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How it all started
Our president is long-winded, so you can skip this section if you want, but if you read it all, you get a discount (no, not really)
Our founder, Kevin Maher, has had a passion for optimizing the appearance of engine-equipped vehicles since he was old enough to walk. From washing the family car as a toddler in a diaper (there's picture evidence to prove this), to his first job at 15 as a porter at a Pontiac dealership, something about the detailing world has always intrigued him. Not just the act of doing it, but learning the chemical compounds, how they achieve what they do, the best techniques to achieve results - everything. His career took him towards the mortgage industry as he aged, but the passion for detailing always remained, and he was known for having the most impressive looking vehicles in the automotive circles he participated in (even Fieros, which was his odd vehicle of choice for many years)
Enter the year 2001, when he was on his honeymoon with his wife in Ocean City, Maryland, and he thought it would be fun to rent some PWCs to ride while they were there (a 2001 SeaDoo GTS, to be specific). He immediately found a new passion that surpassed his detailing interests, and as soon as they got home from the honeymoon, he bought his first set of skis (a 1996 Waveraider 760 and a 1997 Polaris SL780) From there, a passion better described as an illness or compulsive disorder developed, and his detailing fervor extended to those skis, taking oxidized gelcoat and restoring it to like-new, enhancing plastics that had been aged, etc. And this was just the beginning....
As Kevin developed some career success in the mortgage industry, he longed to be able to enjoy detailing on a professional level. and he opened Pristine Finish Automotive Detailing & Paint Restoration in 2014. His shop instantly met acclaim and praise, and he's had the privilege to detail some very unique cars since then.
Owning the detailing business enabled Kevin to have access to new people and products in the industry, and a major benefit was getting to try all the newest and greatest products himself, many of which he used on his personal skis, of which there have been many, but that's when he noticed a problem.
(To be continued......)
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Why Ski-Shine MUST exist
So, if you made it through the last section - congratulations! If you didn't, a quick summary: Our president and founder has a lot of experience detailing, and he noticed a problem with current products being used for detailing his personal PWCs, which is:
Modern PWCs use an automotive-derived base coat with clear coat instead of gelcoat. This is for two reasons:
The positive reason? Automotive finishes are much more aesthetically pleasing, and will refract light much better than a gelcoat finish (meaning shinier, cooler looking finishes). They're a lot more customizable, and when properly cared for, absolutely beautiful. They also cost a LOT less to apply.
The negative? They don't have the durability gelcoat does, and they were NOT designed to be submerged in water (I could talk to you all day about this)
So, should you use a marine product or automotive product when caring for your ski? If you're on this site, you probably already know the answer is neither.
Marine products give you exceptional durability and UV protection, but aren't designed to bond with the polymers in automotive paint. They also don't enhance gloss or contain the same hydrophobic properties automotive finishes do. And, they're designed with the concept in mind that, once oxidation happens, go ahead and wet sand and compound the craft. Gelcoat is THICK!
Automotive products DO enhance gloss and are more hydrophobic, but as mentioned earlier, are NOT meant for exposure to submersion (cars and lakes/oceans don't mix, if you don't know). When you're riding, water acts as an abrasive, and modern skis EASILY tear through water at 65+ miles per hour. The lifespan of automotive products, when used on a PWC, are reduced TREMENDOUSLY. They just aren't formulated for the environment they're being used in. And clear coat is THIN. I would NOT recommend EVER wet sanding a modern ski. Then, if used in SALT water?? Well, I think the point has already been made.
This is why Ski-Shine is a MUST for someone looking to get the most protection, enhancement, and durability for their PWC. It was formulated specifically for the unique properties of PWCs and the environment they are used in. They're the answer to a problem you probably didn't even know you had until now, and they're affordable.
Still not convinced? Send us an email. we'd love to hear your concerns or questions.
Ready to try Ski-Shine? Start shopping now.
