Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

All,

My boat sits in the water at our dock in saltwater. I cannot put in a boat lift, so it is currently bottom-painted and this works well.

I have an opportunity to get a new set of pontoons (warranty issue) and so I will be having sharkhide put on the new pontoons (didn't do it on the old ones and have been kicking myself ever since). I know that Sharkhide really only works above the waterline so I'll still need bottom-paint applied.

My questions is this: What is the procedure for putting bottom-paint on pontoons that have had Sharkhide applied to them? Does the Sharkhide need to be removed where the bottom-paint will be applied or do you just put the bottom-paint over top of the Sharkhide?

tcpip95 wrote:All,

My boat sits in the water at our dock in saltwater. I cannot put in a boat lift, so it is currently bottom-painted and this works well.

I have an opportunity to get a new set of pontoons (warranty issue) and so I will be having sharkhide put on the new pontoons (didn't do it on the old ones and have been kicking myself ever since). I know that Sharkhide really only works above the waterline so I'll still need bottom-paint applied.

My questions is this: What is the procedure for putting bottom-paint on pontoons that have had Sharkhide applied to them? Does the Sharkhide need to be removed where the bottom-paint will be applied or do you just put the bottom-paint over top of the Sharkhide?

You might call Clint directly.

Sharkhide is removed with lacquer cleaner. It just takes some elbow grease and bunch of rags.

I'm not sure, but wouldn't a paint shop also slightly sand the toons before the primer and paint is applied to the toons?

Yeah, it's my understanding that that's the case but wanted to hear if anyone's done this before and how much of a PITA it is to do/have done.

I think if I had the chance I would bottom paint first and sharkhide second. You really want to make sure that the aluminum is good and clean. Some primers claim to be etching primers, but I think a light sanding is the way to go. Chances are you would have to touch up the sharkhide anyway.

BTW my boat sits in salt water as well. I chose to use a silicon epoxy paint instead of typical bottom paint. Cost was a cheaper (only needed 1 gallon of both primer and paint versus 3 total with conventional), but what really sold me was the maintenance. My history with typical bottom paints has been that it works well in the beginning and not so well 6 months to a year into it. Touch up and recoats were a PITA.

The product I used is called Wearlon 49. This is from their website - " The low surface energy allows for easy removal of algae and grass and very weak adhesion of living organisms such as barnacles....." It is typically used oon the bottom of airboats for reduced drag and protection of the bottom surface from scratches etc

I have had it since August and so far it has been great. I get minimal growth that wipes off very easily. Obviously it provides a barrier between the saltwater and aluminum as well.

BTW I in no way am affiliated with the company. Just a happy customer who didnt really want to put traditional bottom paint on his boat.

Applying primer to the pontoon is key to the best paint job...especially aluminum. The best primers out there are high build epoxy and will only adhere to bare fiberglass or aluminum so I wouldn't chance it. Check out the application info for http://www.bottompaintstore.com/blog/ho ... inum-boat/, they have a video showing how it is all done. Nice to actually see how it goes on.