New Zealand Mono Fin

[flying_spanner]

Hello all,

I'm looking to get into some competative Freediving early next year. Before too long I'm going to need a Mono.

I know you're all thinking "so yeah what's the problem?"

The problem is the Kiwi dollar has plummeted in value of late and the exchange rate could kill me. Or atleast my Girlfreind will when she discovers how much I'm planning on spending, especailly if I end up paying for a fin with Euro's or US Dollars.

So what I want to know is, are there any Mono's on the market made locally (here in NZ) or in Australia that I could look at getting?

Any advice will be much appreciated.

 

[flying_spanner]

PS I'm a size 10 foot, and use Omer size 44-46 foot pockets on my Stereo Fins with 5mm foot pockets. (just incase anyone has a 2nd hand fin for sale)

 

[Phil C]

Hi,

There has been some talk about a NZ made mono, but as far as I'm aware, it has only been talk at this stage. Suggest you keep in touch with The Lazy Seals in Wellington and/or No Bubbles in Auckland. They could let you know next time someone is planning on ordering a fin in from Europe. It's cheaper to join in a group to save on freight costs.

Either way I would suggest getting advice on monofin's, there's horses for courses...

In the meantime you can always train no-fins ; )

 

[flying_spanner]

I'm seriously contemplating having a go at making a couple of fins myself. I just need to get some ideas of how to modify/adapt Omer (or similar) footpockets to the job. The Fiberglass for the blade won't be a problem as I work with the stuff for my job.

 

[Erik]

Pics help? Or have you seen these... Monofin «Feediver Nemo Wing»

 

[davewastaken]

from wat i know with my little exp with mono fins there is ALOT to them and they are a work of art and there are only a few great fins out there in a sea of 100's. i think it is AWESOME u wanna have a crack at making one urself, make sure u do ur homework though. the closest thing to a NZ monofin i guess would b diveR fins made in aust by Ray Powell i think. there stereo fins are getting attention and he has made a monofin with the help of a few top freedivers that reside over here.

 

[flying_spanner]

Here's an update.

I've decided to give the DIY mono a good nudge.

Last night at swim training one of my mates informed me that one of the local dive shops has a pair of Footpockets on their rack for $40. I decide that'd be worth a look as $40 is bloody cheap for a pair of footpockets.

I go down to the dive shop and ask about the footpockets, and the shop owner disappears out back and returns with a pair of old but never used Sporasub H. Dessault Footpockets and they are even in my size!!!!

I couldn't get the 40 bucks out of my pocket quick enough. A brand new pair of Omer, Sea Tec or Picasso footpockets would cost me $140 Plus Shipping from Ocean hunter
Store - Ocean Hunter

I came home and tried the footpockets on with my booties. They fit perfectly.

So here's my plan I'm going to modify these footpockets to adapt them onto a Monofin blade similar to how Waterway use Omer footpockets on their fins

As for the blade I plan to approach Gary Fisher this weekend. For those of you who don't know Gary makes his blades called Fisher Power Fins.
Here's a link to the Power Fins website www.fisherpowerfins.co.nz

Gary's blades are really long, and really nice to swim with. Pretty much all the guys I go spearfishing with use them, and I've swum quite a few lengths of the pool with them. (I would get a pair myself but I have a pair of C4's arriving in the post any day now)

If I can convince Gary to have a go at my Mono design, then we should see what results in a month or so.

I'll update when I have more info.

 

[Mullins]

Gary should be able to make you a good blade with the same footpocket angle as his bifins. Just don't be tempted to go down the 'stick 2 bifins together' route like many others have done - monos are short for a reason and those waterway dimensions are a good place to start!

If you find you don't like the full footpockets on a mono (they're comfy but some find them cumbersome. I've never tried 'em) the basic waterway pockets are also cheap and very easy to install. No side rails.

 

[Jouskari]

My experience is that standard footpocket monos don´t have the same amount of powertranfer as open-heel footpocket. Anyhow the diffrence is probably minimal for a beginner and and a standard footpocket mono should also give a very good base to build improved models on.

Here´s some leaderfins models of the same concept. I if only possible you could also try to get the blade angled.

LeaderFins.com

LeaderFins.com

 

[Phil C]

Hi there,

A few months ago I removed the medium footpocket from my first mono (A Waterways MK 2) and fitted a smaller pair so a training partner could learn to mono. I still have the medium footpocket whIch I would be happy to let you have for a nominal amount.

So then you would just need to build a blade (peeled Eglass circuit board) or buy one from someone (I think Henk G has a few) and fit the footpocket.

This way you could get into the toyota corolla of mono's (waterway's MK 2) , learn some technique, and then decide if you want to progress to the $$$ of importng a glide fin or investing the time of developing your own.



Phil
nofinsphil@gmail.com

 

[Erik]

^decent deal!^

 

[flying_spanner]

So then you would just need to build a blade (peeled Eglass circuit board) or buy one from someone (I think Henk G has a few) and fit the footpocket

Sounds good. But I'd only do this if someone has a blade for sale.

Offers anyone???????

 

[flying_spanner]

Here's am update.

Tonight I came from from work and hacked into, I mean started to modify my footpockets.

I cut one of the legs off each foot pocket leaving a shortened leg a little over 70mm long.

I then split the remaining long legs down the grove where the blade will go with a hand saw and trimmed them to allow a good 3-4 mm thick blade to fit in the newly made slot.

Next was to make where the footpockets will meet (along the short leg) totally flat. This involved using my plane, a linisher, and a sanding block to get the desired result. The footpockets will be glued along this face probably using rubber cement. (the glue used to glue a patch onto an inner tube)

I've decided not to glue the footpockets together until they're fitted to the blade so as to ensure that everything is square and lines up, Otherwise I may end up swimming in circles.

I apologise that I have no photo's to accompany this thread but the digi camera has crapped out. Hopefully santa will bring me a nice new camera with a matching Ikelite housing (hint hint mum and dad if you are reading this :inlove)

 

[flying_spanner]

Here's an update.

My first Locally made Mono is almost a reality!

Another coat of paint and a bit more sanding and the mould will be ready.

I'm going to use the Vacuum Bag method of fibreglassing as this ensures nice even resein flow through the glass fibres, and should produce a good finish.

The angle between the footpockets and the blade is the same angle as my C4's.

I plan to have a working prototype to use at the Mid winter champs in Wellington early July.

I'll keep you posted.