how do you remove boat lettering?
 

Any suggestions for removing boat lettering? Gonna change the name of the new boat.

Autobody stores sell a product called the eraser. Its basically the same material as a pencil eraser that mounts in your power drill. Works very well and wont damage your gel coat. http://www.autotoolexpress.com/sgt17900.html

I assume it's painted on? Try acetone......

If not, try a heavy duty rubbing compound with a large buffer, then you'll have to buff it with a little polish when your done.

I've used the eraser on non painted lettering and I found it NOT to work very well if the lettering has been on there for a long time.

I used a heat gun to soften up the lettering and removed with a plastic putty knife.

if its painted on use oven cleaner. it works every time.

Craigan,

I think those letters are decals; you can just peel them off. The problem is going to be that the gel coat will have been preserved under the letters and you'll still see the old name... You might be able to buff some of it out or wax the rest of the boat and it should help.

Funny thing is, we don't even have Snook up here; people always asked me about that crazy name...

If they're the vinyl as BGA says, use a heat-gun ON LOW sparingly and a plastic spatula...be ready to use some 3M oxidation remover (or similar) as mentioned above

yup, what they all said....I had huge decal name on the side of mine when I bought it....didnt have a heat gun but used a blow dryer on high...and a plastic scraper....slow going but it comes off. you will than have a fair amount of adhesive left behind....goop off or aceton takes that off....you will definatley see the outline of it as the gelcoat is pristine under there....I could actually see the name before the one I took off as well....have compounded a couple of times and waxed and you can still just barely see it if you look hard.

After you remove the letters, I think there is some kind of voodoo stuff you are supposed to go through before christening the boat with its new name.

There's a whole ceremony you have to go through on the re-naming. See here: http://boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/rename.htm:sun:

Might be easier to ice down a few of your favorite brew, load it aboard your new craft, idle along your favorite waterway, breathe in the life you're given and appreciate it all...how could bad vibes penetrate all those good vibes...:party:

yeah glad you posted that it is a known bad luck to change a baots name. that's why my 250 is staying Reel Fun II

Before I bought my V20, I looked at a boat named the Lucky Duck II. Wasn't a bad boat, but the name scared me away. I've always wondered why people didn't scrape the goofy names off before they tried to sell.

Decal removal
 

Def use a heat gun. I do boat graphics. Sometimes it's just making an old tired boat name look Bad as_. Removing graphics is fairly easy. Heat gun or hairdryer required. If you have some fingernails on your index finger and thumb, heat the letter on a corner. Hang a nail under it and begin pulling back over the graphic. Object is to keep it warm enough to peel off easily. Too hot and the decal rips, to cold and it does not come off at all.

Good luck with the beer.