Boot Stripe removal help

[TarponTom]

I’ve been trying to remove my old faded and brittle boot stripe tape but only gaining 8 to 10” at a time before frustration sets in and serious beer drinking takes over. I’ve tried a heat gun, plastic paint scrapers, single edge razor blades, acetone, goo-gone. Nothing really works well, and I’ve only managed to remove about 1/3 of the port side so far. Anyone have a method that’s worked for them?

[wavelength]

I was told to use Easyoff oven cleaner to remove my painted on registration numbers because it will not harm the gelcoat. It worked GREAT sprayed it on and washed it off with water. Might work???

[Old'sCool]

Try a petroleum based like wd-40.

[spareparts]

all the vynil guys use easy off to remove letters on boats they are renamimg( of course its not their boat), I havent seen any damage to them from the easy off, they don't let it stay on too long, just watch the vynil, when it starts bubbling up, start scrapeing, then wash it off, do only a small part at a time, and don't let it dry. I used gasket remover once with simular results

[oldbluesplayer]

T-Tom - I got into that this past fall, same difficulties, found that careful use of a 1" wide wood chisel worked very well. Do have to be careful to keep it laying flat, or will gouge into the gelcoat, and keeping it sharp was helpful, but it did get right under and peel the old boot stript tape off - I was able to do pretty much the entire boat in a couple of sessions one weekend.

now, about that darn 20 year old build up of bottom paint....

Bill

[BigMike8o9]

I am doing a complete repaint but I just took the sander to it. I had the same problem getting just a pinch at a time.