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Topic: Spots on coach exterior (What is it?) (Read 759 times) previous topic - next topic

Spots on coach exterior (What is it?)

Before leaving on our trip to Door County Wisconsin we washed down the coach.  When cleaning the roof I noticed some spots that looked like bird droppings close to the Hadley's on the passenger side.  I figured a bird was sitting on the horn and did his thing.  I noticed as I clean that it was not washing off.  I reach down and touched and it has hardened.  As I tried harder it peeled away along with some of the gel coat.  Can bird poop be so strong to cause this or what is really going on?  For a quick fix I am going to peel the spots off and put some white silicone on them till I can get home to the shop.
John M.

[Modified topic title to be more meaningful - Michelle]
John & Carm Morales

"We travel not to go anywhere, but to just go.  We travel for travel's sake.  Our great desire is to move."

Re: Spots on coach exterior (What is it?)

Reply #1 –
In South TX Mesquite tree sap will do that,any chance it's sap from a tree?
96 U270 BUILD 4810
85 380SL
Drummonds TN.

Re: Spots on coach exterior (What is it?)

Reply #2 –
John, try soaking the spots with WD-40, then wipe off.
Nitehawk,  Demolition Lady, & our NEW master, Zippy the speeding BB cat.
1989 Grand Villa 36' ORED
Oshkosh chassis, 8.2 DD V8
2006 Saturn Vue AWD

Re: Spots on coach exterior (What is it?)

Reply #3 –
Looks like he already got them off,along with his gelcoat.
96 U270 BUILD 4810
85 380SL
Drummonds TN.

Re: Spots on coach exterior (What is it?)

Reply #4 –
They look like a previous gelcoat chip repair job to me.
2001 4010 U320 build #5865 "Bluto-d-Bus" since 09/18
2006 Honda Element ESP Toad
Full timing since 2016 in Western MT
Copilot: Sitka
1975 GMC 260 Avion: sold

Re: Spots on coach exterior (What is it?)

Reply #5 –
it looks like previous repairs to me.  Annually, I will walk the roof and coat anything that looks like a crack, chip, anything that may have penetrated the gelcoat and clean and cover it with Dicor self leveling sealant. This will prevent any future moisture penetration.
Rick and Wendy Green
1998 U270 3600 The Coach Formerly known as Princess
Build# 5336
2007 Ford Explorer

Re: Spots on coach exterior (What is it?)

Reply #6 –

Dicor will work, but there are products out there that will work better, last longer, and be easier to remove later. 

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Aquatic-Gelcoat-Repair-Kit-in-White-35RKWH/100177610

I've used this to repair a few dings on the front of my coach....you can get it at Lowes.  Amazon.com: J-B Weld 8272 MarineWeld Marine Epoxy - 2 oz.: Industrial &...

Woody.

2001 4010 U320 build #5865 "Bluto-d-Bus" since 09/18
2006 Honda Element ESP Toad
Full timing since 2016 in Western MT
Copilot: Sitka
1975 GMC 260 Avion: sold

Re: Spots on coach exterior (What is it?)

Reply #7 –
Definitly someone tried a quick repair fix before withall the wrong stuff.
If it peeled off then it did not bjnd with the original gel coat.
JohnH
Coachless, now use aircraft.
1994 Ford E350 ClassC,total renovation inside and out. Now sold.
2000 U295  36' Cummins 350 c/w Banks Stinger, Resonator upgrade,Solar, LED lites.Residential fridge with slide out pantry. Build 5674. Sold
ex 92 GV 022C ored Cummins. Sold
ex 95 GV240 cat 3116. Sold
2017 Mini cooper s & 2016 land Rover LR2 HSE  LUX.
jhaygarth@aol.com    SKP #130098
treat everyone as you would like to be.

Re: Spots on coach exterior (What is it?)

Reply #8 –
Prep is everything.

Quote from: John Haygarth –
Definitly someone tried a quick repair fix before withall the wrong stuff.
If it peeled off then it did not bjnd with the original gel coat.
JohnH
2001 4010 U320 build #5865 "Bluto-d-Bus" since 09/18
2006 Honda Element ESP Toad
Full timing since 2016 in Western MT
Copilot: Sitka
1975 GMC 260 Avion: sold

Re: Spots on coach exterior (What is it?)

Reply #9 –
Was it where one of the antennas were
Steve

1997 U270 36' build 5179
Motorcade #18147
1980 CJ5

Re: Spots on coach exterior (What is it?)

Reply #10 –
Even if it was aquick repair something still made the spot to begin with.
96 U270 BUILD 4810
85 380SL
Drummonds TN.

Re: Spots on coach exterior (What is it?)

Reply #11 –
John Morales,  are they something new? You've had that beautiful coach for some time now and surely this isn't the first time you washed the roof.

Re: Spots on coach exterior (What is it?)

Reply #12 –
T-Man,
This is new,  never had this before.  They are like blisters.  I was told that it could have been done by a near by lightning strike. A lightning strike can cause any moisture trapped in the fiberglass to vaporize resulting in similar blisters.  It happens to boats.    Whatever it is, blistered the the gel coat in those spots.  There was no previous repairs on the spots.  I Googled  blisters in fiberglass gel coat images and you can see many examples.  More common in boats.  This is all new to me.
John M.

blisters in fiberglass gelcoat - Google Search
John & Carm Morales

"We travel not to go anywhere, but to just go.  We travel for travel's sake.  Our great desire is to move."

Re: Spots on coach exterior (What is it?)

Reply #14 –
They are not blisters. Blisters are moisture trapped under the gelcoat, that has acid building up in them and causes it to cause a cavity to form. I don't think you can have a blister without it being in salt water. Blisters are unheard of above the waterline, or in boats in fresh water. Only salt, far as I know.
I think John some po tried to repair spots that got nicked by rocks, or damage to the roof and eventually they failed.  At least that is what it looks like to me.
'99 U320 40 WTFE
Build #5462,
1500 Watts Solar 600 amp Victron lithium
2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee Overland Hemi
Instagram bobfnbw
Retired