Just got off the phone with Clint from Sharkhide and he said that IF we keep the boat in the water all season (like WE DO) Sharkhide will not do any good. It's NOT a bottom paint, it's not an "anti-fouling" product. It's not a wax to prevent algae, moss, zebra mussels, etc.
IF you trailer your boat or keep it up/off the water on a lift, then Sharkhide WILL keep your toons looking BRAND NEW for decades! Even after a weekend, just pull it out of the water, soap/water clean sponge off all the residue and that's it, ESPECIALLY if starting out with a brand new boat and having it Sharkhided from the very beginning as aluminum starts to oxidize almost immediately without it.
We were totally misunderstanding the purpose even though it seemed like cleaning at the end of the season was much easier. And it could have been...or not! We don't really know. We just used soap & water with scotchbrite pads (which Clint said the SB pads shouldn't even be necessary if cleaning daily or after a weekend) and the toons look pretty darn good after two seasons but, who knows how long that'll last? He said now, "the damage to ours is basically done" (by keeping it in the water two full seasons already) and if we want a shiny almost new looking pontoon appearance, it'll take the major stripping/polishing process, then applying Sharkhide AND then keeping the boat on a lift or trailer. That's it.
IF you trailer your boat or keep it up/off the water on a lift, then Sharkhide WILL keep your toons looking BRAND NEW for decades! Even after a weekend, just pull it out of the water, soap/water clean sponge off all the residue and that's it, ESPECIALLY if starting out with a brand new boat and having it Sharkhided from the very beginning as aluminum starts to oxidize almost immediately without it.
We were totally misunderstanding the purpose even though it seemed like cleaning at the end of the season was much easier. And it could have been...or not! We don't really know. We just used soap & water with scotchbrite pads (which Clint said the SB pads shouldn't even be necessary if cleaning daily or after a weekend) and the toons look pretty darn good after two seasons but, who knows how long that'll last? He said now, "the damage to ours is basically done" (by keeping it in the water two full seasons already) and if we want a shiny almost new looking pontoon appearance, it'll take the major stripping/polishing process, then applying Sharkhide AND then keeping the boat on a lift or trailer. That's it.