Well, I think I finally did it. I have been trying to figure out a way to build myself a monofin, and had been running into nothing but breakable fins. The footpockets wouldn't break to save their soul but the blades weren't strong enough to last anytime at all, in one case it didn't even make it out of the house, LOL!!!!
After doing some searching on the forum I found Merlins post about using Lexan. I decided to try it and the first attempt was the one that didn't make it out of the house. Actually, that first one was using Crystallite(sp?), not as strong a form of Lexan. I was using a "full size" sheet, err 2' x 3', versus a smaller piece. I thought in the past week or so that I read that the maximum monofin size was 60 cm x 90 cm, err 2' x 3'. Hence why I decided to try making one that big.
I think the biggest part of my error was making the footpocket attachment area to big/long and it created for a big weak point. On all but the most recent fin they have always broken right at the end of the toes, the point where the blade started to widen out from the footpocket. I've always used a long footpocket attachment area, about 2-3 times the length of what I'm using now. I noticed in Merlin's pics that his footpocket attachment area was much shorter than what I had been making.
On the most recent model I made the attachment point much shorter. I knew by doing this I was going to have trouble trying to attach a footpocket. I've been using homemade footpockets.
My first footpocket was a piece of wood that I stapled plastic rug making material over to trap the foot to the wood. It did a beautiful job of trapping the feet for a nice secure footpocket. I also realized that to attach it to the blade it would weaken the blade structure. I was drilling holes through both the blade and footpocket and bolting the footpocket to the blade.
On my second footpocker idea I placed my feet on the attachment area on the blade and wrapped saran wrap over my feet and the blade. Then I duct taped over the saran wrap, including taping around the back of the foot. This provide for a real nice foot pocket. Loved it...but one problem. To be able to do this I need a longer attachment area, which I believe was creating the weakened structure.
In the most recent blade, Lexan, I chose to go for the shorter attachment area. As I cut out the blade I observed that Lexan is real strong/tough material, when they say virtually unbreakable, I do think they mean it. I tried using the saran wrap/duct tape idea but couldn't figure out how to get the footpocket to work the way it should. I aborted the idea.
I went back to the original footpocket idea with reservations considering the weakness that drilling holes in the blade would cause. I figured if the blade was going to break it would break more than likely around a hole. I went ahead and drilled the holes and put the wooden footpockets in place. Before I got them on the water I knew that more than likely I would rip out the plastic sheeting material that was wrapped over the foot before I would break the blade.
I took them out the lake on Saturday and tried it out. Man is Lexan tough material. It actually worked and worked beautifully. The blade held up real well. Upon getting out of the water I noticed that the plastic was starting to rip. I already knew how I was going to take care of that problem before I ever left home to test out the fin.
I came home and unstapled the plastic and replaced it with 1/4" welded wire mesh. Yes, it sounds crazy, but it is tough and I know it won't break or rip like anything else I have tried so far. I wrapped duct tape over both end to prevent the edges from doing damage to my feet or booties.
Tonight I headed back out and gave it another try. It worked beautifully, even on the one or two times I managed to actually come somewhat close to the correct technique. The footpocket does it's job of keeping the foot 'right on the blade" and still allowing the blade to flex.
I know from what i have been seeing so far that everyone has been complaing about the footpockets they have been using. Have anyone else tried to make their own footpockets. It might take care of the problem for you. Granted, I've never use a manufactured monofin to know how they would perform in comparison and it has been twenty years since I've had regular fins on my feet.
My fin seem to work quite nicely and in the future I do want to try the $28 monofin, namely 2' x 3' out of Lexan, once I get the technique improved upon.
A question to confirm what I already expect. The bigger/longer the fin the more power it will take to move the fin and the more power the fin will deliver, correct.
Ryan
After doing some searching on the forum I found Merlins post about using Lexan. I decided to try it and the first attempt was the one that didn't make it out of the house. Actually, that first one was using Crystallite(sp?), not as strong a form of Lexan. I was using a "full size" sheet, err 2' x 3', versus a smaller piece. I thought in the past week or so that I read that the maximum monofin size was 60 cm x 90 cm, err 2' x 3'. Hence why I decided to try making one that big.
I think the biggest part of my error was making the footpocket attachment area to big/long and it created for a big weak point. On all but the most recent fin they have always broken right at the end of the toes, the point where the blade started to widen out from the footpocket. I've always used a long footpocket attachment area, about 2-3 times the length of what I'm using now. I noticed in Merlin's pics that his footpocket attachment area was much shorter than what I had been making.
On the most recent model I made the attachment point much shorter. I knew by doing this I was going to have trouble trying to attach a footpocket. I've been using homemade footpockets.
My first footpocket was a piece of wood that I stapled plastic rug making material over to trap the foot to the wood. It did a beautiful job of trapping the feet for a nice secure footpocket. I also realized that to attach it to the blade it would weaken the blade structure. I was drilling holes through both the blade and footpocket and bolting the footpocket to the blade.
On my second footpocker idea I placed my feet on the attachment area on the blade and wrapped saran wrap over my feet and the blade. Then I duct taped over the saran wrap, including taping around the back of the foot. This provide for a real nice foot pocket. Loved it...but one problem. To be able to do this I need a longer attachment area, which I believe was creating the weakened structure.
In the most recent blade, Lexan, I chose to go for the shorter attachment area. As I cut out the blade I observed that Lexan is real strong/tough material, when they say virtually unbreakable, I do think they mean it. I tried using the saran wrap/duct tape idea but couldn't figure out how to get the footpocket to work the way it should. I aborted the idea.
I went back to the original footpocket idea with reservations considering the weakness that drilling holes in the blade would cause. I figured if the blade was going to break it would break more than likely around a hole. I went ahead and drilled the holes and put the wooden footpockets in place. Before I got them on the water I knew that more than likely I would rip out the plastic sheeting material that was wrapped over the foot before I would break the blade.
I took them out the lake on Saturday and tried it out. Man is Lexan tough material. It actually worked and worked beautifully. The blade held up real well. Upon getting out of the water I noticed that the plastic was starting to rip. I already knew how I was going to take care of that problem before I ever left home to test out the fin.
I came home and unstapled the plastic and replaced it with 1/4" welded wire mesh. Yes, it sounds crazy, but it is tough and I know it won't break or rip like anything else I have tried so far. I wrapped duct tape over both end to prevent the edges from doing damage to my feet or booties.
Tonight I headed back out and gave it another try. It worked beautifully, even on the one or two times I managed to actually come somewhat close to the correct technique. The footpocket does it's job of keeping the foot 'right on the blade" and still allowing the blade to flex.
I know from what i have been seeing so far that everyone has been complaing about the footpockets they have been using. Have anyone else tried to make their own footpockets. It might take care of the problem for you. Granted, I've never use a manufactured monofin to know how they would perform in comparison and it has been twenty years since I've had regular fins on my feet.
My fin seem to work quite nicely and in the future I do want to try the $28 monofin, namely 2' x 3' out of Lexan, once I get the technique improved upon.
A question to confirm what I already expect. The bigger/longer the fin the more power it will take to move the fin and the more power the fin will deliver, correct.
Ryan