The coating doesn't allow ice to bond (bonding and then buildup is what is happening on both non-boarded foot wells as well as some boarded ones) like it does to natural aluminum plus the surface of the aluminum product is now ten times harder. You get the light weight benefit of alloy aluminum but don't suffer the consequences of a super soft surface, metal stress fatigue, and oxidation.
Hammer or Wrinkle finishes showed good durability but the worst performing for ice bonding...actually outperformed by natural clean sheet non treated aluminum alloy from any of the 5,6 and 7 series and killed by plastic. Uneven surface (cupped effect of hammer finishes actually enhanced snow and ice bonding and led to increased build up. So while durable for appearance and hardness terrible for shedding snow.
We extensively tested all kinds of coatings from electrostatic hard surface plastics to many, many, versions of electrostatically applied heat activated powders to come up with our current finish and process. As the industry evolves we are always looking for new processes and products to further enhance our line and continue to keep us way ahead of the competition. Irregardless of how exciting or cool looking some new space age finish is advertised to be Snowmobile Better Boards will never bring that to market on any of our products PRIOR to extensive and adequate testing both in the field of use and in the lab. Rest assured if we find something "BETTER" both in process or in product it will be on our products! But you won't be the ones testing it for us at your risk and expense.
Remember:
How the boards are pre-prepped and then how the finish is applied is also paramount. If guys think there is no difference between finishes and design then go buy the cheaper untested and unproven versions (products and designs that we know through extensive experience are inferior). Better Boards have over a million ridden miles of extensive use and testing, PROVING that there is a HUGE difference in how you do things and what you do it with! Saving $50 dollars on inferior parts will just cost you huge headaches and money down the road..and sub-par performance in the snow!
