Yellowed walk thru door '04 Sundeck 240

CU_Tiger_06

New Member
May 24, 2019
18
Boat Info
240 Sundeck 2004
Engines
5.0 Mercruiser Bravo III
I removed my boat from winter storage, and the whole thing looked clean and in good shape except for one door, the large access one behind the helm which doubles as a walk through door to the bow (part# 1753958). It has completely yellowed! I'm guessing it's from prolonged exposure to UV, then storage in the dark all winter, kind of like what happens with cheap old ABS plastics, but I was surprised this would happen on fiberglass (I think it's fiberglass). It's still functional, just an eyesore!

Anyone know of any tricks to remove the yellow and restore back to the original white/off-white color? I was thinking about just buying a new door, but haven't been able to find this part for sale anywhere.
 
I removed my boat from winter storage, and the whole thing looked clean and in good shape except for one door, the large access one behind the helm which doubles as a walk through door to the bow (part# 1753958). It has completely yellowed! I'm guessing it's from prolonged exposure to UV, then storage in the dark all winter, kind of like what happens with cheap old ABS plastics, but I was surprised this would happen on fiberglass (I think it's fiberglass). It's still functional, just an eyesore!

Anyone know of any tricks to remove the yellow and restore back to the original white/off-white color? I was thinking about just buying a new door, but haven't been able to find this part for sale anywhere.
Try using ON OFF wash it down with that it should take the yellow out!
 
I removed my boat from winter storage, and the whole thing looked clean and in good shape except for one door, the large access one behind the helm which doubles as a walk through door to the bow (part# 1753958). It has completely yellowed! I'm guessing it's from prolonged exposure to UV, then storage in the dark all winter, kind of like what happens with cheap old ABS plastics, but I was surprised this would happen on fiberglass (I think it's fiberglass). It's still functional, just an eyesore!

Anyone know of any tricks to remove the yellow and restore back to the original white/off-white color? I was thinking about just buying a new door, but haven't been able to find this part for sale anywhere.
shopping.png
 
That's an odd one. I've seen so many of these 240SD's over the years and I honestly have never seen that. I wonder if something had gotten on it - some type of chemical - or possibly some odd, incompatible cleaner.

The door isn't fiberglass/gelcoat - I'm positive of that. It's definitely some type of plastic. It's completely smooth, like gelcoat would be, though... if memory serves? You might get lucky and be able to compound it. Remove it from the boat - experiment on the backside. Try some restorer/polishes for plastic... Buff Magic, for example.
 
Try using ON OFF wash it down with that it should take the yellow out!

Be VERY careful using that stuff inside the boat. Get a respirator with cartridges on it, Not just a dust mask. Have a hose in the boat with you and wet the floor first. You’ll need to make sure the runoff is diluted very well so nothing in the direction of flow Is damaged.

The vapors are VERY strong when used on the exterior, I can only imagine the intensity of it when caught in a semi confined space like the walk through area of your boat.

Just be sure to read and follow the directions is all I’m saying.
 
I don't think I've ever tried, so I don't know... will On & Off, which is muriatic acid (hydrochloric), damage plastic?
 
Be VERY careful using that stuff inside the boat. Get a respirator with cartridges on it, Not just a dust mask. Have a hose in the boat with you and wet the floor first. You’ll need to make sure the runoff is diluted very well so nothing in the direction of flow Is damaged.

The vapors are VERY strong when used on the exterior, I can only imagine the intensity of it when caught in a semi confined space like the walk through area of your boat.

Just be sure to read and follow the directions is all I’m saying.

It’s pretty much Muriatic acid.
 
If it's the same material as my small door between the swim platform and cockpit, that seems odd. Other than me smashing my knee through it (expensive mistake), it has never faded or colored. Is it similar to this material?

sea-ray-transom-door.jpg
 
If it's the same material as my small door between the swim platform and cockpit, that seems odd. Other than me smashing my knee through it (expensive mistake), it has never faded or colored. Is it similar to this material?

View attachment 81402
Yes, similar, in fact I think it’s the exact same material as my cockpit/swim platform door also, which didn’t yellow. I’ll take a photo next time I’m out on the boat so everyone can see. I’ve see. A few home remedies for whitening yellowed plastics common on old electronics housing materials ... basically soaking in bleach/water, so I may give that a shot.
 
Worst case, you can have some paint custom tinted to match and spray it.
 

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