Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

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?

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!

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.

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

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...

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Pay me $750 and I'll be glad to polish your boat every June for the next 2 years.

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.

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.

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!

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 . 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