Several times in the past dozen years, I have seen aging white vinyl take on pink staining. I first noticed on my 2003 Albin 28 about 3 years after I purchased her new. The manufacturer of the seats and bolsters told me it was a defect in the manufacturing process (and i was out of warranty and SOL). Nothing i tried helped remove the stains. I have see n this on other boats as well. this month's Professional Boatbuilder has an article on this remarkably revealing that the pink stain is from infection with an organism Streptoverticillium reticulum. Treatment is with zinc pyrithione followed by spraying with a vinyl clear coat. The only problem is what to do with the stains that are already there. Has anyone tried to use white spray paint that is approved for plastic? bruce adornato san francisco -- bta

I am a little late reading this due to the holiday, but I am familiar with what you are talking about. My boat was built around the same time as yours (2002) and several years into ownership I noticed some change in color of the vinyl, mostly confined to the tops of armrests, bolsters, etc.   I have since learned that many boats of that vintage ultimately suffered a higher instance of vinyl discoloration due to how vinyl products were manufactured at the time, what chemicals and processes were used, etc. I have had a mobile upholstery repair company come out and correct minor defects over the years.  They use what I can best describe as an airbrush technique that precisely matches the vinyl both in color and texture.  The touch-ups are invisible and have withstood the test of time. If you want to get it fixed and fixed right, call out a mobile service who does the airbrush thing and they can make your vinyl look brand new in about an hour.   I wouldn't mess with some iffy off the shelf product if you want the repair to look good and last. Ryan On 11/21/2017 2:55 PM, Bruce Adornato via Trawlers-and-Trawlering wrote: > Several times in the past dozen years, I have seen aging white vinyl take > on pink staining. I first noticed on my 2003 Albin 28 about 3 years after > I purchased her new. The manufacturer of the seats and bolsters told me it > was a defect in the manufacturing process (and i was out of warranty and > SOL). Nothing i tried helped remove the stains. I have see n this on > other boats as well. > > this month's Professional Boatbuilder has an article on this remarkably > revealing that the pink stain is from infection with an organism > Streptoverticillium > reticulum. Treatment is with zinc pyrithione followed by spraying with a > vinyl clear coat. > > The only problem is what to do with the stains that are already there. Has > anyone tried to use white spray paint that is approved for plastic? > --- This email has been checked for viruses by AVG. http://www.avg.com

I second the idea of an upholstery repair company. They may not be easy to find. The simplest way is to call a few used car lots (dealers or independents) and ask the manager who they use. They can provide several jobs a week and these repair business cultivate them. You can also find the people who do vinyl striping the same way for boot stripes and graphics. Ask the body shop manager. Frank Burrows 79 43' Viking Piney Narrows Chesapeake Bay > I have had a mobile upholstery repair company come out and correct minor > defects over the years.  They use what I can best describe as an > airbrush technique that precisely matches the vinyl both in color and > texture.  The touch-ups are invisible and have withstood the test of time. > > If you want to get it fixed and fixed right, call out a mobile service > who does the airbrush thing and they can make your vinyl look brand new > in about an hour.   I wouldn't mess with some iffy off the shelf product > if you want the repair to look good and last.