Thought you guys would get a kick out of this. I was reading the threads on fins/flippers as I'm looking for a new pair I can wear without booties. I kept finding references to guys not wearing them because of drag as they hang off the side of the board. Never really thought about it before. Well I got some pics of me riding my latest flexspoon and you can clearly see my flipper hanging off the rail and the tail.
So I took some measurements and here is where my flippers are when I ride. Probably farther apart.
From my reading the Hubb model makapuu's sound good but they don't seem to exist. I've got an almost new pair of black Churchills that I'll modify into a Hubb-like pair.
How is the thrust with Da Fins? I've got short, wide feet(real duckfeet) so Voit Duckfeet are out. Obviously I'm not concerned with them hanging off my board and dragging.
Da Fins are wide and drag sometimes at first but I got used to them really fast. Got enough thrust without being too stiff and bad for joints.
Great for walking on rocks.
Have you looked at VIPERS ? This subject comes up often with tons of advice. All good But I love my VIPERS. Did just like you did and laid them on the board .... No over-hang. Again, there are lot's of swim-fins out there. Good luck.
Take a look at BLUNDT TIPS by Toobz. I have a wide foot too and have been using BZ Rubbers for years. Gigantic foot pocket. I've recently heard that Morey Boogie bought out BZ and my fins are getting cut from production. Bummed. I really like my Blundts. XL with a 3mm bootie. Not as much thrust as my stiff bladed BZ Rubbers but the Blundts are real nice and comfy. Flex is about the same as Churchills.
Flipper Drag ... ... Oh flipper drag ... at first I thought it was a post about a dolphin at the gay and lesbian mardi gras ... sorry about that ... anyway moving right along ...
Imagination is more important than knowledge.
For knowledge is limited to all we now know and understand.
While imagination embraces the entire world, and all there ever will be to know and understand.
Search E-Bay for a aussie made "Shinfin" It looks pretty nice but really.....I dont know. I was gonna make a lowball offer of 40 or 50
to get a "irregular" pair....and then didnt.
Lower your standards Raise your average.
Negative Attention Is Still Attention
Bill F wrote:all my boards have very wide tails (12inches tip to tip) Drag is never an issue.
+1.
"So if you want to kneeboard, find the hollowest waves you can, ride as short of a board as possible and go fast and deep. If you want to slip and slide, twist and jerk, go for air then stand up and do it. Let’s keep kneeboarding sacred."
-Bird Huffman
x2 for the Toobs Bluntcuts. very comfy. easy to walk in. very close to churchills but not side specific. also the top of the fin is completely flat and grips the deck way better than my Vipers although when i throw a pair of fins on the boat it's always the Vipers. i think Vipers have unmatched thrust for their size.
if the waves are so gutless i start noticing flipper drag or the infamous "leash drag" i usually go fishing instead.
"This sucks more than anything that has ever sucked before." Butt-head
shinfins , neofins, bluntz all too weak for you george....id definetly try switching your churchies, the foot pockets are NOT right/left specific....or blunt cut em and they will still be more powerful then the toobs...
I like my da fins but they are WIdER then makapuus but more thrust...
if there was some flexy light carbon cloth prelammed that you could glue to the blades
IT BE EPIC!
or some bamboo splints OR PAULOWNIA RIBS!!!!!
Tide is the master, tide can be a disaster...-Dub side of the Moon