Tail Lifespan???

[Mermaid Alea]

Tail Type
Average Lifespan
Maximum Lifespan


Spandex




Neoprene




Latex




Silicone






I have been searching trying to figure out the lifespan of tails. I am mainly interested in the lifespan of a silicone tail but I figured it would be interesting to make a chart of the lifespan of all kinds of tails. So the average is of course how long most people's tails last. The maximum is some of the oldest ages you have heard of or perhaps you have a tail that has really outlasted the average age.

My definition of lifespan is how long you can use the tail to swim in. It is okay if it has needed minor repairs such as fixing some holes and re-attaching a fin.

So hopefully you will be able to copy this chart and fill it in with your own stats, and then we can eventually make a final chart with the findings.

If there is already something like this I am sorry I just couldn't find it!

[Mermaid Enora]

All depends on how well or badly you take care of the tail.

[AniaR]

yeah it's suuuuper subjective. Mimi is still using my old mertailor and it's 6 years old! But it is NOT reliable or in good shape at all. My first merbellas I made last 3 years but just barely. But I logged 1000s of hours in it. I think it all depends on how you use it, where you use it, if you're able to do repairs etc

[Echidna]

I think this chart is a cool idea, just to have a reference. The numbers needn't be scientifically accurate :p

Provided you take maximum good care of the tail, how many hours in tail (swimming or sitting) does each material have approximately?
(Hours in tail is the important factor.)

That should make an interesting list.
I cannot provide numbers, because all my tails are still in good shape since I made them, but I'd really like to know.

[ShyMer]

It might be good to account for number of uses/ hours rather than years. You might want to collect information about level of care as well, which would certainly be fascinating to compare (though more complicated!)
I'd love to see this information set out in a table format, nice idea!

Maybe you could set up a poll where people can vote multiple times for each of their tails. It might be easier to sort through than wading through individual posts.

[AniaR]

I think its a good idea in general I just don't know we could provide answers. Even hours used with have to broken into dry indoor dry outdoor, chlorine, fresh, salt. Cuz they all effect it.

[Mermaid Alea]

True it would be hard to pin down exact numbers...Also the results might vary depending on the tailmaker. For example a homemade fabric tail might last longer or not as long as a reputable fabric tail company tail, etc.

I am not too worried about it being 100% accurate just looking for some ballpark figures, but like you all said there are just sooo many factors it is hard to say how close the lifespan of a tail for one mer will be for another mer.

Now I see why it is hard to find info on how long a tail will last!:fallover:

[Cordelia]

This sounds like a job for a mathematician mer! As for me, I majored in English, so count me out! :D

[Mermaid Alea]

Haha I am majoring in graphic design so I understand! I avoid math like the plague. My art teacher was saying last week that even math can be artistic. Well...No offense to people who love math, but I disagree with that statement because I never felt like I was creating art when I was doing my math homework. I just felt like I was being tortured.


I mainly want to know the life span of a silicone tail because while I won't be ready for several years to get a silicone tail, I would have an easier time justifying spending all that money for one if I knew I could get it to last at least 5 years.

[Cordelia]

I just felt like I was being tortured.
Haha! For sure.

I actually use a lot of geometry and algebra for knitting, but it doesn't quite feel the same creating a 3D wearable object as it did finding the area of a square.... :P

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Well my Aloha Tail is the first tail that I'd made last year. Its had a few swims and is starting to get baggy. I've yet to take in the sides but had to on the fluke once. Its good quality swimwear fabric, so my guess is lasts a couple of months for a fabric tail before one has to replace it. The butt where I have been butt scooting isn't worn out, it still looks new. It is just the fluke that seems to have stretched more than the rest of the tail. I thought wriggling my walrus butt in and out of the tail would cause it to stretch but its only the fluke!

[Mermaid Alea]

What kind of monofin are you using in the fabric tail? That is a whole other variable I just thought about haha. How were you storing your tail?

I haven't seen a whole bunch on fabric tail life spans, but it seems like they will last a summer full of use and then they need to be retired.

[Mary Marine]

Just had to retire my first fabric tail. It was 4 way stretch nylon spandex with a metallic finish. The metallic finish was ruined immediately and the bare spots painted with fabric paint, which started to flake a bit towards the end. It lasted exactly one year, swimming a few times a month in chlorine, so I'd say that's around two dozen swims plus trips through the washing machine (delicate cycle and no dryer). Probably could have taken in the sides to make it last a little longer, but if I'm going to bother with that I might as well make a new tail.

