Removing Old Boat Number Stickers

[Housers99]

Just bought a 99 Ski Nautique (absolutely love it - GT40 and TSC make for great pull and wake) from a guy out of state. I would like to find a relatively easy way to remove the old registration stickers and boat numbers (without eating the gel coat) and then put mine on a clean surface. I can't just go over his old registration sticker because Ohio requires the sticker behind the numbers and his state had them in front. Any ideas?

[skinautique]

A heat gun is the easiest method to remove them. Then you can take some adhesive remover to clean underneath them and then wipe the area with acetone so it is really clean and the new numbers will stick good.

[M3Fan]

Totally. I used a hairdryer. Without, it took off gelcoat behind the numbers.

[NCH2oSki]

sticker off, gets off any residue left behind. Windex sprayed very lightl will help to position the new numbers.

[JWAT]

I'm not sure if you tried taking them off yet, but sometimes the best way is just to peel them off without using any chemicals at all. I just removed all the decals and numbers off my Super Sport and all I did was get a little corner of the decal started and then just slowly pulled it off. Once the decal was off, there was just a little sticky stuff left on the boat. I just used goo-gone and it took all the left-over adhesive right off.

[Christopher-W.-Becker]

All,

Don't everyone wince at once. Several years ago my car was vandalized by spray paint graffiti. I got a police report, then insurance claim and called my Uncle to get the car repainted. He laughed and walked over a washed off all the paint with easy off oven cleaner. NO KIDDING. Took him about 15 mintues. Then he told me to give him $5 and wash the car.

Turns out, auto detailers use easy off oven cleaner to remove decals, stickers, pinstripes (course they would never use a stick on pinstripe....such sacrelig). I have used it to clean the stickers and other deep dirt off gel coat w/o any damage.

My 2cents.