05-19-2013, 10:05 PM
Fins Update:
I've been continuing to work on the fins since I pool tested them last. Unfortunately this means that I haven't done any tube testing, but the two really go hand-in-hand.
At any rate, I've been working to tidy up the design and shave some more weight off.
First off I rounded off the heel edge of the plate to remove some excess weight, then I cut out another disk under the arch of the foot within the pocket to lose a bit more weight. I was a bit leery of losing the structural rigidity of the disk material, but it turns out that the webbing root spar does a great job of adding some backbone to the front edge of the plate.
I also cleaned up the webbing to be a one-piece affair and glued on some stoppers to fix the geometry better.
Finally, I added a cord-lock to the bungee to allow easier adjustment, though it does add 0.2 ounces to the affair. A simple "tie a knot and forget it" would do the trick in a pinch.
Pics:
![[Image: 8754478195_3a3963984d_b_d.jpg]](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7359/8754478195_3a3963984d_b_d.jpg)
![[Image: 8754482723_d4b40432c0_b_d.jpg]](http://farm6.staticflickr.com/5459/8754482723_d4b40432c0_b_d.jpg)
Down to 9.3 ounces! I will be downsizing the foot hoop spars a size or two and I can use a thinner fabric (this is a 200D vs 70D that I make the tubes out of) but I'm not sure if I can bring the weight down to under 9. Regardless, I think it's acceptable.
Finally, here's a photo of it on over a neoprene stocking foot. In this photo I have a thin sheet of foam between the foot hoop and my foot. I suspect that this volume of foam is all that should be needed to float the fin should you ever drop it or have it come off.
![[Image: 8754512633_b3b156434a_b_d.jpg]](http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7448/8754512633_b3b156434a_b_d.jpg)
I have a trip to Yosemite planned with my boys this weekend, but I hope to hit a couple of my favorite walk-in lakes the following and get some float time with the setup.
_SHig
[signature]
I've been continuing to work on the fins since I pool tested them last. Unfortunately this means that I haven't done any tube testing, but the two really go hand-in-hand.
At any rate, I've been working to tidy up the design and shave some more weight off.
First off I rounded off the heel edge of the plate to remove some excess weight, then I cut out another disk under the arch of the foot within the pocket to lose a bit more weight. I was a bit leery of losing the structural rigidity of the disk material, but it turns out that the webbing root spar does a great job of adding some backbone to the front edge of the plate.
I also cleaned up the webbing to be a one-piece affair and glued on some stoppers to fix the geometry better.
Finally, I added a cord-lock to the bungee to allow easier adjustment, though it does add 0.2 ounces to the affair. A simple "tie a knot and forget it" would do the trick in a pinch.
Pics:
Down to 9.3 ounces! I will be downsizing the foot hoop spars a size or two and I can use a thinner fabric (this is a 200D vs 70D that I make the tubes out of) but I'm not sure if I can bring the weight down to under 9. Regardless, I think it's acceptable.
Finally, here's a photo of it on over a neoprene stocking foot. In this photo I have a thin sheet of foam between the foot hoop and my foot. I suspect that this volume of foam is all that should be needed to float the fin should you ever drop it or have it come off.
I have a trip to Yosemite planned with my boys this weekend, but I hope to hit a couple of my favorite walk-in lakes the following and get some float time with the setup.
_SHig
[signature]