OOPS, I used silver duct tape on my deck to temp seal anchor locker (don't ask). I peeled it off only it didn't all come off. Now I have silver remnant stuck on. What is the best way to get it off without messing up gelcoat? or whatever deck is made up of. It doesn't just wash off and I don't know what kind of cleaner to use. Thanks - Sad part is I think I remember a post a couple months ago that said DO NOT USE SILVER DUCT TAPE... and the booby prize goes to? ME
I'd start with mild solvents like alcohol and move up from there. The gelcoat is pretty tough and I wouldn't worry too much. Maybe some of those citrus based cleaners.
Alcohol won't do it. Use Goof-Off or plain old paint thinner (mineral spirits). It won't hurt the fiberglass one bit, but you will have to re-wax the fiberglass when you're done since it will remove the wax.
One time, on a particularly messy clean up (Due to "Old Timers Disease", I forget what it was), I was out of Goof-Off and picked up a small bottle of Goo Gone. Boy, was I disappointed. It partially dissolved the mess and I spread it all over the place. Finally got some more Goof-Off and it wiped right up. Perhaps it depends on what you are cleaning. IMHO I have found Goof-Off to be far superior. YMMV
Get out the Laquer Thinner and have at it. I have used it a lot on the boats to clean off tape from when the hatches are taped shut when the boats ship to us. Don't get it on any windows or anything plastic like stickers or the name. But it is ok to use, hard on your body but it will get the tape off.
It's funny that you mention the mess left behind from the duct tape. I am currently painting my ugly, and very well abused deck and thought that duct tape would be good enough for temporarily sealing the rain out. oooops! Two days of baking in the sun was all it took to delaminate the glue backing. The only thing on board at the time was quart of interlux 202 fiberglass prep and it made short work of removing the sticky mess. It only took a couple of passes and it looked like it had never happened.
I do a lot of service calls in homes (furniture repairs). Goof Off is with me at all times, in a side pouch in my bucket. It works great, but it is nasty stuff. At least on a sailboat you don't have to worry about your work area being well ventilated. Lacquer spray has never bothered me, but Goof Off! Whew
OOPS, I used silver duct tape on my deck to temp seal anchor locker 
(don't ask). I peeled it off only it didn't all come off. Now I have silver remnant stuck on. What is the best way to get it off without messing up gelcoat? or whatever deck is made up of. It doesn't just wash off and I don't know what kind of cleaner to use. 
Thanks - Sad part is I think I remember a post a couple months ago that said DO NOT USE SILVER DUCT TAPE... and the booby prize goes to? 
ME
Thank you all for your replies 
