Getting Silicone Caulk off Fiberglass

[Nofish]

Hey Gang,

I need help. Gotta get some Silicone caulk off the gunnels of my Ranger.

I used aquarium silicone (3M). Any solvents etc out there that won't eat the finish?

I have e mailed Ranger, but I fear the answer will come 3 days after the boat ispicked up by the new owner.

Any help??.............R

[Pitts]

Boy I have never heard of anything that will take it off after it has cured. 3M adhesive and wax remover sold at autoparts stores might soften it, If it's thick try scraping it first then use a veggie scrubber looks like plastic steel wool.
Whatever you try do it in a hidden area first.
Goo gone,goof off or any others might work also but I have never tried them on set silicone.

Pitts

[Jim Carroll]

Hi Nofish- 3M makes Indoor/Outdoor Caulk Remover. I have used this product several times and it works really well. You apply it on thick and let it sit for several hours. Reading from the label "Some Fiberglass, other plastic or refinished surfaces may be damaged. Test in a inconspicuous spot." I have not found it to damage anything but you might want to give 3M a call in St. Paul and ask first. Now that your boat is sold- how about sellin mine? :-) JC

[Backwater Eddy]

WD-40 will work.

Backwater Eddy

[REW]

As Eddy says - WD-40 works.
Gasoline works even better. Just be careful if using gasoline - not to have any thing flamable around.

If you check the label on the calk, it says that you shouldn't use it in areas where you might have the equivalent of puddled gasoline.
That is why - for folks that use silicone to seal up their splash wells in their boat - and then have a motor that leaks gas - for some reason - soon end up with a splash well that is no longer sealed. The gas cuts right thgough the silicone - and leaves no residue behind.

Take careful.
Keep and extinquisher handy - and keep all flames and other potential flame setters away.

REW