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Paul, At 11:17 21/02/2001 -0800, you wrote: >Twin jets have the same strap as Jet's wich allow you to use spring >straps, available from fifthd. Hmmm... I didn't think that was the case but after a quick look at the web site you may be right (was fairly sure I'd had a good look at the fins, certainly other split fin designs). I know the newer Sea Wings (I had some old Sea Wing Gorilla's before I got my Jets) appeared to add the quick release on to a standard mounting so I guess these could be fitted with spring straps. Either way I wouldn't be spending the big bucks these fins cost without a lot of justification (my jet fins cost around AUS$140, the twin jets are over twice that at least (and my fins get a lot of abuse)). The propeller and whale tail examples are pretty meaningless to my way of thinking, humans are neither boats nor cetaceans. We're essentially land lubbers, lacking the efficent hydrodynamic shape of fish and the specialisation in skin, muscles and skeletal structure. If you want to pick a fish that might equate to a human pick something slow moving with (apparently) poor hydrodynamics. Maybe a pufferfish, their fins are paddle shaped. I'm sure that there are exceptions but slower moving reef fish have larger more paddle like tails. Fast moving pelargic fish have smaller, fork shaped tails (to reduce drag). The only time I can think of that fin drag is an issue for humans is for body board riders where small (dove tail shaped) fins are the norm. Having said that though I know bugger all really about hydrodynamics and propulsion. I'm not opposed to trying new things if the opportunity arises (there was a pair of Bio Fins floating around the shop I had planned to road test for interest) however even getting fins in the water for a little while (in a pool) can be highly subjective. I'd also be questioning a fins, durability, range of fin strokes (so your not stuck with the same finning motion but can vary the stroke for power, manuverability or comfort (to reduce fatigue and share the load)) and other issues (like the entanglement issue raised earlier). I know from cycling too that I personally tend to get along better with slow power strokes rather than rapid peddling (in lower gears). If this translates to fins some designs certainly wouldn't suit me. Cheers, Simon Simon L Hartley RSM Website Coordinator\First Year Course Coordinator Associate Lecturer School of Resource Science and Management Southern Cross University P.O. Box 157 Lismore NSW, Australia 2480 Ph: (02) 66203251 or (61 66) 203 251 Fax:(02) 66212669 E-mail: shartley@sc*.ed*.au* http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/rsm/staff/pages/shartley/ http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/rsm/ -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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