So for the life of a fabric tail, I'd say a few months to a year depending on number of swims per month, natural water vs. chlorine, washing, and fabric type.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

I hand wash all my swimming things with wetsuit wash and drip dry in the shade. My monofins are made of rubber, Finis Foil and Mahina Merfin. I do have a Fin Fun monofin but it is the old type that is the clear polycarbonate. Doesn't get much use as it is too soft for me.

Also mentioning too, that the pre made fabric tails, the fabric is much thinner than swimwear fabric, so it depends on the user, how they take care of it, wash it etc.

[Mermaid Alea]

Thanks Mary Marine! Well so far it looks like fabric tails last a few months to a year. We shall see if anyone has had one last longer!

Mermaid Jaffa - Thanks! I don't really know if monofins make a difference but I figured it was worth asking. I have been looking at the fin fun monofins recently. Still trying to think if I should get my boyfriend or one of his sisters a monofin...

Another question might be if neoprene tails and sequined neoprene tails last the same amount of time or if one lasts longer than the other.

Anyone know how long Hannah Mermaid's tails last her?

[Mermaid Enora]

Thanks Mary Marine! Well so far it looks like fabric tails last a few months to a year. We shall see if anyone has had one last longer!

Mermaid Jaffa - Thanks! I don't really know if monofins make a difference but I figured it was worth asking. I have been looking at the fin fun monofins recently. Still trying to think if I should get my boyfriend or one of his sisters a monofin...

Another question might be if neoprene tails and sequined neoprene tails last the same amount of time or if one lasts longer than the other.

Anyone know how long Hannah Mermaid's tails last her?

I've seen most of Hannah's tails around for a while. However, sequins can be replaced so while the tail looks the same it may have been repaired a lot or kept up really well.

[MermaidBrandie]

I heard of a girl on another thread who'd had her spandex tail that she made 5 years or something crazy like that. I've had two fabric tails, and one neoprene. I enjoyed the snugness of the neoprene, but not the float so I retired it and I sold my first spandex tail and my Mahina merfin to a friend, so she's using it now. NOW I have a fabric tail made of sequin fabric and 4 way spandex. I'll keep you posted.

I think you're going to get the longest life out of a silicone tail. I'd go for someone who makes slightly thicker tails, that way you get the most durability for your buck since it's the thin parts that will be able to rip more. Also don't be scared to look up how to do some minor repairs as well.

As for a monofin. I absolutely don't recommend finfun unless you're getting it for a kid. They're....well they just don't push you in the water, it's really quite difficult. I'd go for a mahina, or a mirage if you want the mermaid style look and a good bit of propulsion in the water. Although Pearlie's new lexan monofin looked lovely since it was so clear. :)

[Princess Kae-Leah]

I have a FinFun tail that I bought in 2011 and it still looks almost like new, although the fact that it's hardly been in the water, mainly just dry helps A LOT of course. I have a FF mono, although Raina claims it's an older model than what's currently available, and I think it's the perfect "starter"/"training wheels" monofin for someone who isn't an expert swimmer and just wants to play around in shallow water, kicking their tail around, etc. or even just hold the shape when dry, but I can't in good conscience recommend it for serious swimmers, as it's extremely lightweight, with the actual monofin inside feeling like light plastic, in other words perfect for me, but not everyone

[Mermaid Alea]

Thanks! I just got back from a weekend college ministry trip to Vortex Springs and I was looking over my spandex tail to see if I did any damage to it. I was sitting on wooden steps that were in the water a lot, and at one point it was so crowded I had to sit on a step with a nail head poking up just to get my tail off and get out. My tail has shiny green holographic markings on it, and after looking it over last night I saw areas on the back of my tail where the holographic markings are starting to show the silver underneath. It is very faint though and only noticeable when I look carefully. I think it performed really well for how many times I was putting it on and taking it off on the steps over the weekend.

I just recommended a FinFun monofin Jr. for the preacher's little daughter because she saw me swimming in my tail and now she really wants one. Her Mom is really excited about it too. While at Vortex a little girl told me that she and some other girls are hired to wear mermaid tails for special events at the spring. She said that they used to use a monofin like what I have (finis rapid) but that it was too heavy for them and that they "sank to the bottom wearing them". So she said now they use FinFun monofins. Since she is the same size as the preacher's daughter I figure it will be a good fit.

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