Long winter - Event Date: 30 Jan 2018

Originally posted by lostagain Stephen, I first used Goo-Gone and it left a horrible mess and didn't get the glue off.  Lacquer thinner damages the gelcoat though not as badly as acetone.  The alcohol, once you get the stickers off with a window razor, dissolves the glue and leaves no residue.  The remainder of the glue that the paper towel doesn't pick up can be brushed off with a fresh towel with alcohol on it.  Also, the alcohol is a little safer as it is water soluble and isn't as easier on the lungs when you are exposed to the vapor, even outside.  And, it leaves no trace once evaporated, unlike lacquer thinner that leaves a slight residue, again the same as acetone.

Gel-coat is not a lacquer. It is a two-part coating that uses a catalyst to cure like an epoxy. Once it cures, it is very tough. I'm not suggesting pouring lacquer thinner on and letting it sit there. However, wiping with a rag soaked in lacquer thinner will not damage the gel coat as it does fully evaporate. When I worked at Uniflite (no longer in existence) years ago, we used lacquer thinner to clean the gel coat, both inside and outside the yachts we built. It removed things like excess contact cement and other things that soap and water would not touch.

That being said, I mis-wrote (mis-remembered is more like it). I meant to recommend low VOC mineral spirits like Jasco Slow To Dissove Odorless Mineral Spirits. I used this on my R-Pod when I redid the spoiler and installed (and then removed) the vent cover to remove excess lap sealant. It worked well and did not affect the gel-coat.

Had a truly great time in Punxsutawney and Gobblers Knob! Highly recommend everyone try it once.

Come out west Leo, it's t-shirt weather even here in northern Nevada.  I worked on my wax job, finally quitting at 6, all with a t-shirt and jeans, sweating.  That Meguiar's wax system is a lot of work.  I had forgotten what it was like in my old sailboat days.  But, another warm day tomorrow to put on the last two coats.  

Well, I finished waxing our Pod.  Now it's pure white with no loopy stickers or a brand name.  It was up into the 70's and I had to finally give in and put on some shorts for the last layer of the 3 phase Meguiar's.  I was really a little too sunny to put on wax, but I worked fast and it came out fine.