Just received my Used DF-95

What is the best way to remove the previous skippers sail numbers? Any do's and don'ts?

Cheers

Steve

Steve

Are the numbers inked on or are they stuck on? Also are the sails Mylar/polyester?

Eric

If inked on in "indelible" marker... Depending on how many numbers you have to remove, buy yourself 1 whiteboard "wipe off" marker per pair of sails.  Set your self up on a good table and have a towel (to protect the table), a roll of kitchen roll, and a bottle of meths.  The rest is DEAD boring and I suggest you don't try to do it all in one sitting, maybe start with the same side of one suit of sails.  Using the wipe off marker cover a section of the number about 1cm long, and make sure that as you "scribble" the marker around, the number is being deleted.  Use a clean piece of kitchen roll to wipe off that small section.  At the end of the number, take a clean piece of kitchen roll soaked in meths and wipe over the whole number.  If there are little marks left of the old number, go over with the marker again and follow the rest of the process. I took about three days to do three IOM rigs, I have a very low boredom threshold, and find that if I go on too long, I start making a mess...

 

I was also recommended Barkeeper's Friend powder, which I tried, but wasn't anywhere near as good! 

for the sharpie numbers I use denatured alcohol from amazon and cotton wool balls wipe gently changing cotton wool regulary, if vynl  type numbers gently warm with hair dryer and whilst sail is on a firm surface pull number gently at an angle very close to the sail surface whilst holding sail as flat as you can, be gentle

Rather like Mike for inked numbers I use cotton wool to apply Methylated Spirits (Available Screwfix/Tool Station, there are other suppliers), just keep kitchen towel to hand to wipe sail clean and to stop solvent spreading. Keep away from seams, finger and corner patches.

My pet hate are vinyl numbers, and i go exactly with Mike's solution, but be extremely careful how you peel the number from the sail as it is easy to damage the sail material. Meths will again clean any adhesive residue from a mylar or scrim sail. 

I would personally always ink the new numbers on if you have Mylar/polyester sails as this does not effect how the sail sets.

Eric

Thanks, all very helpful.
They are inked numbers on all 4 sets of mylar sails.

I have made a start, 20 minutes to do one three figure number .......... patience needed

Steve

Acetone is faster but don't use to much and wipe it off quickly.  I clean the old glue off my sails with acetone when I recut / repair them.  Other will probably tell you that acetone will dissolve the mylar but I haven't had any issues.

Brad G recommended cellulose thinners - worked a treat and only took a few minutes!

Cellulose thinners = acetone (well nearly always).

Hold on Stephen, as you have three numbers on your sails, there is a strong chance that is the boats registration number.

If that's the case there should be no need to change the number - unless it was the previous owners personal number.

I had this issue, bought a 65 off a gent in Huddersfield number 130, when I changed owner via the d65 website I expected a new number as the gent told me I'd have to change number as that's his number. The association then said to me to carry on using 130, I then got  a MYA number so I'm confused as to what I use. I don't know the Hull number as its a v5. 

On 06/04/2023 at 22:25, Pete Chambers said:

I had this issue, bought a 65 off a gent in Huddersfield number 130, when I changed owner via the d65 website I expected a new number as the gent told me I'd have to change number as that's his number. The association then said to me to carry on using 130, I then got  a MYA number so I'm confused as to what I use. I don't know the Hull number as its a v5. 

Chances are that the boats last two digits are 30 the 1 may have been added as another boat had 30 if you contact the df association and tell the the guys name you bought the boat from them will tell you the hull number and move ownership to you

Hi thanks for the reply, I did do a change of  owner either thr DF association when I got her. I'm happy with 130 

1 minute ago, Pete Chambers said:

Hi thanks for the reply, I did do a change of  owner either thr DF association when I got her. I'm happy with 130 

👍

Surgical spirit. Piece of cake.

David

Is the piece of cake to eat whilst you're removing the numbers?

 

That’s a matter of personal preference, Derek. 

Found this thread very useful. Had sails with both stick on vinyl and black Sharpie pen numbers. The aasvice given worked well, Job completed in a couple of hours.

thanks

Isopropyl alcohol is great, works in seconds!