Yellowed masttop light

Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
Hey all, my mast-top light lens has yellowed; I suppose to UV, heat, and age. I'm replacing the bulb for a new Marinebeam LED and also have a new fixture, but this one is fine save for the dis-coloring. I have heard that the yellowing is on the surface and can be removed with either Meguiars polish or a science experiment involving hydrogen peroxide and oxi-clean. Anyone with real-world experience?

masttoplight.jpg
 
May 20, 2016
3,015
Catalina 36 MK1 94 Everett, WA
I would try the stuff sold for yellow/scratched headlights. The vertical ridges my make mechanical polish harder
 
Mar 29, 2017
576
Hunter 30t 9805 littlecreek
Tooth paste. Or was told peanut butter. But I know tooth paste works good. Led should give a more white look to lenze
 
Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
The fluteing is on the inside. The exterior surface is smooth.
 
Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
Thanks. I sometimes use toothpaste on my acrylic watch crystals, like my Omega speed master pro. It works almost as good as poly watch, and is about 1000 times cheaper !!
 
Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
My big question is if ANYTHING actually works. If it does I'll make an extra trip to the boat to get the lens so I can have it done when we launch!
 
Last edited:
Apr 4, 2016
201
Newport 28 Richardson Marina
I have tried all of the above except peanut butter (read it is only good for a week on a bumper cover when selling a car) with poor results. It looks good for a short while then gets cloudy again quite quickly. For the hassle chuck it.
 

Gunni

.
Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
I polished the yellow off of "Truk", my old Chevy Pickup headlights last winter. Had some free time, a few cold ones so I got out my Makita variable speed buffer and a bottle of Presta Gel Coat Compound, worked it down with Presta Ultra Polish. Looked good and did take the yellow off. I wouldn't want to do it by hand, too much work.
 
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Jul 7, 2004
8,500
Hunter 30T Cheney, KS
Once it starts it will return. I just replaced mine for the same reason. And my mast is down.
 
Nov 8, 2010
11,386
Beneteau First 36.7 & 260 Minneapolis MN & Bayfield WI
I polished the yellow off of "Truk", my old Chevy Pickup headlights last winter. Had some free time, a few cold ones so I got out my Makita variable speed buffer and a bottle of Presta Gel Coat Compound, worked it down with Presta Ultra Polish. Looked good and did take the yellow off. I wouldn't want to do it by hand, too much work.
Thats good to know. As long as it works, I'll just hand it over to a crew member to have at it!
 

Gunni

.
Mar 16, 2010
5,937
Beneteau 411 Oceanis Annapolis
A spindle-mounted polishing wheel would make short work of it.
 
Feb 5, 2009
255
Gloucester 20 Kanawha River, Winfield, WV
I have heard that the yellowing is on the surface and can be removed with either Meguiars polish or a science experiment involving hydrogen peroxide and oxi-clean. Anyone with real-world experience?
I've used Meguiars Ultimate Compound on car headlights with astonishing results. I wouldn't have believed it if a friend hadn't demonstrated it to me. I've used headlight polishing kits before, but the Meguiars stuff works just as well without nearly as much work. A bottle is around $8 at discount stores. Never tried it on a mast light, though.
 
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Likes: Jackdaw
Jan 22, 2008
8,050
Beneteau 323 Annapolis MD
Jack, do you know what make that is? I was in Bacons when you posted this. I can always go back and look for a new lens or fixture.