What size is most adults flukes for tails, how to know what size to make it?

[Trident True]

this is a Q. that has been bothering me for some time now. i understand most people use a mono fin in their tails but what is the standard Adult size in Width? i am aware that different brands may be larger of smaller but having some sort of size to go on would be great. eg, my new fluke that i made measures about 2ft wide, 24'' now that may seem on the smaller side of things but its actually proportioned to my body. I usually do up a rough sketch or template of a fluke and but it below my feet and match it with my body size. I'm very thin so if i had anything bigger it would look just wrong. how do others go about creating the correct size for their tails? is there a common rule one should follow? i just recently watched a vid on YouTube regarding one of raven's tails and I noticed that fluke was huge. so perhaps im making mine too small. This may be a stupid question to ask, but I feel that perhaps some more light can be shred on the matter.:eek:

[Mermaid Wesley]

A main thing to remember is that smaller flukes offer less push in the water. Otherwise it's totally up to you. My wave is probably liiiike I wanna say.... Shoulder width...ish. A competitor is several feet wide. A foil is small. Just do what you think looks good and it'll be fine :)


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[Kishiko]

There isn't really a standard. It's basically just what looks good to you in proportion to your body, if you decide to cut your fin or make it. Of course, if you don't, then each fin has it's size that you can see in it's description when ordering. Like my lexan fin is 30" wide x 27" long. It's about the same size as a competitor. So yeah it's just personal preference (:

[AmbrGlows]

I've been wondering the same thing myself Trident. I'm a big girl and when I look at the few photos of my in my tail I think the fluke is too small for me. I bought my monofin from FinFun and if you drew a square around it the measurements would be about 24" x 22". I know this only because I had to make a replacement insert myself because the company was sold out. I plan on making a new monofin for my next tail but I'm unsure how big would be appropriate.

[Chrissy]

My fluke on my tail is 33" wide and 31" long. It is big and heavy, but it love it

[Mermaid Jaffa]

As big as you can!

I like big flukes and I cannot lie...

[PearlieMae]

if you are making your own monofin, just make it to where you like it, in proportion to your body.

[MarkF]

When making your monofin, any reason to be concerned about the spacing between your feet?

[AmbrGlows]

if you are making your own monofin, just make it to where you like it, in proportion to your body.
That's what I'm having a hard time determining. I have a FinFun monofin now and to me it's too small for my plus size. If you measure it square it's 24" x 24"

[MarkF]

you mean the foot pockets are to tight? Call finfun and ask them is you could stretch the pockets with heat and how.
I'm making my own fin and trying to figure how far apart the feet should be.

[AmbrGlows]

you mean the foot pockets are to tight? Call finfun and ask them is you could stretch the pockets with heat and how.
I'm making my own fin and trying to figure how far apart the feet should be.
No, it fits fine. The problem is that the fin looks too small for my body size. My hips are about 24" across. I think a fin looks better when it's wider than the merfolk's hips.

[MarkF]

Most definitely, mine will be about 33". Add a couple inches for each side of your shoulders or hips and then the style, I think you'd do well with the flowy tail. Figure about as long as wide.

Try it on paper.

[AmbrGlows]

Most definitely, mine will be about 33". Add a couple inches for each side of your shoulders or hips and then the style, I think you'd do well with the flowy tail. Figure about as long as wide.

Try it on paper.
Got some ghostline poster board to draw it out on while I save up to buy the Lexan & neoprene I need.

[MarkF]

There's no race.
Enjoy drawing and redrawing. Gives you the time to decide how to cut it, sew the neoprene and paint.
Enjoy the process.

[AmbrGlows]

There's no race.
Enjoy drawing and redrawing. Gives you the time to decide how to cut it, sew the neoprene and paint.
Enjoy the process.
No rush. All the water parks and pools around me are closed until Memorial Day 2015. I've got my spandex and flat round sequins to start scaling the upper portion of the tail. I'm taking my time with this tail (my second).

