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SBT Blacktip mats
- Thread starter Opformark
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Your gonna have a hard time finding anyone who prefers anything over hydroturf on here. The stuff really is that good.
From what I've heard, it's all the same stuff. Most likely all the companies are ordering the material from the same manufacture. Each company order's the stuff by the roll and cuts it in house.
That said, most prefer Hydro Turf, probably because they've been around the longest, they have good customer service, and just like Nike vs New Ballance, You pay for a brand name.
-TheChad
That said, most prefer Hydro Turf, probably because they've been around the longest, they have good customer service, and just like Nike vs New Ballance, You pay for a brand name.
-TheChad
I dont really agree with that. i had a buddy buy stuff off ebay that was being sold as comparable to hydroturf. It wasnt even close. it was thinner and not nearly as durable. After 1 season he pulled it off and ordered the real thing. It was easy to pull off even.
That's ebay for 1 thing.
On another forum I frequent that also sells blacktip mats said they couln't tell any difference between them and the HydroTurf.
As a side note they said they like the blacktip better because it didn't have the huge logo like hydroturf does.
-TheChad
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djredman99
New Member
Hydroturf allows you the option to order with or without the logo.
I know its not some third party stuff they buy on a roll. Hydroturf makes their own mats, I think through an injection mold process. Which is why you can get their blemished stuff by the sheet. It may feel and look like the sbt stuff but I am almost positive its not made by the same company. As said, you can get it without the logo. It's like everything else debated on here, it comes down to personal preference. I just think there is a reason it is so highly recommended.
Yeah, I agree. Marketing, Advertising, Sponcership, Customer service, They've been in the business the longest, etc..
I'm not saying anything bad about the HydroTurf products, but they are very proud of them (Price).
If you notice they pay to advertise on most of the manin SeaDoo message boards, so that's going to be a big reason they trump the other products..
Anyway, From what I've read about about BlackTip everyone that has tried them has been very happy with them and purchased the product more then once.
I might buy the blacktip for 1 of my ski's and the HydroTurf for the other and wright a review and post my feelings about them.. Since I need to put new mats on both my ski's this coming season it might be a good time for someone to do this type of comparison.
-TheChad
Opformark
New Member
Yep, Im not really a fan of the Big HydroTurf logo on the back, thats about 60% of the reason and the other is the difference in price and that they come with the "psa" on the back. TheChad I may do the same thing, buy the Hydroturf( my GTI) and the Blacktip(my GSX) mats and see as well.
djredman99
New Member
Well, as I already mentioned, you do not have to get the logo on the Hydroturf mats. I am with you on the adhesive though. That stuff cost $20-30 and it already being included with the Black Tip mats is a nice bonus.
And for anyone that must have the Hydroturf, don't forget the 15% discount by using "HYDRO15" as a coupon code at checkout. Last time I checked, this code was still good. I think you have to order through the PWCMuscle site to use it though, as the code may be specific through them only.
I personally would try the Black Tips if they had the color I wanted. They have a lot less color options than Hydroturf, though.
djredman99
New Member
Just so everyone knows, you can have samples sent to you from both Hydroturf and Black Tip mats (via SBT). With SBT, you have to email their sales dept. as they do not have an online request form like Hydroturf.
FYI...I just requested samples of the Black Tip mats from SBT. I already have some samples from Hydroturf. Once I receive the Black Tips, I will post any differences I notice.
FYI...I just requested samples of the Black Tip mats from SBT. I already have some samples from Hydroturf. Once I receive the Black Tips, I will post any differences I notice.
djredman99
New Member
Well, I got my samples from both Hydro-Turf and Black Tip today. In my opinion the Hydro-turf feels and looks to be slightly better in quality, although Black Tip is not far off.
All three Hydro-turf samples, 2 solid colors and a multi color sample, were identical except for color.
The Black Tip samples, 3 of them, were all inconsistent in thickness, size of the channels, and hardness. Still, if they had the color I wanted, I may have bought the Black tips as the price includes the adhesive (peel and stick).
All three Hydro-turf samples, 2 solid colors and a multi color sample, were identical except for color.
The Black Tip samples, 3 of them, were all inconsistent in thickness, size of the channels, and hardness. Still, if they had the color I wanted, I may have bought the Black tips as the price includes the adhesive (peel and stick).
I too requested samples from both Hydro Turf and Black Tip and have received and tested/compared both...
I actually measured thickness of both products, in several locations of each piece and measured each piece that I received.
