Community Forums

Albret · 05-08-2016, 05:13 AM

We looked at a 2003 Dolphin Model 5356 yesterday. When we drove up to it, the first thing that caught our eye was the gelcoat. Both slideouts had a yellowish shiny look and the rest of the coach was a chaulky dull white. I'm sure I can buff and wax the chaulky white and make it look good. Not sure about the slides with the yellowish look.

What can I do about the yellowish look on the slide? It looks like crap the way it is. The owner who bought it new, said over the years the slides acquired the yellowish tint. He thought it might be from the sun. I've looked at a number of coaches and this is the third 2003 Dolphin I've seen. This is the first time I have seen this issue. Suggestions on what I can do to make this coach look nice are appreciated.
Al

Skip426 · 05-08-2016, 10:19 AM

Not sure about the yellowing , but here's a post about what others have done with the chalky white problem.

http://www.irv2.com/forums/f59/zepd-...er-204728.html

bdpreece · 05-08-2016, 10:30 AM

National made a great coach. Unfortunately they used two different types of materials to skin the upper and lower sides of the coach. As they age the colors become distinctively different. Don't think you will ever get rid of the yellowing short of having the entire coach painted. On some years they actually painted the lower portion from the factory and then you didn't notice as the upper yellowed.

Albret · 05-08-2016, 02:28 PM

Thank you BD. That makes sense. We'll pass on this coach.

Thewellz · 05-08-2016, 06:21 PM

Bd preese is talking about the abs plastic material on the bay doors being different than the fiberglass side walls. As far as i know the slide walls are gelcoated fiberglass just like the rest of the coach...I've owned two older Nationals and never had that happen on either of them...maybe the slide material was from a slightly different mixture of fiberglass?

speed racer · 05-09-2016, 07:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Thewellz

Bd preese is talking about the abs plastic material on the bay doors being different than the fiberglass side walls. As far as i know the slide walls are gelcoated fiberglass just like the rest of the coach...I've owned two older Nationals and never had that happen on either of them...maybe the slide material was from a slightly different mixture of fiberglass?

The slide walls are the same as the rest of the wall. They are the cut outs taken from the wall when they cut the slideout opening.

Albret · 05-10-2016, 06:07 AM

Speed Racer

If that is the case (cut out of the same material), what accounts for the fact the slidewall turned yellow and is shiny where as the rest of the side a dull chalky white? The picture shows the difference.

speed racer · 05-10-2016, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Albret

Speed Racer

If that is the case (cut out of the same material), what accounts for the fact the slidewall turned yellow and is shiny where as the rest of the side a dull chalky white? The picture shows the difference.

It could have been replaced or repaired.

speed racer · 05-10-2016, 07:57 AM

A good example is on my 05 Dolphin the sidewalls are a slight yellowish color and the end caps are more white along with the storage compartment doors. I removed a decal that went from the sidewall around the front cap and under the decal the sidewall was more white and the front cap was more yellow. I don't understand it but I am hoping the sun will take care of the problem and make them blend in.

chboone · 05-11-2016, 10:31 PM

Two years ago I removed all of the graphics on my 99 Dolphin, polished all the gel coat with 3 grades of polish then replaced all the graphics. Once I finished the polishing the ghosts from the original graphics was very faint. The clear coat on the compartment doors starter coming off so I removed the clear coat and polished the doors the same as the walls. The doors came out better then I thought they would I wax them a couple times a year, they have a nice shine to them. Just started using a new wax hopefully it will last longer then the Meguire's I was using before.
BTW, I don't have the yellowing that one has.