starboard or acrylic

muddywater · #1 02-16-2008, 02:27 AM

Which one holds up better/longer before it yellows - doors made of starboard or those molded acrylic ones (like SSI makes)?

muddywater · #2 02-18-2008, 12:48 AM

Wow, no replies yet? The reason I asked is that I hate having a nice pretty white fiberglass boat with a bunch of sun-yellowed plastic hatches and doors. I was just wondering if anybody had any brilliant ideas on minimizing that.

htillman · #3 02-18-2008, 01:34 AM

I am using Seaboard on my boat. It is supposed to be UV resistant "USDA Cutting Board". Search US Plastics website for info. They have different thicknesses and sheet sizes. I am using 3/4" thick. Have it cut but not installed yet. I am using acrylic for my dash and am gluing really cool "Seacraft Lettering" a CSC member made for me.

76Red18 · #4 02-18-2008, 12:28 PM

I've had starboard on my boat with 3 years of direct Florida sunshine with no yellowing or surface breakdown.

jfm · #5 02-18-2008, 04:18 PM

I live on Cape Cod and have replaced the teak drop down door that allows access to the stern well and outboard. Have had it in place for over 3 years with no yellowing.

Islandtrader · #6 02-18-2008, 06:12 PM

In my other boat that I had for over 10 years I had Starboard entry doors, and they never yellowed. I live in SW FL. The previous owner had the boat for 5 years.

other tom · #7 02-20-2008, 05:36 PM

starboard and acrylic won't yellow or get damaged by UV. Those white molded pieces and hatches by SSI and your basic Igloo cooler parts are a totally different material, that does, over time, get damaged by the UV if not covered. In my experience, speakers, pie-hole plate hatches, Rabud plastic hatches, and GPS antennas have been the worst in yellowing. True acrylic (gloss) and starboard (texture) will not yellow.