Re: [Paddlewise] Removing decals from fiberglass kayaks

Dave said:

Try a cooking oil soak, followed by scrubbing with a plastic scrubber
(dish
washing type).  It should be softer than the gel coat.

If that does not work, you may have to resort to nasty adhesive
removers, such
as you can purchase at auto parts stores.  They work, but are toxic and
demand
wide open spaces for ventilation.  Use nitrile gloves.  Latex dies
quickly in
that stuff.

----------

Reply:

I find rolling in heavy shore break combined with the strong scouring
action of gravel avulsion works well. Seriously, the heat gun works
well, but most folks don't have a good one and revert to a hair-styling
blow-dryer on high setting. Beware, however, as pointing a blow dryer
directly atop your deck with little space for air movement results in an
overheated and blown blow dryer. I've wrecked two over the years. The
second loss of one of these devices caused sever censure by my lovely
spouse who got, well, kind of hairy about the unauthorized borrowing of
said device and destruction (reason for the warning part above!).

If you are looking for a natural alternative for a goo remover/solvent,
I strongly suggest folks give serious consideration to Tea Tree Oil. You
need quality product with high concentration levels. As always, test in
an inconspicuous spot for blemish avoidance. I once got some tar and/or
bilge-sluge substance on the my hull, and it was one of the few
effective removal agents. This natural oil emanating from Australia, I
believe, has other excellent benefits, far ranging and very effective
from health to household issues. I have a whole book dedicated to it. I
get mine from a lady who sells a product called Mellaluca, I believe
(awesome toothpaste, teeth white as snow, hull like new -- Mr. Clean!).
Sometimes mother nature in the raw provides the best stuff. And here you
all thought I was a polyester sucking, epoxy fume sniffing modernist.

DL



***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed
here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire
responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author.
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************