubbing compound, if you still need to go further you will have to wet sand the surface. Start with 1200 wet/dry paper and use water, keep it wet. Dry off and check often. Then you'll need to buff with the rubbing or polishing compounds to get the gel coat gloss back to matching the rest of the transom. We tell the client to have it done by the yard. If they want us to do it, I say it may take 3-4 hrs. to do it right.

And give the client a f-off price if the insist on a price. Not every job, not every customer, is a good fit for your shop.

 

[Geneva Olson]

Fellers sells ghost off oxidation remover.

 

[d fleming]

Don't leave $$ on the table as suggested. Got to your local auto parts store and get Glaze, not watch or rubbing compound. It comes in different levels. Start with lightest grit and work up if you have to. If a 20 year old with a detailing business can do it you can too.

 

[unclebun]

Don't leave $$ on the table as suggested. Got to your local auto parts store and get Glaze, not watch or rubbing compound. It comes in different levels. Start with lightest grit and work up if you have to. If a 20 year old with a detailing business can do it you can too.

I guess that is an option if you have time to waste because you don't have 5 other boat names you have to complete that day and then other jobs to do after that.

 

[Stacey K]

I guess that is an option if you have time to waste because you don't have 5 other boat names you have to complete that day and then other jobs to do after that.

100% Agree.