Good adhesive remover?

goo gone? goof off? duck brand?

It's not adhesive. It's the "original" gelcoat. It's higher underneath the sticker because that was never degradaded by UV or compounded. Very normal - as is the color difference. Which, by the way, the color of the gel under your sticker... that's your original color - not the other way around.

Try wetsanding/compounding the gelcoat that was NOT under the sticker a little heavier in your blending process. That way you'll expose fresher gelcoat. The color that is under the sticker will eventually fade and blend in better. But from my experience, there's no real "quick fix" for this. Well, I take that back... put a new sticker back over it!

DennisG01 said:

Try wetsanding/compounding the gelcoat that was NOT under the sticker a little heavier in your blending process. That way you'll expose fresher gelcoat. The color that is under the sticker will eventually fade and blend in better. But from my experience, there's no real "quick fix" for this. Well, I take that back... put a new sticker back over it!

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Kinda risky as sanding the older gelcoat that has worn away already may bust through.
Give it a good compound with something gentle like 3M finesse-it and go to plan B throwing the new stickers over where the old cane off.
Mine was the same and it is kinda scary when you can actually see how much has worn away.
It will inspire you to keep it waxed.

Lt.Mike said:

Kinda risky as sanding the older gelcoat that has worn away already may bust through.
Give it a good compound with something gentle like 3M finesse-it and go to plan B throwing the new stickers over where the old cane off.
Mine was the same and it is kinda scary when you can actually see how much has worn away.
It will inspire you to keep it waxed.

Click to expand...

No question - you gotta keep a close eye on things, for sure.

Okay, so to continue the thought here...

Using a rubber wheel to wear down the adhesive heh. I was able to do one side. BEFORE I put the stickers on, short of having the entire outside sanded down and adding a new gelcoat...i.e. paying thousands, what could "I" do to prepare the outer hull for new decals?

I am not against "redoing" the outer hull, I plan to clean it up, but it does not look "bad", I just have some small nicks and such and I have zero doubt that once I start trying to fix them, I will make more heh.. so...

Trying to make a plan on how to restore the hull before I put the decals on, vs just sticking them on there.

Then, best way to protect the decals etc after they are back on? Products you like?

I do not mind replacing the decals in a few years when I really redo the hull, if it needs it.. but, hate to just stick the ones I have on and go, "if I had only spent a little more time".. heh

But.. let's be honest, low on the priority

Thanks

Russ

I always use mineral spirits and plastic scraper to remove the glue residue. Works pretty good. Then wool pad compound the area and see what it looks like. The fade around the area where the decal was will be more pronounced and not a lot you can do unless replacing with new decals or over time, sun will blend it somewhat.

I think I'd just leave the gelcoat alone if it is that and not residue. It will fade over time and I think you'll just be chasing your tail (unless you compound the whole side or boat.