Extending a monofin

[A_Koi_Mermaid]

(Not sure if this is better suited to tailmaking or monofins)

So I have a finis wave, and I'm looking to extend the fluke into a bigger shape to put into a fabric tail. I've seen the tutorial here about extending their wave using plastic roofing sheeting but I was looking for a softer more flexible material to swim in a crowded pool, avoid poking through my fabric, and give me a nice somewhat floppy fin look. I've been brainstorming materials but so far my options haven't ended up working for one reason or another.

I've considered:
yoga mat/waterproof foam (costly and too small)
rubber mat such as door mats or anti-fatigue mats (costly or heavy)
EVA foam (too small to do one solid piece)

I've only been mermaiding for about a year with my monofin, so maybe I'm missing something obvious? I am obviously concerned about materials being non-toxic for me and the water, materials that won't mold, and materials that won't be too difficult for me to swim with. Any help would be greatly appreciated! I can post photos of my monofin, my cut-out fluke design and it's measurements if needed.

[Mermaid Wesley]

Mine is done with gorilla tape! I could make a little tutorial if it looks appealing. It's in my signature and I have images in my profile


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[A_Koi_Mermaid]

Mine is done with gorilla tape! I could make a little tutorial if it looks appealing. It's in my signature and I have images in my profile


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That would be great if it isn't a bother. I really like the floppy-ness of your fluke. :) I'd seen a regular duct tape monofin extension before using zip ties but I thought I'd read it broke down eventually. Gorilla tape is much tougher stuff I'm sure though.

[Mermaid Wesley]

It's actually based on the same method!

I made a paper template and then used that to make zip tie "bones".

Next I layed down the tape strip by strip, sandwiching the zip ties and pressing the sticky sides together. I think I did about 2 layers of tape over the whole thing and taped all the way up the monofin front and back.

I used the paper template to cut away excess tape and then sealed the edges with MORE TAPE!
I then accidentally left it in the hot trunk of my car for a full day, which kindof melted the adhesive and made it even more stuck but I think that's optional lol. Duct tape does fall apart in the water but the black gorilla tape is 3 years old and still holding up just fine!

And if you have issues you can just buy more tape lol


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[A_Koi_Mermaid]

35933

Here's how much of an extension I was planning on doing. It's a significant jump.

[A_Koi_Mermaid]

I read the official monofin thread and it suggested vinyl or rubber. I went to Joann's and all their vinyl was pretty thin. I've looked at rubber mats but they are either too heavy or too small so far. I've looked into the tape options and the bolted plastic sheets but since I'm new I'm hesitant to do something so permanent.

So if anyone has used vinyl or rubber, where did you get yours? Has another material worked for you?

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Have you looked at vinyl table covering that you can buy by the metre? Its fairly thick and its very wide so you could prob get away with buying just one metre of it.

[A_Koi_Mermaid]

The ones I'm seeing in a quick Google search are still fairly thin, but definitely more in the direction I'm going for. Maybe I'm not looking at the right type of thing?

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Google, vinyl tablecloth roll.

if that's all you can find, then just use two pieces on each side.

[Elodea the Mermaid]

I used a plastic placemat for mine. I doubled it and duct-taped it.
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[A_Koi_Mermaid]

Yeah, I have been meaning to check the dollar stores for place mats, door mats, that kind of thing. I need to go there anyway for some shelf liner for fins. The extension I'm working on is fairly long but I like the semi floppy look.

[A_Koi_Mermaid]

36065

UPDATE: I got some shelf liner and decided to try extending the fin that way. I really like how the look turned out. I still have a few things to work out as far as how to attach everything and see how it swims, and painting/dyeing some koi spots on it but it seems like a promising choice.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Sewn in the sides normally like you do when tail making, then for the liner actually covering the monofin, you could make a wide strap that goes from one liner side to the other, in the middle where the foot pockets are.

Have not tried it myself though. Or you could make it as the fin cover itself, but make the sides nearest the foot pockets to fit as tight as possible and have the fin edges sewn in but with open channels for water to go through. Then either way, you won't need to find glue or bolt it to the fin. Whether it'll work or not, its something to think about.

[A_Koi_Mermaid]

I like those ideas. I do plan on covering the monofin, probably in white with a paint job on the fabric. I have been thinking about the water going through like you said, trying to keep all that in mind.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

My Open Closed Fluke might work in this case... I think it would because you still have a hole open in the middle to for your monofin to go in and out.

[A_Koi_Mermaid]

Turns out this shelf liner went straight into the sewing machine with zero issues. I sewed the pieces together to make a monofin sleeve ready to be tested! I may have to stitch the bottoms together better (it it currently only sewn on the top section by the foot pockets, down to about half way down the monofin) but it is looking ready for testing soon!

[Mermaid Jaffa]

Yay! Show us pics when you swim in it.

[A_Koi_Mermaid]

So I finally got the edited monofin in the water...and the stitches started to rip out. :( I don't blame them, they were just single stitched and they wouldn't have ripped at the top if the top had been attached to a tail. It wasn't too bad, but it certainly wouldn't hold up as it is now. As far as how swimmable it was, it was alright. It mostly added a bit of weight or drag and wasn't quite as flowy or fluid as I wanted. It also didn't provide much extra "push" either. It looked very nice though, it was the first time I had a mermaid silhouette in the water so that certainly magical. I think having two pieces sewn together is a bit of a stress for it.

I still label this as a success, just needs a bit of fine tuning. :)

P.S. I have video of it in the water, just trying to figure out the best way to post it up here. May have to put it on youtube first.

[Mermaid Jaffa]

You could try hand sewing it up with fishing line instead of normal sewing thread. And using zigzag stitch instead of straight stitch.