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From: Joe Citelli <joe@po*.co*> > How could a fin with less surface area and rigidity possibly generate more > thrust in the water than a fin with greater surface area and rigidity? If the smaller fin puts less water in the wrong direction, less surface area is needed. If the flex in a fin causes more water to go straight back, the flex is a good thing. An extension of your argument is the use of a 4 by 8 sheet of plywood on each foot. Since that doesn't seem to work very well, perhaps the hydrodynamic problem is a bit more involved than just surface area and rigidity. > People like them because they are easy to kick with. Perhaps > But you travel less distance. That isn't how I interpret the test results I have seen. > Personally, I'd rather kick hard once to cover a given distance > than kick easy three times. I doubt the ratio is that high. In any case, isn't the figure of merit gas consumption for distance traveled? > The manufacturers simply had nothing to sell so they made this up. Perhaps, although the test results do look encouraging. > Funny how people that buy this kind of stuff typically keep going back to the > stuff in their garage that works. I'm watching all of this. They have my attention. Perhaps one day they'll get my money. The entanglement issue needs to be addressed. I touch my line with a fin at least once a dive and don't need anything else to wrap the line around. I saw a fin with vents down the center in one of the magazines and perhaps that is the wave of the future. The best performers seem to have the blade bent downward in a sort of "ballerina set." It would not surprise me to find that much improvement comes from that. Don Burke Chesapeake, Virginia ---------------------------------------------------- NetZero Platinum Sign Up Today - Only $9.95 per month! http://my.netzero.net/s/signup?r=platinum&refcd=PT97 -- Send mail for the `techdiver' mailing list to `techdiver@aquanaut.com'. Send subscribe/unsubscribe requests to `techdiver-request@aquanaut.com'.
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