Making Flippers more Mermaidy

[Mermaid Saphira]

For one of my friends tails, I am going to be using flippers instead of the RAPID because of it's price tag. Now, I don't really like the look of flipper just put together. For me it looks...square and boxy. What I plan on doing, to give these flippers a more mermaid-y look is this.....

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Thanks to theoceanblue's thread about her wave monofin, duck tape and and an old binder I came up with flippers with duck tape and an old binder ;)
Do you mers think it will hold up? I am really excited to try this out and I think it will look amazing!

[Mermaid Saphira]

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A colored picture :)

[Mermaid Cascada]

Thats a great idea :D Let me know how it works out.

[Mermaid Saphira]

Thats a great idea :D Let me know how it works out.


Most certainly will ;) we are ordering on thursday?

[theoceanblue]

Awww! Thanks for the shout-out! I think it will hold up! Just use a LOT of duct tape!

[Mermaid Saphira]

Awww! Thanks for the shout-out! I think it will hold up! Just use a LOT of duct tape!



Ur welcome! I'm going to be using glue as well, E6000, to make sure it stays exactly where it should ;)

[Mermaid Saphira]

This fins we are using...

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http://www.swimoutlet.com/product_p/23059.htm

[Cordelia]

I thought about this method, but then I ordered my monofin. I'd be interested to find out how well it works though. I might build a tail for my sister and I know she won't have the money for a monofin. The flippers/binders/duct tape would be a much more economical result for her.

[Mermaid Saphira]

I thought about this method, but then I ordered my monofin. I'd be interested to find out how well it works though. I might build a tail for my sister and I know she won't have the money for a monofin. The flippers/binders/duct tape would be a much more economical result for her.


Exactly why I came up with this idea ;) my friend can't afforded a rapid and the flippers are a good price!

[Mermaid Saphira]

we ordered the fins yesterday! They should be heere soon :D

[Mermaid Saphira]

The fins are currently in OHIO!!! :)

[Mermaid Saphira]

we got Sarah's flipper to day! I am currenly working on a video tutorial so all of you who can't afford a monofin can still get a mermaid-y fin :3

[Drowning]

How about these?

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[Mermaid Saphira]

^ I love those LOL :lol:

[Mermaid Saphira]

I am trying to upload the video so I can edit it, but I am having a little trouble with this darn SD card! It may be awhile..sorry

[mermaidbacka]

i hope you dont kick any one with those under water

[AniaR]

good luck. I used flippers in a fabric tail before. The thing I found challenging was that the space between the two meant they'd keep shifting and overlap in some places. I wonder if it worked if you could bolt them on to hard plastic or something?

[jukumerboii]

yeah this does look like a neat idea! hope it all works out for u!

[AptaMer]

good luck. I used flippers in a fabric tail before. The thing I found challenging was that the space between the two meant they'd keep shifting and overlap in some places. I wonder if it worked if you could bolt them on to hard plastic or something?

Hi AniaR, You might find this page interesting http://www.otterbaysuits.com/Goals.htm They make the mermaid flukes for their mermaid wetsuit out of two Cressi ProSport fins, and drill small holes near the foot pockets and use those platic pull ties to hold them tight together. They also add a small metal frame at the ends of the blades to hold the fins rigidly.

I also like the idea of adding weight at the fins so the tail sits naturally down in the water instead of floating and lifting you too high in the tail.

They make an interesting point that having the ankles together instead of separated like most monofins do looks more "mermaidy"

If you'd like to see their fluke system in action, here is Mermaid Linden swimming in the Otter Bay mermaid wetsuit


http://youtu.be/ijiMo0hFphA

[Mermaid Wesley]

interesting......

[babsannee]

How about these?

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:jawdrop: those are actually awesome

[Mermaid Bella]

I tried the duct tape method and it fell apart first swim. Despite my boyfriend taping it so it has no weak points, eventually I bored holes along the inside and threaded ribbon corset style through them. Works well now: )

[Mermaid Saphira]

I know this thread is probably dead by now, but I thought I would give it a try.
My friend came over last weekend and we decided to work in her tail. The binder pieces on the fins had to go
for two reasons; too bulky and flappy and they didn't fit the fabric. Everything looks great now! Have a look...

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^^ We made a top, too :) ^^

[MerEmma]

Looks nice. =) Do they hold together all right?

[Mermaid Saphira]

Looks nice. =) Do they hold together all right?


quite well, actually ^-^
All you need is alot of duck tape and they should be fine.

[spottedcatfish]

Sidenote: That fin in that video of Linden in a Otter Bay mer-suit, is a cut monofin. The actual fins look more like this:
http://www.otterbaysuits.com/Videos/MermaidReturning.mpg

Still nice, but not as wide as that fin we saw in the other video!