I used to have a Fanatic Shark and have just purchased an F2 XTC.
Volume aside, these boards look similar, the straps are almost the same, the footpads are very similar if not the same, down to the colouring.
They also feel the same on the water, and both feet ergonomically just right.
Are these manufacturers related or just buying the accessories at the same place?
Like Fanatic and "Fanatic2" 
They used to be part of the same group but had/have different designers but they share many fittings (straps identical apart from logo)- same with mistral. F2 was sold to some cashed up guy, dont really know to much from them since then. There is only so much you can do with boards to make them good, particularly with freeride (the falcon & sx were very different). The shark & xtc are both good boards with xtc erring a little more on the bump & jump side
