Monofin falling apart- how to fix?

[Jon]

ARGH!

I've sent it back to be glued, I've bought the glue mentioned and reglued it myself, no less than 4 times, and it's still falling apart!:vangry

Now the footpocket is ripped almost all the way down the footpocket and part of the toe pockets has fallen off all together.:crutch

I now consider this a weakness in the design, one which Waterway seems to have found a way around- by extending the inner rails down the blade of the monofin, but still am not sure if this really will make it last longer?

I use my fin a lot, but I had hoped that it would have lasted more than a couple of years. What kind of luck are divers having with "standard" monofin pockets? I know that they are uncomfortable compared to th OMER pockets, but I don't want to keep replacing my fins every other year. Do they seem to hold up to daily use in the pool?

Anyone have some time in the new NEMO monofin and could attest to it's durability?

I have a Special Fins Freediver Carbon monofin that I'm now affraid to take into the pool due to how much it cost me and how scared I am that it will fall apart in no time.

Any more suggestions?

Jon

 

[fflupo]

oh oh if seen this kind of damage on my fin as well i will try to do a picture within the next days..
i stop using omer footpocket in the pool because of damage danger.. it is much better and efficient to use heel stap of wich i use two different kind like in performence with pain 5-10 min. and less performence and more time 1-2h no pain.

hasta luego
wolf

 

[fflupo]

finaly some pics
what i did was cutting the edge of the footpocket off. like this the angle of attack is different and all the finning force goes on a bigger surface
after i reinforced it with some 3mm rubber and sealed it with the elastic glue(pics) the loose and broken parts of the pocket i glued on the blade with loctite 406.
but important is to seal it with an elastic glue.

hope it will help you

carpe diem

 

[Jon]

Thanks for the photos. Since I'm not the only one having this problem it must be a design flaw.

I'm done screwing around with this fin. I just ordered a new waterway NEMO a couple days ago and will use that one in the pool, and in the winter, for now on. I just hope my SF carbon mono doesn't suffer the same fate.

Jon

 

[Fondueset]

Jon - let me know what you think of your nemo - I'm geared to get one from leaderfins but the waterwaylooks much less expensive - though shipping from canada seems a little steep.

 

[Jon]

It doesn't ship from Canada- it comes direct from Europe. Ted looked at the shipping label when he got his and every penny goes to the postal system. Every time I've had to send something back to Estonia it cost around $50, which is why I've given up on sending my mono back to them-again.

I tried the NEMO out in the pool and liked it. There are some small differences compared to my Special Fins monofin. It has an angle to the blade but not quite as severe and an angle as the SF mono. It also seems to be a bit more bouyant, but Kirk and Mandy assured me that they don't notice any collapse of the rubber, and loss of bouyancy, when at depth with this mono- which they DID notice with the $535 Glide mono from Waterway.

When I tried Ted's fin out I wore it with just a running sock- he bought the 41/43 and I am normally a 43. I ordered mine in the 44/45 size in hopes of getting a 5mm sock into it for ice diving and other winter stuff.

Jon

 

[Fondueset]

Jon, How was surface swimming in it? do you think the lessened blade angle would adversely affect it? thanks