My findings were that the Black Tip product was actually THICKER than the Hydro Turf, that said the Black Tip was sent with the PSA backing (Which I think was GREAT as it gave me a chance to actually try it out and see if I like it), also the Black Tip samples were about 4x the size of the Hydro Turf samples. As far as consistency both had about the same consistancy of thickness.
Quality wise I can't tell any difference. I squeezed them both to see their density and they feel about equal. The groves in the Black Tip product seem to be a tiny bit wider and a tiny bit deeper then the Hydro Turf product. I checked the width's and they were consistant.
As noted the black tip samples came with groves cut in different directions from each other, but that is probably just due to cutting samples out of different pieces of scrap and doesn't really mean anything... If the samples are cut from the end of a piece or a corner of a piece I could see where there might be some differences no matter which manufacture it came from.
I must say that I like the PSA backing of the Black Tip; I really wish Hydro Turf would send their product with the PSA backing as well to make a comparison. I think they would probably sell more with the PSA backing if they did.
One more notable comparison is that the colors from Black Tip and Hydro Turf are completely different from each other, which means you may have to choose 1 brand other the other for no other reason than the color.
The blue from Black Tip actually matches my ski 100x better than the blue from Hydro Turf, so I am likely to end up going with the Black Tip for if no other reason, the color matches my ski.
My opinion on this is that without having tried either product, both products are of equal quality, most likely you will end up with 1 brand over the other based on the color alone but if you find an appropriate color from both companies and are trying to decide which one to buy, I say save the $$ and buy the Black Tip.
I think I will end up buying Black Tip for my ski and Hydro Turf for my wife's ski due to the colors available from each, This will also allow me to directly compare both of their products with the PSA backing and make a 100% 1 to 1 comparison between the two, but I'm really expecting not to find much difference.
-TheChad
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Opformark
New Member
Ok I don't want this to turn into a add for the Blacktip Mats but I have to say I am very impressed! I installed them on my GSX and it really was a snap. I followed the directions to a Tee(which is really unlike me) and they were on in a hour. That includes prep work. One word of advice is to make sure you stick them where you want them the first time because the PSA is incredibly sticky.
I am going to order them for the GTI soon. SBT service and speed of shipping was top notch btw.
I am going to order them for the GTI soon. SBT service and speed of shipping was top notch btw.
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Looks good. Just for reference also, with the 15% discount given to us on hydroturf, even with the adhesive, it makes the price exactly the same as the Blacktip on all models I looked at.
Good to know. Though as I mentioned above, I think the choice between the two brands is going to come down to which one has the color that best matches your ski.
-TheChad
djredman99
New Member
My findings were just the opposite. The Hydroturf samples were slightly thicker than the BlackTip samples, and that is without a PSA backing on the HydroTurf, but one present on the BlackTip samples.
So, I guess what we learned is that the two products are very similar and vary slightly in thickness from sheet to sheet.
Did you actually use a caliper to measure the thickness?
The difference is like .010" it's not something you can eyeball.
For that matter I measured the Hydroturf samples and they varied from piece to piece, I would guess they all probably have a .020" variance, which for a traction matt makes no difference what so ever..
-TheChad
djredman99
New Member
No I didn't measure with a caliper. Why bother when I was able to eyeball that the BlackTips were smaller in thickness.
Because with all due respect, if you think you can eyeball 0.010" or even 0.030", you are full of it.
I'll trust my calipers, thanks much..
-TheChad
djredman99
New Member
LOL...
Hmmm... we both seem to have come to the same conclusion...are saying the same thing...yet...
I realize now that you try to make every thread a confrontation.
You talk like you have the samples I got in your hand. I can see plain as day that the hyroturf samples are thicker, but what do I know...I only been using my eyes for 30+ years now.
Once again, in a thread you joined...I have to say I am done discussing this.
Hmmm... we both seem to have come to the same conclusion...are saying the same thing...yet...
I realize now that you try to make every thread a confrontation.
You talk like you have the samples I got in your hand. I can see plain as day that the hyroturf samples are thicker, but what do I know...I only been using my eyes for 30+ years now.
Once again, in a thread you joined...I have to say I am done discussing this.
dsw222
Active Member
If you put two sheets of material right next to each other and line up the bottoms, i'm pretty sure that it is possible to eyeball them....
Opformark - did you have anything on your ski before you put the turf down? I have to remove the factory mats on my yamaha, and it looks like its gonna be a huge pain
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