New Boat and Shark Hide

You know the drill..

Moderators: Redneck_Randy, badmoonrising, lakerunner

Message
Author
User avatar
FLOUNDERPOUNDER225
Posts: 314
Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2015 7:19 am

New Boat and Shark Hide

#1 Post by FLOUNDERPOUNDER225 » Tue Mar 08, 2016 10:16 am

So since buying a brand new Berkshire Tri-Toon in August, I was witnessing the shine of the toons fading rapidly. The saltwater environment is tough down here. I kept thinking about Shark hide or another product, but procrastinated. Finally this past 2 weekends I got busy with it. I am content with the level of shine I brought out, I wasn't trying to make them a mirror, but I wanted more than the off white appearance after the acid bath. Most importantly, if the protectant performs as well as all the reviews I have read, I won't be bothering with them for several years to come, other than its normal bath after being out. In retrospect, I would say to anyone purchasing new, do something prior to putting the boat in the water, especially SW, not sure how quickly freshwater lakes will discolor the toons. If I had ANY idea how quickly things would change, and HOW MUCH work was involved in the polishing process, I wouldn't have hesitated for a moment either doing it myself, or letting the dealer apply the shark hide. Hind-sight is 20/20 right?
Attachments
toons after.jpg
toons after.jpg (807 KiB) Viewed 4006 times
toons before.jpg
toons before.jpg (771.59 KiB) Viewed 4006 times
Pensacola FL
2015 Berkshire 231 RFC
Yamaha F-150

Bryden24shp
Posts: 1872
Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2008 6:28 am
Location: Iowa/Lake of the Ozarks, Mo.
Contact:

Re: New Boat and Shark Hide

#2 Post by Bryden24shp » Tue Mar 08, 2016 5:39 pm

I am not planning to polish the new Manitou. The new Manitou will have a Sharkhide type sealant on them when I get it. But, I do have another trick up my sleeve that I won't announce until I try and prove the result. You all may be amazed! :biggrin2
Owner-EzFender Boat Products
Members, visit your discount page at:
http://www.ezfender.com/PontoonForums-M ... -Page.html

Bamaman
Posts: 3679
Joined: Fri May 06, 2011 1:44 pm
Location: NW Alabama--Tennessee River

Re: New Boat and Shark Hide

#3 Post by Bamaman » Wed Mar 09, 2016 4:15 am

I would avoid acid washes unless absolutely necessary to remove green grunge.

I continue to polish my boat every June with a Porter Cable dual action sander/polisher, a 6" wool bonnet and White Diamond metal polish. I can polish the nosecones, the outside of the toons and the rear end in just over an hour

To polish the toons and remove all the aluminum oxide from the toons (prior to Sharkhiding) would take hours and hours. When I tried using Sharkhide, I got black smudges in the finish. After cleaning and cleaning with lacquer cleaner, I couldn't get the smudges to stop. It's easier to just polish it periodically.

I also have a high speed polisher and wool bonnet. I could use rouges and polish the toons to a near mirror finish. But it's very tough physically to use the polisher. I also find it too hard to maintain such a shiny finish. The dual action polisher is good enough.
'12 Bennington 24' SSLX Yamaha 150

kytoon14
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed Feb 17, 2016 2:58 pm

Re: New Boat and Shark Hide

#4 Post by kytoon14 » Wed Mar 09, 2016 1:29 pm

The dealer I am ordering our new Avalon from said he would lift the boat of off the trailer and apply the sharkhide. He said since we keep it on a lift all summer that the sharkhide should last 2 years, but it's $750 to have it done on a 27ft boat. Is it worth it?

Mark
2016 Avalon 2785QL Windjammer
2016 GMC Denali 1500

User avatar
FLOUNDERPOUNDER225
Posts: 314
Joined: Thu Jul 16, 2015 7:19 am

Re: New Boat and Shark Hide

#5 Post by FLOUNDERPOUNDER225 » Wed Mar 09, 2016 4:07 pm

kytoon14 wrote:The dealer I am ordering our new Avalon from said he would lift the boat of off the trailer and apply the sharkhide. He said since we keep it on a lift all summer that the sharkhide should last 2 years, but it's $750 to have it done on a 27ft boat. Is it worth it?

Mark
Yes! Because if it's done before it ever gets in the water, #1 it won't get discolored, #2 even in 2 to 3 years, all you have to do is recoat, no polishing or stripping. JMHO...
Pensacola FL
2015 Berkshire 231 RFC
Yamaha F-150

kytoon14
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed Feb 17, 2016 2:58 pm

Re: New Boat and Shark Hide

#6 Post by kytoon14 » Thu Mar 10, 2016 8:32 am

Thanks for info. I didn't realize after going those 2 years you could just reapply instead of having to polish, so I definitely think that makes it worth the money
2016 Avalon 2785QL Windjammer
2016 GMC Denali 1500

D.L.
Posts: 39
Joined: Tue Feb 07, 2012 10:26 am
Location: Montgomery and Onalaska, TX.

Re: New Boat and Shark Hide

#7 Post by D.L. » Thu Mar 10, 2016 9:29 am

kytoon14 wrote:The dealer I am ordering our new Avalon from said he would lift the boat of off the trailer and apply the sharkhide. He said since we keep it on a lift all summer that the sharkhide should last 2 years, but it's $750 to have it done on a 27ft boat. Is it worth it?

