Removing old graphics

I am in the early stages of planning a restoration of a older Nautique, 70s/80s. I want to remove all of the graphics so that the boat is completely white. Can the colored graphics be buffed out? Will I need to repaint the boat? Has anyone done this?

Andrew,
Before you do anything, get a full size tracing of the existing graphics. This will come in handy if you are planning or ever want to do a true restoration. A sign shop can make you a Gerber mask which is a vinyl stencil for painting.

I suggest trying to restore the gel first. There are several good threads here that go through the wet sanding/buffing process.

The painted graphics can be removed with paint stripper designed for fiberglass and then a final wet sanding.

Painting a fiberglass boat in my opinion is a half a$$sed way of covering up bad gel coat. If the gel can't be brought back or there are too many scratches that can't be filled then re gel coating is the proper way of restoring a fiberglass boat.

Keep in mind that under the graphics you may find the color of the virgin gel coat. The surrounding gel may never come out the same color and you will be left with the graphics "ghosting" of this virgin color.

Be very careful on how you use the term "restoration". A true restoration would include the original graphics!

eric lavine wrote: would that be considered a true restoration on Elizabeth Taylor?

There are certain things that can never be restored!!!!!

Do you guys think it would be possible to touch up vinyl graphics with an airbrush ?

Only slightly related, but it is a slow news day:

decal splice

lonestar wrote: That spice idea will work great. For the most part my lettering is faded away . I had a thought that I might be able to spruce it up a bit with an airbrush,,,, I dont know just a thought. But what paint to use ? will it hold up? a lot of variables.

Chris,
What year and boat do you have? You mentioned vinyl first and then paint. If paint, you could try the air brush but I don't feel you'll get the greatest results. Post some pictures. You may want to consider a hull wet sand/buff and then go with the Gerber mash I mentioned to really restore the graphics. The painted graphics were done with Rust-oleum so the colors are still available.

I have some non-original stripes painted on my 75 hull that I just can't get off. I tried just about everything. Is there a recomended paint? This winter I would like to paint the hulls than go back with the correct graphics.

check the whats new section right here on CCF forums. there are replacement vinyl graphics becoming available.

Paul,
How about some specifics on the chemicals you've tried. Have you tried a methylene chloride stripper (Zip Strip)? You can't gel coat over paint. Sanding? Have you tried anything more aggresive than the 320 wet? How sure are you that it it paint? By chance do you think the stripe was done in gel?

Take the aircraft paint stripper and smear it on. Then take some plastic wrap and put over it for 15 mins. It should be soft then. Not sure if it will mess with the gel coat though??

Tim

Pete,
I'm not sure of the kind of gel I used but just found that my local hardware store has the zip-strip. I will try that and use a random orbital sander I do have. Maybe 220 dry? Thanks for the advise I will let you know the results. Paul