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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

How can I remove "ghost" lettering on my hull?

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/18/2006 : 01:10:28

We're getting ready to go through the renaming process on our '97 250. I've removed all the vinyl lettering of the previous name, and have been able to remove the "ghosting" from weathering of the hull around them by waxing and polishing the hull. However, the original name of the boat (we're the third owners) is still fairly easily seen as "ghost" letters where the hull weathered around them. So, what I've got is very-very smooth hull where those letters used to be, and not so smooth everywhere else. I tried multiple waxing to remove those as well, but don't seem to be getting anywhere. My next thought is to use rubbing compound to polish out the area where the lettering is, but I've never used rubbing compound on gelcoat before, so I'm a bit hesitant.

Does anyone have advice on how to proceed, and specific products you'd recommend to do so? Ideally, I'd like to get the hull back to the very-very smooth state all over, but I suspect that would be tough to do. I'd be happy to just have the "ghost" letters faded so far that you have to know exactly where to look to see them. I've got a random orbit waxing/polishing thingy from Turtle Wax that takes the drudgery out of the process, so that should help.

Thanks!

David
C-250 Mainsheet Editor

Sirius Lepak
1997 C-250 WK TR #271 --Seattle area Port Captain --

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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 09/18/2006 : 06:56:10

Buy your new name vinyl in a size that covers up the old ghosting.

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stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts

Response Posted - 09/18/2006 : 11:16:20

I removed 25 year old vinyl letters and numbers from my '81, then dealt with ghosting by doing a very light sanding on the topsides.
I removed a negligible amount of gelcoat using 220 and 400 grit sandpaper.
However, rubbing compound for a '97 would probably be the way to go. If that didn't work, then I'd try sandpaper.
I used a random orbit sander and liked the amount of control I had.

And don't forget to stand on one leg and hum a sea shantly while removing the old name.

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 09/18/2006 : 12:29:59

I'll be faced with the same issue soon. I would try something like the 3M rubbing compound. It worked on my last boat name change. I know that people do take sandpaper to hulls but it gives me the heebie jeebies to even think about it. If you do use sandpaper start with a very high # like 800. Also polishing the rest of the hull will make the color difference much less and putting the new name over the old will help. Also time will ease those shadows as well. Here is a link to a boat renaming ceremony which you MUST do:

http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/rename.htm

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tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 09/18/2006 : 13:26:09

Hi Dave,

It sounds as though you intend to eliminate the ghost lettering by compounding them. I don't think so. Seems to me that the ghosts are the original gel coat, the faded part of the hull is everyhting EXCEPT the ghost areas, and so to bring everything back to original you must remove the oxidation on everything but the ghost lettering.

This is why I only letter my throwable buoys( horshoes etc.) When it ever becomes necessary to rename just buy new horseshoe buoys and letter them.

If you subscribe to the, "letter larger" camp solution to the problem, I envision somewhere down the road( eh channel)the entire side of the boat being lettered. This though, if done creatively, might not be a bad idea.

It also might not be bad idea to not change the name, given the labor involved in de-oxidizing the entire hull.

Which brings me back to your original post,,,errr what was your original post,Dave

Val on Calista # 3936,Patchogue, N.Y.

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delliottg
Former Mainsheet C250 Tech Editor

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USA
4479 Posts

Response Posted - 09/18/2006 : 21:16:08

Val,
You're correct in that the ghost letters are the un-weathered gelcoat, and to "remove" them, I'd have to bring the rest of the hull back to the original gelcoat shine. This doesn't seem practical, but I think I can polish the whole area to fade out the ghosting to where it's barely noticiable. A friend of ours dropped by to take a look at the boat, who's a West Marine manager. She felt that the gelcoat was in really good condition, and a bit of judicious polishing with some 3M products she's recommending will take care of it.

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tinob
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1883 Posts

Response Posted - 09/19/2006 : 12:10:03

Great to have a friend like her, Dave, and she said that she would be there to help you if you need her

Val on Calista # 3936, Patchogue, N.Y.

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Steve Meyer
Deckhand

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USA
22 Posts

Response Posted - 09/19/2006 : 13:11:19

I removed an old name from my 1979 Catalina and and lived with the ghost name for about a year. I tried everything without success and out of desperation I tried 1000 grit sandpaper. I WET sanded it by hand very gently and used new glass to restore the shine to the gelcoat. It worked great.

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Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 09/20/2006 : 15:01:08

Here is a post from the Catalinaowners forum. It is written by Peggy Hall who is a frequent and respected poster:

As with anything painted on, anything that's been glued on the hull for any length of time will prob'ly leave a "ghost" of itself because the gelcoat around it has oxidized and the gelcoat under it hasn't. You can put a lot of effort into wet sanding, compounding and polishing...or you can do it the easy way--although it does take a while to work: spray the area liberally with undiluted bleach...every day if possible...if not, as often as you can. Don't rinse it off...let it dry on the hull. The combination of bleach and sun will fade the "ghost" to the same color as the hull in a few weeks.

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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.