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 Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums
 General Sailing Forum
 removing sail numbers		  New Topic  Topic Locked
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jmadd
1st Mate

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USA
85 Posts
Initially Posted - 02/09/2008 :  17:55:50  Show Profile
I don't know how often people have to do this but in case you ever have to remove sail numbers from a sail, I have some tips for you. I bought a main and a 155 off ebay from some guy who bought a Capri 25 for pleasure sailing and was selling the nearly new racing sails. His number had three digits, and both the genoa and main had numbers. The local sail maker said they charge $60 bucks a digit to remove them because the glue is so hard to get off the sail. He said they just use goo-gone and lots of elbow grease.

I used that method on the main and to get the six numbers off took me 8 hours. The hard part was getting the glue completely off. The goo-gone makes it loosen its adhesion to the sail, but it smears and sticks to everything. <u>Before you try the method below check your sail with the goo-gone to make sure it doesn't mess up the fabric or any glue that is supposed to be there for your lamination or whatever.</u>

Later I was telling someone else about it they said someone told them they use corn starch to get them off. To make a long story short, when I got the method figured out it took me only an hour to get the last three numbers off, and the sail squeaky clean.

What you do is (if your sail's dacron or other permeable fabric) is put the goo-gone on the sail <i>underneath</i> the number. Let it work a while then pull the number off. If your sail's mylar, you'll just have to start with pulling the number off. Either way there will be glue residue left on the sail. Hit that again with the goo-gone and let it sit a few minutes. Then wipe off any excess goo-gone and cover the area with corn starch you steal from your wife's kitchen. Put a liberal amount on. Then take a cloth and start rubbing the glue off. The cornstarch keeps the glue from sticking to everything.

It's kind of like putting flour on bread dough to keep it from sticking to your hands and the counter.
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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts
Response Posted - 02/09/2008 :  23:37:42  Show Profile  Visit Frank Hopper's Homepage
I have done it with a hair dryer
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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts
Response Posted - 02/10/2008 :  18:57:46  Show Profile  Visit Champipple's Homepage
You can also just put the corn starch on and over time it will find its way off.
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Chris Z
Captain

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452 Posts
Response Posted - 02/10/2008 :  20:07:25  Show Profile  Visit Chris Z's Homepage
North had told a friend of mine to use acetone. He used it on the glue after peeling off the sticker and it took off every bit of the gue without a lot of work and no damage to the sail.
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stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts
Response Posted - 02/10/2008 :  21:32:28  Show Profile
Acetone is probably the most effective agent to use in glue, ink and paint removal. It will not damage most fabrics or surfaces because it evaporates very rapidly.
Acetone is found in goo-gone and in nail polish remover.
I've used it on my main sail for spot cleaning. It will safely remove anything from Hypalon or most inflatable fabrics.

Always test it on a small area before general use. It disolves well with water for clean-up.

If you use it, wear goggles as the vapours can damage your eyes. Inhaled, the vapours can cause liver damage.
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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts
Response Posted - 02/11/2008 :  16:00:13  Show Profile  Visit Champipple's Homepage
When I bought a used sail that needed repair I had a loft renumber it. They put baby powder on the old numbers and told me to keep it up over time. The alternative was the Acetone method you are all mentioning.

The only problem with the acetone method is the requirement of patience - of which I have none. We did that with a spinnaker we picked up - the guy wanted 75 bucks per number to remove, the old number was 5 digits long times 2 sides of the sail. Obviously he was telling me I don't want to do it. Anyway, each paper towel you use can only be used one time. It might take a roll or two per number. Small areas, dab and rub, then discard so you don't wind up simply moving the adhesive around the sail.

It could be worse, old numbers were sewn on.
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crystal_blue
1st Mate

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USA
71 Posts
Response Posted - 02/11/2008 :  18:15:08  Show Profile
OK, stupid question:

Are the numbers on the sail the same as the boat's hull number?

--Jim
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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts
Response Posted - 02/11/2008 :  19:02:18  Show Profile  Visit Frank Hopper's Homepage
That is most common
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stampeder
Master Marine Consultant

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1608 Posts
Response Posted - 02/11/2008 :  19:31:13  Show Profile
Catalina holds to this convention.
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Champipple
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
6855 Posts
Response Posted - 02/11/2008 :  21:38:27  Show Profile  Visit Champipple's Homepage
In one design classes especially smaller ones, the sail number is the same as the hull number. Catalina follows that numbering in its smaller fleets. When you start buying the bigger boats they are numbered based on what you tell the sailmaker you want.

Boats that race PHRF, IMR, IOR, Americap and others utilize the numbering as laid out by US Sailing (might actually be ISAF) where each number is given by US Sailing's designated "number giver outer". Canada would have its own group handing out the numbers.

If you aren't racing you can put whatever you want on there. If you race with a number unregistered by US sailing and you match somebody who has registered their sail number the penalty could be as much as 12 seconds or disqualification.
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Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts
Response Posted - 02/12/2008 :  10:54:16  Show Profile  Visit Frank Hopper's Homepage
I saw a catamaran once that had F=MA as a sail number.
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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.