Alumetron vs Sharkhide on Pontoon

[Hambone]

I’m newer to the world of Pontoons. (2+ years with my Benny)
Did a ton of research of Shark Hide vs Alumetron with sealing after polishing pontoon tubes.
I’m starting my polishing/sealing this week.
Bought a polishing tool from Harbor Freight. (Yes, I know it’s either hit or miss with them) it’s a Bauer 7” polisher with adjustable speeds (600-3600 rpm)
Bought Zypher Super Shine X Big Rig Aluminum polish. 9” wheels
Before any comments the Bauer can handle 9” wheel just fine.
Just staging my process before I go to the Alumetron or Shark Hide. Doing the research, the net says Alumetron is better. Have to apply 4x coats! As Shark Hide has stated it does wear off in water where Alumetron supposedly lasts the season.
Anyone use both of these products? And genuinely which is better if you’ve used both. Note it’s a fresh water river, I pull boat about 1/2 through season, clean and go to lake for vacation, then back to the river.

 

[Jack M]

Yes Shark hide will wear off in a few weeks when in a slip all season . I had mine reapplied every other season.
Bennington no longer offers Shark hide . They offer Metal Jacket from S-G marine which is simiular to Shark hide .
S-G Marine also has a product called Hull Jacket , Last week My dealer removed my Shark hide and had the Metal Jacket applied .
I was told it should last 7-10 years when kept in a slip . I have no experience with Alumetron .
Here is a link for S-G Marine

SG Marine – More Time for Fun!

Just another WordPress site

www.s-g-marine.com

 

[Hambone]

Yes Shark hide will wear off in a few weeks when in a slip all season . I had mine reapplied every other season.
Bennington no longer offers Shark hide . They offer Metal Jacket from S-G marine which is simiular to Shark hide .
S-G Marine also has a product called Hull Jacket , Last week My dealer removed my Shark hide and had the Metal Jacket applied .
I was told it should last 7-10 years when kept in a slip . I have no experience with Alumetron .
Here is a link for S-G Marine

SG Marine – More Time for Fun!

Just another WordPress site

www.s-g-marine.com

Thanks Jack,
I’ll have to look into S-G Marine and their product. Let me know how it holds up after the season?! IF Alumetron doesn’t work out, I’ll certainly check out Metal Jacket.

 

[Jack M]

Thanks Jack,
I’ll have to look into S-G Marine and their product. Let me know how it holds up after the season?! IF Alumetron doesn’t work out, I’ll certainly check out Metal Jacket.

Metal Jacket is their equivalent of Shark hide. Check out the Hull Jacket.

 

[Hambone]

Metal Jacket is their equivalent of Shark hide. Check out the Hull Jacket.

Contacted S+G Marine. Talked with the owner, very nice guy. Unfortunately the product isn’t available for residential use, only commercial use. The nearest dealer that offers the metal jacket is almost 2 hours drive. So I’m going to go with the Alumetron. BUT my next pontoon, I will certainly get the Metal Jacket coat when the tubes are still new. Seems like a great product. Alumetron is more readily available and accessible. So why I’m going that route. I will update on how well the product works.

 

[Jack M]

S-G marine sent a person to train my dealer last week . So mine was the guinea pig.

 

[LaurencetheAdventurer]

Could not resist - a brief AI summary of the 4 solutions attached. SharkHide may be a challenge in states that have banned solvent-based anything (like California).
1. Best shine / classic aluminum look → Sharkhide or Metal Jacket
2. Best balance (appearance + moderate use) → Alumetron
3. Lowest maintenance (easy cleaning) → Metal Jacket
4. Heavy-duty protection / slip storage → Hull Jacket (by far)

 

[Scott1]

My boats sit on a lift all summer. My Sharkhide lasted years on my old boat. I put 2 coats myself on my new boat last year and the toons look like they never were in the water. I am on a fresh water lake that is very clean.

 

[FIRE UP]

Hey Hambone,
I don't see any pics yet of the polishing job so, when you get a chance, spit some out so we can see your progress. When it comes to the various types of aluminum protection, especially on the water, there's a few variables. One of the big variables is the type and amount of different chemicals in each body of water. Different parts of the country, different terrains, different run-off from storms and rains, and more, will provide with different chemicals in each body of water. Most of the time there's no affect on the average human. Water is water for the most part. But, when it comes to aluminum, as in our case here in lake Havasu AZ, we have a pretty fair amount of iron and magnesium in our little body of water.

In the pictures below, (some of which have been posted a few times on here) you see MY polished pontoons. Needless to say, the amount of work it took and keeps taking to get them that way and keep them that way, is a TON of work. As for protection, well I've tried quite a few. Sharkhyde is JUNK, at least with the use of it in our lake. I have followed procedures to the letter and it still wore off in a matter of only a few days and, WE DON'T KEEP OUR BOAT IN THE WATER!!!!!!!! Ours is trailered to the water, off loaded, we play, we retrieve it back onto the trailer and go park it under a drive-under cover. Another words, it's not in the water unless we're using it.

The next product I tried was commercial product that's used on Alloy wheels in the trucking industry. Well, it lasted considerably longer than the junk Sharkhyde. But it still wore/peeled off in a matter of only a couple of weeks of infrequent use. The next attempt at the preservation of my serious hard work was with the installation of a *Clear wrap*. In each case of attempts to preserve the shine, I only did sections of the pontoons. In the case of using the clear wrap, I've only done the center rear, just in front of the engine.

I've had that wrap on there now for at least two seasons and so far, it's doing considerably better than my chemical/coating attempts. But, due to the high friction rate and pressure of the water as it hits the sides and lower section of that center pontoon, especially in the rear, and especially at higher speeds, it too is beginning to peel off. It's a losing battle. With the chemicals in the water and the amount of sunlight and HEAT those polished pontoons are subjected to, my polish jobs primarily last as little as ONE DAY before I have to re-polish them again. It's without a doubt, a serious pain in the A$$ but, what's a guy supposed to do, just let years of polishing go down the tubes?
Scott

 

[Pbakk]

I still don’t understand why we don’t see more painted pontoons. In Minnesota, you rarely see an in-painted AL fishing boat. Why would pontoons be different? Just my 2 cents. I had an expensive fishing boat for 20 years and the bottom looked almost new. After one season, I can see significant change in my non-painted toons.

 

[FIRE UP]

I still don’t understand why we don’t see more painted pontoons. In Minnesota, you rarely see an in-painted AL fishing boat. Why would pontoons be different? Just my 2 cents. I had an expensive fishing boat for 20 years and the bottom looked almost new. After one season, I can see significant change in my non-painted toons.

Pbakk,
We do have a fair amount of "painted" pontoon and tri-toon boats here in Havasu. And as time goes on, there will be more. I have no idea what a factory paint job (like having it done while building the boat, no matter who the manufacturer) but, the cost of painting toons AFTER the boat has been built, AND it's been in the water (sitting in for a season or trailered to and from like ours), is a pretty high price. Prepping aluminum for paint is a bit different than prepping steel. The primers are also different. In the end, you want the best possible adherence as possible. In many, if not most, the cost is just too prohibitive vs the desire. But as stated, you will see them on occasion.
Scott

 

[Scott1]

I still don’t understand why we don’t see more painted pontoons. In Minnesota, you rarely see an in-painted AL fishing boat. Why would pontoons be different? Just my 2 cents. I had an expensive fishing boat for 20 years and the bottom looked almost new. After one season, I can see significant change in my non-painted toons.

Some of the painted toons in my area look nice but these people take care of there stuff. Many of the boats with painted toons are all scratched up.