Mark
If that price is for polishing that is very good. If its just for protectant that's a little high- actually double what my boat dealer quoted on my new one.
2016 Harris Solstice 240 DLCB
Mercury Verado 200

User avatar
sunedog
Posts: 356
Joined: Thu Apr 13, 2006 4:48 am

Re: New Boat and Shark Hide

#8 Post by sunedog » Thu Mar 10, 2016 10:57 am

I'd rather have $750 worth of beer. Drink a few here and there and never worry about how shiny my toons were. :drink

kytoon14
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed Feb 17, 2016 2:58 pm

Re: New Boat and Shark Hide

#9 Post by kytoon14 » Thu Mar 10, 2016 12:22 pm

That's just for the shark hide since it's a brand new boat no polishing will be needed. I was more thinking along the lines of $400-$500, so it did seem pretty high to me as well. The more I think about it I'm just not sure its worth it since it does sit on a lift all summer.
2016 Avalon 2785QL Windjammer
2016 GMC Denali 1500

Cape Dave
Posts: 14
Joined: Thu Feb 25, 2016 1:28 pm

Re: New Boat and Shark Hide

#10 Post by Cape Dave » Thu Mar 10, 2016 12:47 pm

Look up the price of shark hide then buy a couple of cases of beer then wax on wax off over and over, that is a little high on price.

Bamaman
Posts: 3679
Joined: Fri May 06, 2011 1:44 pm
Location: NW Alabama--Tennessee River

Re: New Boat and Shark Hide

#11 Post by Bamaman » Thu Mar 10, 2016 1:20 pm

sunedog wrote:I'd rather have $750 worth of beer. Drink a few here and there and never worry about how shiny my toons were. :drink

Pay me $750 and I'll be glad to polish your boat every June for the next 2 years.
'12 Bennington 24' SSLX Yamaha 150

Bryden24shp
Posts: 1872
Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2008 6:28 am
Location: Iowa/Lake of the Ozarks, Mo.
Contact:

Re: New Boat and Shark Hide

#12 Post by Bryden24shp » Sun Mar 13, 2016 10:27 am

For what it takes to apply the Sharkhide and the cost of it, ya, he is dinging you pretty hard. The hardest part is to pull it off the trailer. It takes maybe 1/2 an hour to apply it to a new hull. As long as the hull is clean and has no "Factory Applied" sealer. You can tell if it has been sealed by dipping a rag into lacquer thinner and rubbing it on the pontoon. f you see some stuff rubbing off and dissolving going on, its already got a coating on it. I did my brand new trailer yesterday, took 20 minutes, and it was a pain. Pontoons ae much easier. I would say $250 to $400 would be about right.
Attachments
20160312_115108.jpg
20160312_115108.jpg (76.19 KiB) Viewed 3429 times
20160312_102009.jpg
20160312_102009.jpg (143 KiB) Viewed 3426 times
Owner-EzFender Boat Products
Members, visit your discount page at:
http://www.ezfender.com/PontoonForums-M ... -Page.html

kytoon14
Posts: 18
Joined: Wed Feb 17, 2016 2:58 pm

Re: New Boat and Shark Hide

#13 Post by kytoon14 » Mon Mar 14, 2016 9:23 am

I appreciate the info. The dealer is trying to tell me that it takes two of his guys a couple of hours to put it on, but clearly that is not the case.
2016 Avalon 2785QL Windjammer
2016 GMC Denali 1500

Bryden24shp
Posts: 1872
Joined: Wed Nov 12, 2008 6:28 am
Location: Iowa/Lake of the Ozarks, Mo.
Contact:

Re: New Boat and Shark Hide

#14 Post by Bryden24shp » Mon Mar 14, 2016 9:43 am

Oh god no! If you lived close to me, I'ld do it for you. Its soooo simple and easy to use! If they are not factory coated, its very fast! Hit them with a little lacquer thinner to clean them, pour some Sharkhide on a rag and apply it from the front to rear, in one long swipe at the top and work your way down. Let it cure for 24 hours and hit it with another coat, if you can see missed spots.
For that much money, I may become a professional Sharkhider, make a billion and run for President!
Owner-EzFender Boat Products
Members, visit your discount page at:
http://www.ezfender.com/PontoonForums-M ... -Page.html

bradm
Posts: 114
Joined: Tue Jul 30, 2013 6:09 pm
Location: Lake Barkley and Kentucky Lake

Re: New Boat and Shark Hide

#15 Post by bradm » Sun May 08, 2016 6:02 pm

Hey Kytoon14,

Did you end up doing the Sharkhide on ur new Avalon? Sold our 2012 South Bay and waiting for new boat to show up. Leaning toward putting Shark hide on myself before even putting in water after reading how easy is when start with new clean boat. Have bottom painted cruiser I had before so surface prep and working on bottom of boat does not bother me too much. Although was somewhat younger and thinner then :lol3. Dealer really did not have much interest in doing it.

Would love to polish toons to mirror finish but don't really think want to make that commitment.

Have a bit of time to decide and prepare as new boat not due in till right before Memorial Day and realistically might not have till after Memorial Day anyway. Not a big issue as we often don't boat alot on holidays due to crowds and amateurs.

Wanting to hear local results and experience. Maybe even see results rather than just photos.

Thanks!

Brad
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Brad M.
2019 Manitou Legacy with 350 Suzuki
2016 South Bay 523 Arch. 250 Suzuki SS (sold)

Post Reply