Seatan
04-29-2015, 09:36 PM
Okay, I received the eco-tail by Mertailor today. This has a Finis Aquarius mono fin inside it. I am going to have to alter it before being able to swim in it due to one mucho problemo: IT HAS NO DRAINAGE HOLES!
I like the realistic scale pattern--in fact, I really love the scales! The color is a little dull, but that's my personal taste. As you can see in the pics, it hides heels well compared to other fabric tails with their own mono fin designs and MUCh better than you can ever hide the Competitor in fabric, so that is an up. But as I said before... IT HAS NO DRAINAGE HOLES!!! I am going to have to get the seam ripper out before I even try and swim in it because it will fill up with water like a balloon--the fluke is totally sewn in and there is no way for water to drain!!! Also, I have to bend fluke to remove it. Like I said, it's totally sewn in, and sewn darn tight!!! If I undo the whole bottom seam it will snap up it's so tight on the fin.
Also, it's a freaking dinky little fluke, though that is not Mertailor's fault at all. The Aquarius is TINY, despite being the same width as the Rapid, and for a girl who is used to a Competitor (in my old fabric tail and Finfolk tail) or a Rapid (while swimming for fun), this thing makes me wince at its size. I will likely be altering the tail to fit my Rapid and selling the Aquarius. I wish I had just bought the skin. :(
I would say that it is a pretty nice looking tail for what it is (AKA if you're not a size queen), but I am disappointed in the drainage design (or lack there of). I tested in the bath tub, and yup, it needs drainage.
So do I love it? No, it's gonna need some major fluke alterations, the first being the addition of drainage holes before I can even swim in it. For the cost, I don't think I should have to do something that is so OBVIOUS to any tail maker. But I'm not sure I'll be happy with just drainage holes. I may hit Joanne's and find some fabric to add to it and make it Rapid sized. Or perhaps I'll get some duct tape and extend the Aquarius because I DO I think the heels are much better hidden with the Aquarius monofin than any other monofin I've seen on a fabric tail. I'm not sure which is the better idea, because I DO like the scale pattern so I don't really want to return it. I am mostly just unhappy with the fact that it doesn't drain and that I am gonna have to cut it up just to use it... Seriously, that REALLY disappointed me. Eric knows better than that.
I will update this thread with my alterations as they go. First thing I am going to do is get fabric paint and give the scales a slightly three dimensional feel. Then I will decide what to do about the fluke.
EDIT: Also, there is a seam that goes straight across the ankles--unlike magic tails it is not one continuous pieces. HOWEVER, it is super hard to see with the scale pattern.
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I like the realistic scale pattern--in fact, I really love the scales! The color is a little dull, but that's my personal taste. As you can see in the pics, it hides heels well compared to other fabric tails with their own mono fin designs and MUCh better than you can ever hide the Competitor in fabric, so that is an up. But as I said before... IT HAS NO DRAINAGE HOLES!!! I am going to have to get the seam ripper out before I even try and swim in it because it will fill up with water like a balloon--the fluke is totally sewn in and there is no way for water to drain!!! Also, I have to bend fluke to remove it. Like I said, it's totally sewn in, and sewn darn tight!!! If I undo the whole bottom seam it will snap up it's so tight on the fin.
Also, it's a freaking dinky little fluke, though that is not Mertailor's fault at all. The Aquarius is TINY, despite being the same width as the Rapid, and for a girl who is used to a Competitor (in my old fabric tail and Finfolk tail) or a Rapid (while swimming for fun), this thing makes me wince at its size. I will likely be altering the tail to fit my Rapid and selling the Aquarius. I wish I had just bought the skin. :(
I would say that it is a pretty nice looking tail for what it is (AKA if you're not a size queen), but I am disappointed in the drainage design (or lack there of). I tested in the bath tub, and yup, it needs drainage.
So do I love it? No, it's gonna need some major fluke alterations, the first being the addition of drainage holes before I can even swim in it. For the cost, I don't think I should have to do something that is so OBVIOUS to any tail maker. But I'm not sure I'll be happy with just drainage holes. I may hit Joanne's and find some fabric to add to it and make it Rapid sized. Or perhaps I'll get some duct tape and extend the Aquarius because I DO I think the heels are much better hidden with the Aquarius monofin than any other monofin I've seen on a fabric tail. I'm not sure which is the better idea, because I DO like the scale pattern so I don't really want to return it. I am mostly just unhappy with the fact that it doesn't drain and that I am gonna have to cut it up just to use it... Seriously, that REALLY disappointed me. Eric knows better than that.
I will update this thread with my alterations as they go. First thing I am going to do is get fabric paint and give the scales a slightly three dimensional feel. Then I will decide what to do about the fluke.
EDIT: Also, there is a seam that goes straight across the ankles--unlike magic tails it is not one continuous pieces. HOWEVER, it is super hard to see with the scale pattern.
29346
29347
29348
29349
29350
29351
29352