Mizuko's Silicone Tail

[Delphine]

Hi, Mizuko. You're welcome to try the one seam, however in the long run, I wish I'd done 2 side-seams. Ah, well. I may make another tail in the way-far future. XD I still want a few years outta the Delphine Tail. I made a duct-tape mannequin of my legs, didn't have fiberglass. From what I've heard, though, the fiberglass is excellent stuff for tail-making! Good luck, & excited to see pictures!

As a note to you both, Thom Shouse, whom I emailed 2 years ago when I wanted to originally start the Delphine Tail (obviously it didn't get off the ground til now, lol), he recommended Dragon Skin, as the best thing on the market.

[Mizuko]

Thank you! I think for space-wise I might have to make a half-scale sheet anyway and have two seams... I underestimated the enormity of my scale sheet. haha! XD <3
Competitor monofin has arrived, so I'll be starting on the moulds for the fluke and side fins in the next few weeks (I hope!). My friend who is helping with the laser cutting is keen to get started soon too, so it might end up being a big month! hehe!

[Ariel-Starfish]

ooh SO exited! I can't wait for some pictures in the making

[Mizuko]

~tiny update~

I've been distracted sewing a Lady of The Lake dress for the local medieval fair, so I've been engrossed in that the last week ^^; But I went for a swim in the new monofin and HOLY MOTHER OF PEARL I dont know how I ever used plastic monofins before XD I honestly CANNOT WAIT to have it in a silicone tail- it will be so incredible to have that much power

[Delphine]

Mizuko, what is the Competitor Monofin made of? I saw someone, probably from MN, that had a crazy thin, see-through monofin on youtube, testing it out & swimming quite elegantly. I'd like one of those if I ever do another silicone tail.

[Mizuko]

The competitor monofin is made of fibre glass its super thin and lightweight, and when you shake it it sounds like thunder XD I think they made a 'white/clear' fin and a 'black' fin, so perhaps the one you saw was a competitor? Mine came in black. (and I think I know which video you are talking about! haha! If so, yes she had a competitor monofin on! )

[ShyMer]

That's interesting, I've seen the black competitor but i figured it was made out of something else. It looks like plastic to me from photos. Cool.

[Mizuko]

Yep, definately fibreglass (my dad makes surfboards so I know it when I see/feel it! haha!) I was way too excited shaking it XD haha!

[Delphine]

Yep, definately fibreglass (my dad makes surfboards so I know it when I see/feel it! haha!) I was way too excited shaking it XD haha!

Lol, love that. I'd totally walk around my apt shaking it, making monofin "thunder". XD

Thanks, guys. Yeah, maybe i can find the video for you? Whoever the girl was swum wonderfully! If I ever make another tail, I'll probably get a nicer monofin like hers, then I wouldn't have to worry about the stabilizer bars mine has (I'd bought a cheaper monofin, as I'm new to swimming with them & felt it was both intimidating & unnecessary to splurge on my first tail). But for my next.. lol, 5 years later. =P

[Mermaid Lilium]

Mizuko, what is the Competitor Monofin made of? I saw someone, probably from MN, that had a crazy thin, see-through monofin on youtube, testing it out & swimming quite elegantly. I'd like one of those if I ever do another silicone tail.

was it this one? http://www.scubastore.com/scuba-divi...r-flow/31962/p

If so, 'tis the one I've ordered

[Mermaid Varshana]

You think that might be safe to swim ocean currents in? Cuz I-won'-lie, I kinda like that clear look...

[Mermaid Lilium]

You think that might be safe to swim ocean currents in? Cuz I-won'-lie, I kinda like that clear look...

there are videos of mermaid kat swimming in them in the ocean so I would think so. I would imagine if you start cutting into it or altering it that it wouldn't be as well suited.

I've just emailed the website about estimated stock delivery for them so I'll let you know what they say. When mine eventually arrives I'll try and test it in ocean currents for you and let you know how it goes =) the fins are huuuge btw... let me find the video for you...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpCXR7ZkOzg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvG1JT538H4

here's another person swimming with one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fXAjt...ature=youtu.be

here's the info from their company: http://www.sweammer.com/en/menu-prin...racteristiques

they're in the monofin list on here but not as well known due to being french rather than american I guess. They're called 'so-dive' on the website I bought from though for some reason.

oh and yeah... I got it for the clear look as I figured it would show a hell of alot less in tails than a solid (and usually bright yellow/blue) fin

[Mermaid Varshana]

Oh goodness! Look at how natural it moves it seems like a decent cheaper alternative to a competitor. But I know nada about monofins, besides that you need one that's safe to be in the ocean if you're gonna swim there.

[Mermaid Allie]

I'm getting one of those!! I'm SO excited to get it

[Mermaid Lilium]

I'm so glad I'm not the only one trying them XD Allie have you ordered yours or are you saving up for it? =)

Is it bad that I actually want to extend the monofin into a wider shape? XD

I can't afford a competitor and I want to make sure I can actually swim with a monofin before I start making my neoprene+sequin tail and/or full silicone tails lol

I've been going crazy waiting for my monofin - I had the page up waiting for my money to come through from student finance on april 15th and as soon as it came in at midnight I ordered it XD going stir crazy waiting for scubastore.com to get stock in though arghhh!

and from the research I did.... if you want to do mainly ocean swimming then a stiffer fin is best for propulsion and carbon fibre is probably best for that if you can afford it. And the strips at the edge that re-inforce the fin actually provide a great deal of the power so grinding them down will lessen power in the fin.

finis foil is small and good for pools and low-current rivers etc and great in tails to keep silicone flukes flowy while keeping propulsion

finis wave = smaller than the rapid and so alot more affordable (foil is even cheaper) but obviously won't give you as much power, and you have less to play with if you just want to cut into it.

finis rapid = a good bit bigger than the wave so a little more suited to cutting but it's great for extending too.

finis competitor = the rolls royce. huge, powerful, still flexible and will totally fill a fluke so it's nearly invisible in them (see raina's tail) but pricey. and from having family members who do fishing with carbon fibre poles, it's actually quite brittle so you'd need to look after it well - though I'd imagine a solid silicone fluke would protect it majorly.

so-dive/sweammer = colour choice, decent size, flowy (can even get stickers to decorate it)

oceankina/mahina = shaped, coloured, great for fabric/neoprene tails.

I do suggest reading the monofin thread and spend a whole while reading up on all the options as there are a few other brands.

You can also make your own using cut lexan and some form of foot part (dive boots, fin boots that you can buy to attach to your own fins, hand-made silicone etc etc)

I'd also seen diy jobs fixing bi-fins together.

[Mermaid Varshana]

Does anyplace else sell to North America? Scuba store wants me to pay them $40 to ship a Hydra here...I mean, it beats the hell out of a Competitor. But...

$40? To ship a monofin? For real?

[Mermaid Allie]

Wait it's 40 for shipping?!? NOOOOO. I have sixty dollars to buy the fin and I thought it was a great deal but my mother will NEVER let me buy anything mermaid related for 100 (((

[Mermaid Allie]

Wait I think the 40 is for 2 day shipping, maybe the standard is less expensive!

[Mermaid Varshana]

They don't appear to give another option when I go through a mock-checkout (ie, clicking the buy button, seeing the cost with shipping, shouting, "NOPE, NOPE, NOPE!" and X'ing out).

[Mermaid Allie]

**cries incessantly**