shark skin backin?

[Dh88]

My uncle just bought a new 21' center console boat so we will be doing a bunch of saltwager fishing soon, so can and will shark skin make a good backing?

[Pat B]

Shark skin might be too thick for backing unless maybe from a young shark.

[Blaflair2]

U could sand it maybe?

[docmann]

Used shark skin for handle/grip on a Selfbow a few years back. It's very durable, but has a scratchy feel. It has a very tactile grain that goes in one direction. It feels a great deal like sandpaper, even after sanding it down.
It's very tough stuff, and might make a good stiff backing, but I was disappointed with the look of it. Ultimately, it turned out grey and unappealing.
To be sure, it's tough-just not something that catches the eye. Good luck!

[Blaflair2]

Send me some and il make a quiver 

[Dh88]

Its is very thick even on a young shark, im gonna save some and dry it out.it might come in handy for something.

[PrimitiveTim]

They're a pain in the butt to skin!  If you find out a quick method let me know.

[Dh88]

I'm not sure there is an easy way to do it lol

[bubby]

all the olive that I've worked with was very oily, almost epe oily, just try and leave it natural

[Hamish]

I've always wanted to try some too, just haven't had any access to a skin yet. If you pinned it to a piece of ply wood(pins on the edge of the board) you could send strips through a thickness sander(rough outside up), reducing the depth of the nodules.. An application of dye would fix the dull grey natural look if you don't care for its appearance.
                                             Hamish

[Perkinator]

I have heard of it being used as sandpaper. Heard that it would be traded for many miles. Also read that the Japanese used it as a grip on katana's during the fuedal period.

[Poggins]

Haven't ha any shark skin but have used paddle fish , it to is very oily and a pain to skin .
I just hang them and skin them like you would a hog , I don't worry about how much meat I leave on the skin because on paddle fish it's a red oily meat that tastes bad but the white meat is good .
After I get the skins off I lay them on a flat smooth board and take a sharp knife and clean the skin up , I then use a butter knife and scrape the flesh side using a lot of pressure to break the oil pockets up then wash in a strong solution of dish soap then nail them to a sheet of plywood flesh side out to drie.
The backs usually don't give me a problem but the lower sides and belly containe more oil and may need soaked in denatured alcohol .

[Dh88]

Hitting the water bright and early in the am.hopefully come back with a pile of fish and some good skins lol

[mullet]

A pain in the butt to skin and flesh, very stiff when it dries and not very good looking. I've used it for grips but not much else.

[HickoryBill]

I did a Shark skin Rawhide backed hickory bow a few years ago..Got the Hide from Tandy Leather...