[eschaider]

You want the pipes far enough from the body that the radiant heat they give off will not damage the paint. If you don't damage the paint you will also not damage the fiberglass underneath the paint.

Remember, heat can not only damage paint, it can cook the resin that binds the fiberglass together and reduce it to a fine white powder. This type of heat damage is progressive and even more expensive than a repaint. Depending on the skills of the repair shop, the job may or may not look right when finished.