How to Remove Boat Decals (3 Effective Ways)

Boat owners like me only want the best appearance for our boats. This desire is the main reason behind putting colorful decals and stickers.

Furthermore, essential details such as the registration number can also be put on the boat surface in a decal form. There are also other reasons behind putting these decals that only the boat owners would know.

The only problem with these boat decorations is the process of removing them. Boat owners need to learn how to remove boat decals in order not to damage the boat surface.

I am telling this situation based on previous experience that removing them is not an easy thing to do. But boat owners can learn to remove decals and even stickers away from the boat properly.

In this article, we will be detailing three methods in removing decals in your boat. I have personally used some of the means or seen it from friends. Rest assured that these methods can help you in removing decals and stickers out of your boat surface efficiently.

3 Effective Ways to Remove Boat Decals

Remove boat decals from a boat is comparable to eliminating tattoo on your body. It will take your precious time, it is difficult, and most of all, it’s pricey.

To top it all, you will need to do a lot of effort and labor to take away the decal. The lists below are three proven methods to properly remove stickers and decals in the boat.

The Pinstripe Decal Wheel Removal Method

There is a tool commonly called the eraser wheel, where it will be used to removed decals and vinyl stickers from the boat. It is made of molded rubber and was designed to help in eliminating the decals while reducing the time of doing it.

The tool will be connected to the drill while applying a small amount of pressure to the decal while moving from one side to the other.

The good thing about this decal remover is it won’t damage the surface of the boat. You can also use the entire length of the wheel to remove the decals quickly.

After removing the decals, clean all the residue using a solvent. This tool is easy to use, but you need to use protective equipment during the actual removing process.

The Heat Gun or Hair Dryer Method

This method is one of the most popular hacks to remove decals on the boat. However, if it will be your first time doing it, I would recommend using the hairdryer first.

The hairdryer is slower in removing the decals with its low temperature, but it offers the same effectiveness. But rest assure that both tools are useful in removing decals from your boat.

Aside from the heat or hairdryer, you will also need a scraping blade and adhesive remover during the process. Using the heat gun, you will make the decal’s surface hotter until such time that it will be soft and flexible. Then you can use the scraper to remove all the decal debris from the surface.

After removing everything, clean the surface using the adhesive remover. This product can clean the surface and remove all the debris without damaging the surface or the paint of your boat. After that, you can clean the surface with soapy water to ensure that no adhesives remain in the surface.

The Hot Water Pressure Washer Method

Using hot water pressure water can also be used to remove decals from your boat altogether.

My friends highly recommended this method, and I saw how effective this method is. The process is the same as using the heat gun by applying the heat to soften the decals on the surface.

Applying hot water pressure will increase the flexibility of the decals making it easy to remove. The high pressure will also destroy the strength of the sticker, which usually holds the decals on the surface.

After removing the decals, cleaning the surface is the next step to do. Use soap and water to remove all the debris while ensuring that the sticker debris is also removed.

Removing Sticky Residue from the Boat Surface

When removing decals from the surface, you will typically see sticky residue from the area being cleaned.

To remove the sticky residue, I would suggest using acetone to do it. You will put it in a piece of cloth and wipe it to the surface of the boat. If the sticky residue is not removed during the first application, you will need to repeat the process. Do not be afraid to repeat the process multiple times until the waste will be removed altogether.

Then you can use soapy water to clean and remove the chemicals on the surface. Make sure that everything is clean and rinse it with water. You can also wipe the boat’s surface using a cloth to finished the process.

Important Reminders when Removing Decals

Use protective gear and always be careful

As I mentioned earlier, removing decals from a boat surface needs maximum effort and time. You need to be extra cautious during the removal process by wearing protective gear and equipment. This action is to avoid unnecessary accidents, which will bring the cleaner in danger.

Always practice maximum security when removing decals from the boat.

Always use the right tools and equipment

Removing decals will need you to use tools and equipment to do the job. The most important thing is to use the right tools and equipment required for the removal process. Avoid experimenting and using other tools that might not fit the activity. Doing this will bring a possible accident to you.

Always clean the area after removing the decals

Typically, this is the step where most boat owners always take for granted. The need to clean the surface after removing the decals is an essential step in the removal process. Often, it may look like you remove the decals in the surface, but the presence of the adhesives in the area is still a strong possibility. Make sure to check, and if the need to clean the surface is needed, then do it using soap and water.

Conclusion

Removing old and outdated decals from the boat surface required maximum effort and intensive labor process. This situation is the main reason behind the boat owner’s need to learn how to remove boat decals altogether. It will bring a lot of benefits if the boat owner is skilled and has knowledge of the removal process. It will also lessen the expected expenses needed in removing the decals.

We hope that this article will help all in terms of giving information to all boat owners. All of the methods presented have been used and tested by my friends and me. There are other ways to remove decals, and you can freely choose the right one that will fit your needs and requirements.