New “razor” safely removes lettering
Issue 59 : Mar/Apr 2008
Recently, while ordering new vinyl lettering for my Hunter 34, Pleiades, I discovered a truly must-have item for every boater. As I was selecting colors and lettering style with the sign guy, he asked how I was going to remove the old lettering. I mumbled something about a heat gun and an intentionally dulled putty knife.
After he freaked out, he explained to me that any metal scraper would ravage my gelcoat. He produced a double-edged plastic “razor blade” called a Scrape Rite. These little marvels are what professional sign makers use to remove old painted and vinyl lettering. He gave me one to try. I learned that these little gizmos are the cat’s patoot! (Not having studied feline anatomy, I’m not exactly sure what a patoot is, but apparently all cats have them.)
A couple of days later, when visiting the big blue marine store, I found a package of five of these little guys along with a Lil Gripper blade holder. They will remove old stickers, paint spills, caulking, dead bugs, tree goo, miscellaneous crud . . . and, of course, vinyl lettering. They will not scratch surfaces, slice your fingers open, or rust. The blades come in a variety of colors.
The sole proviso is that you need to keep them well away from the heat gun until the working surface has had a few moments to cool. The manufacturer will only sell wholesale quantities, but the company website is chockablock with photos and other valuable information. Click on <http://www.scraperite.com> and preserve your digits for the one-finger wave to the next guy who rocks your boat with his wake.
Rich Finzer earned his powerboat operator’s license at age 11 and began sailing six years later. He cruises Lake Ontario aboard his Hunter 34, Pleiades. He supports his sailing addiction as a technical writer and is a frequent contributor to boating magazines.
Thank you to Sailrite Enterprises, Inc., for providing free access to back issues of Good Old Boat through intellectual property rights. Sailrite.com
