Fiberglass Yellowing

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Shawn Severn

I have been noticing some yellow patches on the fiberglass of our 1997 Passage 450. The yellow patches are appearing in increasing numbers in a variety of places on the boat. It appears that it is bleeding through from underneath. Any body have any idea what is happening and how upset I should be getting? How do I fix them? Can I fix them?
 
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George Kornreich

Try this.

I've heard a thousand explainations for the yellowing... Don't know which is true. Most common is that is it a by-product of the release- wax they coat the mold with so that the boat and the mold don't become one hunk of fiberglass. Anyway, it's usually a surface yellowing after sun exposure. In an inconspicuous spot, first try to compound it out with rubbing compound, followed by polishing compound and wax, such as 3M Cleaner and Wax. If this doesnt do it, you can safely get more aggressive using a fine grade of wet/dry sandpaper (working wet) such as 800 grit followed by 1500 grit, and finished with the compound and wax. Sometimes the 800 grit is not coarse enough to start the process: then you'd begin with 600 and then polish down with finer grits. Don't let the dullness and fine scratchmarks made by the 600 or 800 sandpaper frighten you... they'll vanish like magic by this technique of progressively polishing with finer and finer sandpaper and compounds.
 
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Steve Cook

Easy'er yet!!!

I too had the same problem on my new 1999 H310. I bought a product called "Zing" it is a marine cleanning product just for this problem and just wait until you see it work, "WOW"!!!! real easy, wipe on-wipe off, "DONE - GONE"!!! it's that easy. I bought it at my marina. Boat/US or West Marine should have it. If not, e-mail me and I'll get you their address. Caution must be used while using this product because it contains hydrocholoric acid. Rubber gloves are a must. I did my hole hull in a half hour. Wax must be applied afterwards. Check it out, you'll be glade you did. Steve, s/v Obsession...
 
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Dakota Jim Russell

Iron Out

In our situaiton we have a high level of iron and similar impurities in our water. The yellow has been easily removed with a product called Iron-Out. Culligans carry it, as well as K-mart, Wal-mart, etc.
 
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Michael Cohn

Ok - try this

You can actually take scratches out of glass by polishing it with an abrasive toothpaste - you might want to try this on your hull before getting into the sanding and compounding and all that. It's a lot easier and somewhat cheaper as well. MC
 
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Michael Cohn

Also

You will probably want to talk with Hunter about this problem. MC
 
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Alex

What is the source of this ?

I have it too on my 95' "29.5" . Anyone know why it happens ?Frankly , I didn't see it on vast majority of other production sailboats ,whatever boat mooring location and country, even on much older boats. There is often an even 'fade to off-white/cream' of white gelcoat after around 10 years or more in sunny evviroment on many boats, but this is not the case. Anyone got an input from Hunter on this? Any 'by the book' remedy advised by Hunter ?
 
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Derek Rowell

Yellow spots...it's an old, old problem

Interesting. I had the same problem in several spots on my '83 H34 when it was new. A friend had the same thing on his H40 when it was new (at about the same time). My dealer said it was a problem with the mold release wax. They took care of it. I am surprised that Hunter still has the same yellow spot problem. Derek
 
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