VHF Radios...why are they all that ugly yellow/white plastic?
 

Just curious....why are most of the VHF radios I see in pictures of boats here on OSO a yellowish white plastic instead of the bright white like the rest of the dash/boat? Used and new I've seen this and it doesn't make sense to me...anyone care to elaborate? I know it's minor but even on some huge dollar boats they still have that ugly cheap look to them.

Re: VHF Radios...why are they all that ugly yellow/white plastic?
 

After alot of exposure to the sun (UV Rays) it turns the plastic a yellow color. Dave

Re: VHF Radios...why are they all that ugly yellow/white plastic?
 

Thanks Dave...that was what I was originally thinking but I've seen many pictures here on OSO of new/newer boats and they all get that nasty yellow tint to them....was just curious why none of the other guages or radio coverplates turn that nasty yellow color. Oh well...no big deal...just that I hadn't figured it out. If I get one, I'll hide it from the sun I think :)

Re: VHF Radios...why are they all that ugly yellow/white plastic?
 

Had good luck with uniden Oceanus.

It stayed white.

Re: VHF Radios...why are they all that ugly yellow/white plastic?
 

When I bought my boat getting rid of the ugly yellow radio was my first project. I went with a Uniden and hope to give it a lot of sun exposure this year. :D

Re: VHF Radios...why are they all that ugly yellow/white plastic?
 

Sounds like a resounding Uniden to come up with the fix of yellowing in their composite/plastics. Thanks!!!

Re: VHF Radios...why are they all that ugly yellow/white plastic?
 

Uniden stays white...

Re: VHF Radios...why are they all that ugly yellow/white plastic?
 

Usually the the reason plastic turns yellow is because it's recycled plastic/vinyl. Virgin plastic/vinyl is much better but more expensive.

Mark

Re: VHF Radios...why are they all that ugly yellow/white plastic?
 

On the same subject....
Newer Infinity Marine series speaker grills stay pretty white too.

Must be virgin plastic like Mark is talking about.

Re: VHF Radios...why are they all that ugly yellow/white plastic?
 

More than likely the resin they are molded out of has no UV inhibitors in it. Or very little anyway. We mold many, many parts here that get direct sunlight and uv inhibitors are a requirement (auto parts). White is the worst, it turns yellow. Black is the second worst, it turns grey eventually.

And eventually, they will ALL change color. It's an inevitable fact of exposure to direct sunlight.

'Foul