Footpocket Rip: How do I fix it

[alexrom1207]

Hi everyone, I have a problem. I'm Key West bound on Friday and I took my Cressi Gara 3000 HF out of storage only to find that the back of the footpocket on one of my fins has split near the top. I searched the forum and the only thread really discussing this issue was only 6 posts long and it was from 4 years ago, so I figured I'd see what people have come up with. That thread suggested using 3m 5200 (which I've heard of but never used) and to be safe I would fix the rip and also attach a piece of rubber to the outside of the back of the heel for good measure (bicycle tube?). I'm willing to entertain any suggestions for new fixes or even testimonials about the fix the old thread mentioned. Right now the rip is only about 3/4 inch long and hopefully a stich in time will be worth nine. And as for stitching, I've heard suggestions about stitching the fin together, but am not crazy about that suggestion. In my opinion, hard pressure points and rubber do not go well together, so that would be a last resort if it came to that.
Thanks in advance for all the help,
Alex

 

[blumon]

...any repair that you attempt on a heel-type rip will be temporary at best. I have never been able to adequately fix a foot pocket. I was able, one time and in a clutch situation, to rig a spare facemask strap by threading it thru' some additional 'cuts' that I made so that it wrapped around the back of the heel and spread the stress out fairly evenly. We were able to make it work until the fins were replaced...
BTW Do you know how it got ripped? Has the rubber perished from age or sun exposure? Just curious...I am anal about dive gear care and treatment...(on a boat there are so many ways to shorten the life of the equipment)...proper washdown and prevention of exposure to the sun and weather elements are #1, and if those steps are taken the gear will naturally be properly stored and in good shape for the next time. Cheeres!

 

[Mr. X]

I think you'll end up buying new fins but...

You could try superglue - it's handy for dealing with perishing. I doubt if it will be strong enough but perhaps worth a try for the minimal cost/impact. Clean the surface first with alcohol (rubbing/meths/isopropyl) or similar, & let dry. I used to fix my old wellies - sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't.

Failing that, 2 part epoxy resin? Would likely be messy though.
Neoprene glue (i.e. glue for neoprene, or glue made with neoprene - not. nes. the same thing)? I'm told wetsuit, are held together by glue - the stitching mainly holds the parts in place while the glue sets. I think I would probably try this first.

Perhaps use some of those stick-on butterly stitches to hold it while it dries?!

Fibre glass?

 

[alexrom1207]

Unfortunately, I left the fins out on the back deck of my boat and then headed down for law school, expecting to return in a few days. It was about a month later that I got back and the fins went through some serious heat cold exposure. I'm normally incredibly careful with my gear (I've had the same mask, knife, and old fins for 15 years (since I was 10) and they're still in great shape. This was just one of those times when I got tied up and my gear paid the price. As for the fix, I need somethign that will last a least a weak of on off diving (maybe 2 or 3 dive trips total during that time). Unfortunately I'm guessing I will have to buy new fins. But right now I don't have the time or the money to do that, so I'm stuck trying to get a decent temporary repair.

 

[chrismar]

I would consider supergluing, then attaching a tyre repair patch (the larger, the better). They should take a bit of the strain off eachother.

 

[alexrom1207]

It seems like a lot of people are recommending superglue. I should probably be more specific about the place of the tear. It is right at the heel portion of the footpocket. The part that needs to stretch a lot. So everything in my head is telling me it needs to be a flexible bond. It seems that superglue would most likely not hold for long given that it is a brittle hold. Thoughts on this?

 

[chrismar]

It seems like a lot of people are recommending superglue. I should probably be more specific about the place of the tear. It is right at the heel portion of the footpocket. The part that needs to stretch a lot. So everything in my head is telling me it needs to be a flexible bond. It seems that superglue would most likely not hold for long given that it is a brittle hold. Thoughts on this?

Yes, cyanoacrylate is not flexible. The rest of the back remains the same, though. I also suggested a tyre repair kit, which is flexible, but you need to be aware of the strain that it will be under. You can try just the patch, but I doubt it'll last a week.

 

[alexrom1207]

Okay, so here is what I did. I'll let you all know how it works. I used contact cement because it was strong enough to hold tight (I decided to substitute a strong hold for a flexible one, I'll tell you why in a second). First I sealed the tear. Then I took a piece of bicycle tube and cut it so it was a clean piece of rubber. Used lighter fluid (didn't feel like going out and buying a can of acetone for just one little job) to get the rubber clean. Roughed it all up with 80 grit sand paper. Did the same thing to the fin area. Then I took the tube and started at the bottom back (outside) of the heel. Doing it in stages so there would be no bubbles to weaken the bond, I put the tube from the back of the heel all the way up and over the top (covering the rip on both sides by a couple of inches) then all the way down the inside of the heel and onto the bottom of the fin. Once this was done and sealed up tight, I took some time to make sure that all the sides of the rubber were clean and there was no space of flap coming undone. Then I took some flexible silicone caulk and coated the entire area to make sure no water could get in (just to be safe). I'll let you know how the entire endeavor turns out in a bit. Nevertheless, I'm expecting that I'll end up buying a new pair of fins because while this will hopefully get me through this vacation I doubt it will stand up to an entire summer of hard use. Thinking the gara professionals but people seem to be less than satisfied with them. So maybe I'll look for a fiberglass fin (can't do carbon because I'm in and out of rocks too much). Any suggestions for a good surface and relatively shallow dive fin would be appreciated. Right now it's between the omer ice and the gara professional (I found the 3000 LD to be a bit soft).

 

[chrismar]

Sounds like it should hold for a while, at least until you decide what to get next.

Speaking of which, why do people still think looking at carbon fins too hard will break them? I've never seen a broken pair and heard of bugger-all too. I've personally broken a pair of fibreglass fins and heard of several breaking, while we've all seen plastic fins that are so stuffed they may as well have broken. I don't actually think it's worth getting carbon when there's a range of good plastics out there, but don't think that roughing up the carbon's will do anything more than scratch that pretty paintjob.

 

[blumon]

Interesting repair Alex...nothing like downsizing a good fin! Let us know how long it lasts...I'm curious.
BTW Omer Ice is my next move
Cheeres

 

[cantankerous82]

I've tried the bicycle repair kit before prob even got 10 or more dive out of it. It was hard to rough up the rubber inside of the rip though so it eventually failed and then was just relying on the patch to hold it together. That thick bicycle tubing should help though. Those patches are thin. So I eventually ended up just sending it back to OMER and they mailed me a new one but if i had of thought of it at the time, I would have tried ABS glue. It dries hard, but it's a solvent cement and may have actually fused the rubber back together. The pocket could then just flex next to the crack. Worth a shot if you get to a point where you're just gonna chuck em. Just be very sparing and only use it on the touching edges of the tear itself. Dont want to melt your whole footpocket :vangry

 

[mundial]

I think you'll fins ya self buying new fins mate
after all
fins are important
the movment of your leg
pushing water wont hold much
i hope you will fins a pair that fits well
heard of Pathos or mares footpockets are great

regards & god luck

 

[armandozx]

buy new one's maybe it's time you move on to something better! even though cressi is very good.

 

[mishu1984]

the only fix you will find is temporary because its in an area that stretches a lot. eventually you will buy new fins. all you will do is delay this fact. you could use a tire repair patch, or even a bicycle repair patch. best of luck and let us know how it works out. i wouldnt use super glue because it wont provide the amount of stretch taht you need. try to find some adhesive that can stretch.