I'm very interested in it as well, although I've been completely happy with my Hyde aluminum boat with a UHMW shoe.

 

My buddy and I took delivery of a Hyde with G4 coating in February of 2003. It's held up very well. The advantages to me in order of improtance are:

-It protects the square chines and bottom against significant impacts. Without the G4, the bottom would have numerous war scars by now. There is little evidence of hitting rocks.
- Protects the resale value of the boat.
-Dampens the jar/sound when you hit rocks.
-In the current low water conditions on the Yak, it takes concerns about walking your boat over the rocks.
- The G4 is a little slicker, so you slide over rocks a little easier.

I think the G4 was well worth the money. Now if Hyde would increase the diameter of the rod holders, I would have 0 complaints.

 

OK, being a newbie boat owner (doing cosmetic work on the hull) I'm in the dark about G4. I know about Gluvit, and have been thinking about coating the bottom and sides of the wooden DB with that. Is there a major difference between G4 and Gluvit or about the same thing?

REE

 

Thanks guys... I got my boat in July and passed on it when I ordered it. The cost is what made me pass, but now I see why I want it. $1200 bucks is a lot of coin, but I now know one thing... I now want it. Every time I bang a rock, I kick myself. Now that I have a few "dings" on the chines and fixed them, I would rather do the G4 and rest a little easier. Hyde claims that in the years they have used it, only once had they had to do any work on a boat that had it. When I was there, I banged one with a sledge hammer as hard as I could with nothing to show for it other than a loud noise. Even direct hits on the chine it just laughed at me.

They say it is a one day application and I can be back on the water in 48 hours. I guess I can even do it myself but no way am I going to mess with it as I would rather have someone who knows what they are doing instead of me doing a half assed job. Ron Eagle,what they use I don't know, but if you want to see a demo, go on the hyde website and click on the G4 banner and it offers a video.

Please let me know if I have been buffaloed, or if this stuff is for real. I'm sold so far, but always looking to find out all I can before I shell out the cash... I too wish they had rod holders that could hold 10' rods as that is all I use. Other than that, it is a great all around boat, wouldn't trad it for anything else other than a new one in a few years.

Thanks
Greg

 

Ok, if you're talking about the coating they use on the bottom of the Hyde aluminums to help make it slide, I've heard something completely different. I didn't know it was called G4, but was a product similar to gluvit/coatit. Of course, any of these coatings will help a boat. My buddy found out that all you need to do is get some graphite resin. Then apply coatit or gluvit. Then take the resin and coat over it before it dries. I know gluvit already has the resin in it, but the added resin on top helps solidfy it and REALLY make it slide. Especially on rocks. Went for a fun trip on the Nooch in Feb with my buddy in his 17x54 Willie. We launched up at 7400 on lower water. I dreaded the 20 yard drag to the water (since my back is screwed up). We dumped the boat, and it literally rolled on the rocks like there were wheels under the boat. We pushed it with NO problems. But not sure if this is the same thing as the G4 though. Haven't looked into a Hyde since before they had aluminum boats. Knew the only WA rep way back when they were unknown. Didn't use anything else on the boats that I know of (got to test run a few of his boats back then). Well, should say he was the only WA rep on the westside back then. Would be interested if it is something different. But that price tag is a BIT much. If it's a lifetime thing you NEVER have to replace again, I'd say it may be ok. But not that expensive to do the gluvit/coatit thing, and isn't that hard either.

 

the G4 is for fiberglass combo only, and it does have a lifetime warranty from what I'm being told... As they only have had to do work on one boat in the past 4 years, that says something.

 

I believe one can purchase this coating material through the marine industry. But being able to mix and apply it properly; to a properly prepared, chemically clean surface, in a controlled atmosphere ,(temperature, humidity, oxygen etc.), well that is another thing entirely.

You arent just buying the coating. You are buying the whole technology, the shop, the experience, the safety expenses etc. Handling mixed resin/catalyst finishes these days is very expensive and hazardous.

 

Hyde's G4 bottom is one of the best things they have done to the boat other than the release of the LH edition of the boats. The G bottom allows for an easier "track" on the water, it gives a slight "suction" on the boat as well which allows for easier control of the boat in my opinion. Furthermore the impact sounds are less, the scars are less and it dampens the sounds inside of the boat as you walk around.

How do I know? I have it on all of my Hyde boats.

SAK
Xstream

 

Man, I thought it tracked well now, as well as being quiet. Now thumping a rock is another story, but with what I have from you guys telling me, its seemking more and more like a no brainer... Thank you all much.

Xstream, had you ever heard of it cracking, or anything? will it scratch or gouge?

:thumb:
Thanks
Greg

 

Ah, ok, it's for their glass boats. Yeah, have no idea on it. LOL. I know my buddy actually spoke to the guys at the factory when he had stopped in their on a trip back that way. But he was only looking at their aluminum boats, and the coating on the bottom of those boats. He applied it as they did, and it has worked wonders on his aluminum driftboat. Sounds great, if it improves the tracking on the boat. With their prices though, would be nice if it came standard with the package.

 

I have the g4 on my 2003 combo, works great! it is not a compound like gluvit. It's a molded 1/4" one piece of white pvc glued to the boat. email me and I will let you know about it for your boat.

 

Oooooooo, wait a tic. Is it UHMW? It's a composite sheeting material being used on alot of boats. I know alot of guys who are adding it to the bottom of their drifters.

 

No, it has never cracked, I have it on the bottom of both glass and alum and have never had a crack, tear, rip or knot in it.
Long before drifters started having this, Rhino Liner was the option, I know many that have since used Line-X for the bottom of their boats and have never had a complaint at all.

SAK
Xstream

 

I have a Hyde LH series & the G4 shoe fell off completely....no damage ; just poor workmanship in the "gluing" process.
Fortunately,no one was hurt.

 

Doesn't anybody who looks at these old posts ever look at the dates on them before they put their two cents in them. This thread is almost 10 years old. What happened then sure as hell in different now.

 

It shocked me too, as I posted it. To complete my portion of the thread, I had it installed and couldn't beleive the difference. I never once had an issue on the G4 coating, ever. I broached a boulder once and hit it hard. Hard to the point it almost knocked me out of the boat. Fearing the worst, when i got the boat on the trailer i couldn't even find a scratch on it. That in itself paid for the work. Sadly I sold the boat and moved to Las Vegas. The guy who I sold it to watched me take a hammer to the chine, and hit it hard at least half a dozen times. After seeing there was no damage he was more than happy to finish the deal.

 

It came off last week ....no damage; just came off from glue failure. No glue residue on shoe itself .

 

Construction adhesive ?

 

Looks like a phone call to Hyde should be made.

 

That or dredge up every thread on the internet from the past decade.

 

I have talked with Jim Kunz , Hyde CEO, awaiting a response from LaMoyne Hyde.