Split fins were made for people who don't know any better, otherwise known
as "strokes". What "kind" of stroke is not necessary, but thanks for
clarifying that they are indeed for morons.

-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Holcomb [mailto:jimholcomb@x-*.co*]
Sent: Sunday, August 05, 2001 9:47 PM
To: Techdiver
Subject: Re: Split fins


Split fins were made for people with a high air consumption rate diving on
shallow reefs.  I tested a couple pairs of those things when they first came
out.  They allow for less work (meaning less air consumption) traveling
around in a non-current type environment.  From a technical standpoint they
are useless.  Most cave/wreck divers use the frog kick. When I attempted to
use the frog kick with them I went absolutely nowhere (must be the physics
of the design?)  With a standard open water flutter or modified flutter you
DO move with less effort but not as far - so is that less effort or not?
But at twice the price I would be glad to sell you a pair <big grin>. Call
me at the store. <another big grin>.
Jim
----- Original Message -----
From: "Don Burke" <donburke56@ne*.ne*>
To: "Techdiver" <Techdiver@aquanaut.com>
Sent: Saturday, August 04, 2001 9:19 PM
Subject: Re: Split fins


> 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
>
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