Hull stripe

kevgle

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2018
Messages
54
Reaction score
16
Points
8
Stripe is peeling after 20 years time to replace.any tips on getting remainder off. Thanks
 

Hookup1

GreatGrady Captain
Joined
Oct 16, 2007
Messages
3,043
Reaction score
864
Points
113
Age
70
Location
Cape May, NJ
Model
Islander
I took stripes off my GW and I'm working on another boat now. I have tried the eraser wheel, razor blades and heat gun. The eraser didn't work that well for me. Razor blades work but you will occasionally dig into the gelcoat. Razor blades with heat gun worked the best but you will occasional dig into gelcoat.

I still have a little more to remove but the weather has turned on me. I think plastic scraper with heat gun may be best answer. Maybe even a metal spackle blade that isn't too sharp. For glue removal I use 3M adhesive remover with painters rags. Toss rags out every few feet to avoid re-applying the glue.
 
  • Like
Reactions: igblack87

kevgle

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2018
Messages
54
Reaction score
16
Points
8
Thanks guys.I went to buy the eraser wheel.First thing it says on package is not to use on fiberglass .Will be using heat gun and alot of Heineken
 

Rph1225

Member
Joined
Aug 27, 2022
Messages
21
Reaction score
27
Points
13
Age
47
Location
Maryland
Model
Escape
I just did it about a year ago and used just razor blades. I rounded over the corners of the blades with a file and they never dug into the gelcoat. After I used Acetone with a scotchbrite pad to clean the surface.
 
  • Like
Reactions: PointedRose

igblack87

Well-Known Member
Joined
Oct 21, 2012
Messages
295
Reaction score
46
Points
28
Model
Fisherman 222
Thanks guys.I went to buy the eraser wheel.First thing it says on package is not to use on fiberglass .Will be using heat gun and alot of Heineken
The more you drink, the less you see! :)
 

DennisG01

GreatGrady Captain
Joined
Sep 1, 2013
Messages
7,228
Reaction score
1,354
Points
113
Location
Allentown, PA & Friendship, ME
Model
Offshore
Thanks guys.I went to buy the eraser wheel.First thing it says on package is not to use on fiberglass .Will be using heat gun and alot of Heineken
Nothing wrong with an eraser wheel on gelcoat. It's been used for this purpose for decades.

Plastic razor blades... eraser... heat gun... they can all be used very successfully. A lot of this depends on the condition of the existing stripe. If it's still got some stretch to it, then the blade/heat will work better. If it's dried/crack/breaking then the eraser is better.
 

Ky Grady

GreatGrady Captain
Staff member
Joined
Mar 1, 2006
Messages
3,031
Reaction score
1,353
Points
113
Location
Berea, KY/Cross, SC
Model
Seafarer
Keep eraser wheel moving, don't stay in one spot too long, it will heat up the stripes and the gelcoat and you'll get stains from the stripes in the gelcoat, learned the hard way first time. After removal, wipe down with acetone to clean the area.
20180413_202048.jpg20180413_195311.jpg
 

drbatts

Well-Known Member
Joined
Nov 30, 2008
Messages
895
Reaction score
192
Points
43
Location
CT
Model
Express 305
heat gun and a razor blade worked for me. Never replaced the stripe as I prefer the cleaner look.
 

kevgle

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jun 11, 2018
Messages
54
Reaction score
16
Points
8
many spots like this..
 

Attachments

  • 20241201_151056.jpg
    20241201_151056.jpg
    183.7 KB · Views: 18

family affair

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2010
Messages
1,464
Reaction score
348
Points
83
Location
Ohio
Model
Islander
I used the discount eraser wheel to remove some stripe on my hull. It was very fast, but left some residue and scuffs that I had to polish out. Ultimately it was no big deal to clean up. Has anyone used the pricey 3M wheel with better results?
 

DennisG01

GreatGrady Captain
Joined
Sep 1, 2013
Messages
7,228
Reaction score
1,354
Points
113
Location
Allentown, PA & Friendship, ME
Model
Offshore
I used the discount eraser wheel to remove some stripe on my hull. It was very fast, but left some residue and scuffs that I had to polish out. Ultimately it was no big deal to clean up. Has anyone used the pricey 3M wheel with better results?
I've used both. Can't say I really noticed a difference. May be a little bit - but nothing that I would say is worth talking about. Now, maybe the discount eraser I had was better than yours? Maybe I used lighter pressure and moved it around more to avoid heating it up? Those last two questions are, of course, just thoughts. I seem to recall that Goof Off or mineral spirits helps with removal of scuffs, too.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: family affair

family affair

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jul 31, 2010
Messages
1,464
Reaction score
348
Points
83
Location
Ohio
Model
Islander
I've used both. Can't say I really noticed a difference. May be a little bit - but nothing that I would say is worth talking about. Now, maybe the discount eraser I had was better than yours? Maybe I used lighter pressure and moved it around more to avoid heating it up? Those last two questions are, of course, just thoughts. I seem to recall that Good Off or mineral spirits helps with removal of scuffs, too.
Good to know. There definitely is some technique to the method. Being a weekend warrior, I had it down by the last 2' of 10! Better lighting in my dimly lit garage would have helped as well.
 

Recoil Rob

Well-Known Member
Joined
Mar 23, 2019
Messages
300
Reaction score
59
Points
28
Age
69
Location
CT Coast
Model
Sportsman
The stripe on mine was all buggered up when I bought it five years ago. I peeled the first side in the morning while the sun was hitting it just with my fingernails. The other side in the afternoon when the sun moved over.
I spend a lot of time buffing to get the unweathered gel coat that was under the stripe to match the weathered stuff, it came out OK.
In fact, so OK that I decided not to spend extra money putting on a new stripe. I left the hull all white.


IMG_0091small.jpg
 
  • Like
Reactions: Tuidawgs11

Feedingfish

Member
Joined
Oct 9, 2017
Messages
10
Reaction score
3
Points
3
WD40 works great with the razor blade as it softens the adhesive and lubricates alleviating some of the cutting into the gel coat.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Punchline Cap

Ekea

Well-Known Member
Joined
Aug 11, 2020
Messages
649
Reaction score
216
Points
43
Age
39
Location
Mid Atlantic
Model
Chase
3M eraser wheel was the fastest and most effective. just dont sit in one spot