"new" Lunocet...

[noa]

i remember when the Lunocet first came out how it turned the freedive world upside down. everyone was waiting for miracles that did not really materialize back then.
anyway, after a long time i went back to their site to have a look if there was anything new. well, the site is revamped and the fins look different.
most of the "blade" is now ruber as oposed to the original model which was mostly a rigid wing.
there are three models which are exactly the same (if i understood correctly) with material changes between them.
anyone tried this new version ? could you comment on what it can do and what it can't ?
thanks for any info...
noa

 

[nostres]

They have been given away and currently 10 different freedivers are testing it
We should have reviews coming in soon



http://forums.deeperblue.com/monofins/86398-beta-test-lunocet.html


Three models look alike and materials are different but that brings different characteristics - buyoancy and weight. I would still go with basic model (composite/stainless steel)

then You have aluminium/stainless steel and carbon fiber/titanium
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[Fondueset]

I should have one sometime next week.

 

[noa]

look forward to hearing opinions...

 

[DivingDane]

mine should be hear soon, look forward to trialling it and comparing it to the otherfins i have tried, the hydrotouring side of it looks perfect for cruising the reef here!

wil let you know how we go.

DD

 

[Fondueset]

I've received mine - but not yet been in the water. Ted has made some very interesting changes.

Packaging was excellent and very small and light.

First it is MUCH smaller than the one we tested in Dean's Blue Hole. That unit did not feel 'human-scaled' to me - so I rate this an improvement.

Cross section is much smaller too - in fact it is comparable to my hyperfins.

In fact it is only about two inches wider than my hyperfin!

Two screws out and it folds into a very small space.

The only thing I am not crazy about is the distance between the feet - it is almost a full foot-width more than my hyperfin. I know Ted thinks this allows more control - I'm of the opinion closer together would be preferable for knees, power and drag (look at downhill skiers) and that this unit is small enough that it will not present the same sort of shearing effect on the knees with twisting motions. It may be these factors are insignificant however - given the more manageable dimensions of this fin.

He has eliminated the outward cant the feet had on the older model, which I consider an important improvement.

I also really like the shoe clips - very easy (note to users - be sure and get the screws down on the shoe clips - or you'll gaff up the nice anodizing on the footplates like I did )

Mine is the aluminum model - the heaviest at 3.5 lbs with .3 lbs negative buoyancy in salt water. I like a slightly negative fin for shallow photography.

Will report as soon as I get in the water.

Meanwhile a little eye candy.

 

[noa]

Hi Fondueset,
i'm excited you got your fin ! looks great in the pictures although really small.
i wonder if it will be powerful enough with such a small blade area.
one thing that i wonder about Lunocets and hydrotouring, aka distance surface swimming, is how they can perform well with such a shape.
when we look at what is probably the best surface swimming fin available, the C4 Monoflap, we see that the Lunocet is almost the exact opposite in design.
also, i remember that it was originally designed with breaching in mind, meaning a fin for short and fast power bursts. again the exact opposite to the needs of hydrotouring.
maybe Ted saw there was no commercial interest in breaching, but a potential market in surface swimming, so he decided to go that way.
looking froward to reading your reviews...

 

[DivingDane]

Sorry but you can keep the C4 monoflap, we have one here and its a POS. its stuck between bifins and a monofin with the negatives of both and none of the positives! bifins are better to cruise and manuever in, and a hyperfin is more efficient and more powerful!

i like the C4 products dont get me wrong i have a pair of 81's that i am very happy with but the Flap although well made doesnt fit any bill. Lunocet and DOLFIN both work on completly different principles with active angle changes in the blade to ensure that the blade is always at the appropriate angle for thrust.

DD

 

[REVAN]

If done correctly, the high aspect-ratio foils should work better for distance swimming than the low aspect-ratio hyperfins. Look at nature for indicators. All the pelagic fish that need to swim long distances between meals have tails shaped like wings. Fish with tails shaped like hyperfins are usually reef fish, optimized for acceleration and sprinting, but not long distance swimming.

 

[noa]

Hello DD and Revan,
you both make valid points. Thanks for the input.
I guess theories are great, but the water tests and usage will reveal what really works and what doesn't.
All the best
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[Herup]

Hi testpilots

Have any of you had the chance to try this beautiful piece of equipment in the water yet?

Very best regards
H!

 

[Mullins]

I'm testing one. I'll save the detailed feedback for Ted but the short story is: excellent construction, big changes needed to bring performance up to the standard of even a basic mono. Trying to get my head around exactly why it doesn't work and what needs to change, did a video session last night and will try another tonight, mono/lunocet/no fins comparison with as few other variables as possible.

 

[DivingDane]

Hmmmm never recieved mine and Ted isn't answering emails...
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[Fondueset]

I'll echo Dave's comments. I'll add - very convenient size, fun to swim with.

 

[noa]

by the sounds of it, the Lunocet still has a long way ahead before being what it wishes to be. such a beautifull object though. a bit of a pity it's still all show and no go.
the DOLfin on the other hand seems to be hitting the nail on the head with their design.

 

[Herup]

...big changes needed to bring performance up to the standard of even a basic mono...

Outch! Hope Ted and you testpilots get your heads around what it takes to make it work, cause it is really a beautiful design in many other respects (and it seems to fit in a suitcase....)!

Very best regards
H!

 

[Fondueset]

I just spoke with Ted.

He'll be contacting all the Betas directly but the reason for the delay is a new mod he's come up with to improve performance. The mod is the product of some good input from freedivers who've tried the new luno and, in my opinion, is certain to bring some degree of improvement in performance.

It will probably be 10 days or so before I'll be in a position to start providing feedback on the mod.

 

[Pointyman]

Hi, I'm going to make the purchase soon, any feedback on the new model?

 

[Fondueset]

The mod for the lunocet has not been released yet. I will be reviewing it as soon as Ted gets it to me and I have some time in with it.

 

[Pointyman]

awesome can't wait! I don't mind if the fin doesn't work 100% to the normal monofin, as long as it works well ish. Let me know when you get to test it! Or even better, a video review!