Gelcoat restoring after removing graphics
 

Anyone know how to get back gelcoat color after graphics are removed? Seems like the gelcoat under the graphics is "yellow" and the rest of the boat is white. What can I do?

Wow
 

I think the graphics were applied after the paint and between layers of Gelcoat. You may be screwed and have to reshoot the boat.

Wannbe

They were stick on vinyl graphics. I wonder if I have to wet sand the areas? They were black graphics. I peeled them off w/ heat gun.

Wet Sand
 

Yep start w/ 1200 to lightly polish the gel back

Sorry, I understood you had sanded them off

I tried Aqua-Buff but couldn't get the color back. But Aqua-Buff worked on the rest of the boat. So wet sand starting w/ 1200. I'll try that tommorow.

i have run into this many many many times in my biz. hate to say it but once it is faded like that you may be screwed. you can try the sanding route but usually the fading runs very deep. i have tried several times (usually at customers request) but have never actually succeeded 100%. its worth a shot as apposed to painting though. be careful how far you sand though. i have had some that actually seemed to get worse or ended up with a larger even different color of gel. sorry if I'm the bringer of bad news. been there . . done that. best of luck

I agree with Glassdave. I purchased a 24 Sunsation and after pulling off the old vinyl, it was apparent the rest of the hull had faded. Under the vinyl, the hull was very shinny. This was "protected" from the sun. No amount of wet sanding brought back the rest of the hull to match where the vinyl use to be.

Hold on minute here Guys!!!! What marinetrans said was the hull was yellowed UNDER where the vinyl was, the surounding areas were bright and shiny.

I believe what has happened here is that the adhesive from the vinyl has leached into the gelcote.

First, I would try some bleaching agents such as "Slimy-Grimy" or other hull stain removal products. If that doesn't work,,,,,,, well,,,,,,, we have some problems.

If marinetrans has to sand the area under where the graphic was, he'll have to feather that sanding operation way out to make it look good. But, I don't think sanding is going to do the trick if in fact the adhesive has leached into the gelcoat. It's probably into the gel deeper than sanding can get to (without making a low spot).

I'm no expert, but leaching is my guess.

Pete,
If you decide to go with wet sand make sure you use a thin 1/8 rubber sanding block under the 1200.
I prefer 3M. Maybe you will get lucky and it has not
penetrated the gelcoat that deep.


Good Luck
Gerry

I might make it worse by trying to screw with it. I'd like to wet sand but the discoloration looks deep.Could be the glue that discolored it too. Its a perfect match to the graphics. Thinking about new graphics that will cover up most of it. Like the 3-D letters that said "BOXER" , I'll put "NOPPER" in 3-D. Might look better that way.