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Old 10-20-2012, 11:17 AM   #1
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Updates as of 4-29-14.......Fiberine Top Yellowing?

Installed a new Fiberine top late last year and it is yellowing already. It matched close on day one and now the color difference is noticeable.

It is just the factory gelcoat with no paint.

I spoke with Fiberine and they stated I needed to be buffing the top on a regular basis. I have buffed the top twice in 8 months. Once right when I got it to take out the swirl marks that were there the day I picked it up and about 4 months ago.

Spoke with a few people here about their tops and they don't seem to have done any maintenance and don't have yellowing.

Any thoughts out there? Should this be happening in 8 months or so of ownership?

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Old 10-20-2012, 08:57 PM   #2
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Re: Fiberine Top Yellowing?

??? maybe the gel-coat might dull a bit in sunlight but yellow? I don't buy it. My old top which was standard fiberglass never had that happen. You don't think maybe the wax could have yellowed?
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Old 10-20-2012, 11:42 PM   #3
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Re: Fiberine Top Yellowing?

Sounds like the gelcoat was thinned at least a bit excessively. I'm pretty sure you will need to either compound it regularly (recommend 3M products from a marine supply store, they make the job pretty easy) or cover it up with paint. If you want to have an expert look at it, Mark Bowman at Monsoon Yacht Services in SD is the best around.
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Old 10-21-2012, 07:42 AM   #4
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Re: Fiberine Top Yellowing?

Thanks for the info everyone. Must be something on their end. I sent them a photo sample on Friday so I will followup with them tomorrow.
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Old 10-21-2012, 09:15 AM   #5
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Re: Fiberine Top Yellowing?

One of my old boats turned quite yellow in just a few years and it spent most of its life covered when not in the water.
The next one I had (different brand) for ten years and it was still really white.
I think it might have something to do with the resin and or how fast the gel coat cures.

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Old 01-13-2013, 06:24 PM   #6
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Re: Fiberine Top Yellowing?

i just stumbled upon this thread. Hopefully you got things squared away with your top.

Our Fiberine top was put on our van in November 2010. At this post the roof seems to look very close to what i remember when installed. I wanted to post a picture to show what we did to the van to break up the slight difference in whites between van and top. If you look close you will see some black stripes. It was a decal i found online in roll form. PITB to put on, but the result works to fool the eye into thinking the whites are actually closer than they are : )



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Old 01-13-2013, 07:16 PM   #7
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Re: Fiberine Top Yellowing?

Hi Thom, thanks for the suggestions. Interesting timing on your post.

These last couples months I have been in contact with Fiberine many times looking for a solution to the issue. The top is now much more yellow from the day I purchased it. In direct sunlight it not as noticeable as you are blinded by the light reflecting off the white van body. All other lighting it's very noticeable (Overcast, shade, evening etc.

Long story short Fiberine stated it should not be happening this quick but they can't help as I am past their 90 day warranty. They also stated the warranty that I did have was voided when I decided to fix the window and top leaks on my own that were present when I picked it up. Their workmanship was so sloppy and their suggestions to fix the problems were just as bad so I decided to fix it ourself.

They suggested speaking with TechAmerica who is the manufacture of the GelCoat. I did speak with them and they had no solution either but did state they supply Fiberine with a UV Stabilized Gelcoat and Non UV stabilized Gelcoat. I believe Fiberine makes other indoor products that may not use it.

Two people I know have purchased tops from them just like mine before and after my purchase. Both of them look great.

No one seems to have an explanation for why this is the only top this happened to but one possibility is non UV Stabilized Gel was accidentally used on my top.

Regardless Fiberine states my warranty was up 90 days after purchase.

Still weighing the options….
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Old 01-13-2013, 08:39 PM   #8
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Re: Fiberine Top Yellowing?

90 day warranty? That's horrible, and more horrible that they would void the pathetic warranty because you fixed thier sloppy work

Sorry to hear about your problems.

Did you ever sell your old top


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Old 01-14-2013, 02:27 AM   #9
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Re: Fiberine Top Yellowing?

If you want to go that route, would it be possible to analyse the installed Gelcoat, by TechAmerica for exemple, like that if they used the Non UV stabilized Gelcoat that would not be a warranty issue but a manufacturing default...
If it helps...
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Old 01-14-2013, 08:42 AM   #10
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Re: Fiberine Top Yellowing?

have the gel coat manufacture test a chip and see if it is the the UV or non UV gel coat.
If its not UV then let them know and make the disicion for you.
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