Refurbishing Portlight Surrounds on 2002 Bavaria 42

[Alastair Gibson]

The interior portlight surrounds on my 2002 Bavaria 42 have gone green in places and generally look pretty shabby. I'm not sure what they are made of (plastic?) - they appear to have a sort of chrome finish. Any suggestion as to how to set about refurbishing these would be most welcome!

[tiger79]

Take them off, clean them up, and perhaps spray-paint them.

[Yngmar]

They are chromed plastic, unfortunately. In order to chrome plastic, it first gets a conductive nickel/copper plating before being electroplated. When the thin chrome layer is damaged, the copper is what gives you the green corrosion. We polished them up occasionally, but they were in better shape than yours.

You can sand it off and paint it white or send off for rechroming, but chromed plastic is just not very good or durable.

Or, apparently, try chrome nail polish: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ninpBuzNSxQ

[symphony2]

Yours have lasted better than the ones on my 2001 37. I sprayed them matt black. Looked better than failing chrome.

[geoff]

Mine were all replaced when the boat was a year old . Rutgerson replaced them with white ones which have stayed white . If they are still available they are simple to remove/replace. Geoff

[Alastair Gibson]

Many thanks for all your helpful replies!