[Trident True]

you mean the foot pockets are to tight? Call finfun and ask them is you could stretch the pockets with heat and how.
I'm making my own fin and trying to figure how far apart the feet should be.

I would suggest not too close together. just ensure your bony ankle thingies don't touch as it's very uncomfortable.

[MerMarla]

you mean the foot pockets are to tight? Call finfun and ask them is you could stretch the pockets with heat and how.
I'm making my own fin and trying to figure how far apart the feet should be.

Hi MarkF My friend has a Fin Fun monofin. It's lexan shaped on the inside, with thin neoprene on the outside. The trailing edge is left open to insert and remove the lexan to dry the monofin. The "foot pockets" really aren't rubbler, like Finis or European monofins are designed. These have oval holes in the neoprene, and spandex anklets stitched to the holes to keep the monofin on your foot. Once it's in the tail it doesn't slip as much. She would have to just enlarge neoprene ovals and make a larger circumference spandex anklet to expand the comfort.

HTH!
Mermaid Marla

[AmbrGlows]

Hi MarkF My friend has a Fin Fun monofin. It's lexan shaped on the inside, with thin neoprene on the outside. The trailing edge is left open to insert and remove the lexan to dry the monofin. The "foot pockets" really aren't rubbler, like Finis or European monofins are designed. These have oval holes in the neoprene, and spandex anklets stitched to the holes to keep the monofin on your foot. Once it's in the tail it doesn't slip as much. She would have to just enlarge neoprene ovals and make a larger circumference spandex anklet to expand the comfort.

HTH!
Mermaid Marla
The ankle holes is not the problem. The problem for me is that the size of the fin itself feels a bit small compared to my body size.

[Mermaid Wesley]

It's a small fluke. But it's cheap. Such is the trade off. You could try to extend it.
There are several methods listed around here.


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[AmbrGlows]

It's a small fluke. But it's cheap. Such is the trade off. You could try to extend it.
There are several methods listed around here.


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The neoprene sleeve around the Lexan won't allow for extension. So I'm making my own Lexan tail with a neoprene sleeve to hold it on my feet.

[MerMarla]

When making your monofin, any reason to be concerned about the spacing between your feet?

Hi MarkF,

Yes, not only the spacing between your feet in monofin pockets, but the angle the foot pocket makes with the blade, and the angle your feet make due to your leg shape and hip joint, and also where the foot pocket is placed with reference to where the blade ends under the foot.

With a helper, you can determine between foot placement between inner ankle bones (the prominence is called "medial malleolus" on the lower tibia) by laying on the floor face up, legs together, knees touching. Place a piece of paper between knees, and hold it there with knees such that it can be easily removed. Have your helper place your ankles close together, but not tightly or touching. Point toes to ceiling then point them like a ballet performer in toe shoes (like pointing them to a wall). Do this a couple times but don't adjust your feet if they separate. Measure the distance between the ankle bones, and mark a reference dot on the top of each foot, and measure between dots. Commonly, you should end up with about a finger-width between ankle bones. They should not touch, neither should the knees. A Mer will get rubs, or worse, blisters if the foot pockets are too close (or toe blisters if pocket is too short) and ankles and knees abrade. You also may find that natural placement of feet as you stand up, that you are slightly toe-in or toe-out If so, make sure that is noted and at what angle to the lexan's centerline axis the foot print angle makes.

Make sure the sole length is long enuf. I prefer a full foot "cup" to keep my foot aligned in my monofin, Keep your toe nails trimmed. Allow for some snugging up with a buckle. The foot pocket is slightly displaced (according to toe-in or -out from center of foot location. If you use a full heel pocket for the foot, no need to worry about the displacement, just center the pocket by the measurements taken earlier. But if you wish to have the heel cut out, then make sure that the cut edge falls just slightly past the heel pad. Trim the heel bottom slowly. Remove small amounts from each foot pocket on each foot (your feet are not identical) until you are satisfied with the feel. If you stand with monofin on (with helper next to you so you don't fall) the rubber you cut to make room for your heel pad, should barely be felt. Round all cut edges.

Hope this helps!
Mermaid Marla