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Post by crabbyjim on Oct 19, 2019 5:38:36 GMT -8
Is anyone interested in having TWO get togethers in 2020? I was thinking about a June rendezvous in Clear Lake, OR (so that John could join us) and a second in September/October. As always, your input is appreciated.
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Post by SeaRat on Oct 19, 2019 7:49:35 GMT -8
Oh boy, I'd love to meet you guys at Clear Lake, Oregon. For those of you who haven't seen Clear Lake, an on-line friend here in the Portland area, Sakamoto Kan, a diver who was originally from Japan, shot this video of Clear Lake:
By the way, he uses Force Fins, and this video shows them in use in Clear Lake. I think you would enjoy Force Fins, CJ.
John
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Post by vance on Oct 19, 2019 14:57:11 GMT -8
I'd love to. Let me know particulars, and I'd like to help facilitate.
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Post by crabbyjim on Oct 19, 2019 16:25:56 GMT -8
This is in John’s backyard. What is the best time of year for clear water? Attendees can arrange their own accommodations.
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Post by crabbyjim on Oct 20, 2019 20:28:25 GMT -8
Oh boy, I'd love to meet you guys at Clear Lake, Oregon. For those of you who haven't seen Clear Lake, an on-line friend here in the Portland area, Sakamoto Kan, a diver who was originally from Japan, shot this video of Clear Lake: By the way, he uses Force Fins, and this video shows them in use in Clear Lake. I think you would enjoy Force Fins, CJ. John OK, the diver in this video used Force Fins. The literature on them claims that the design reduces cramping and facilitates the use of the large muscles in the upper leg. Do any of you use or have any of you used force fins? What result? And if they live up to the literature, why don't more people use them? From their ad: "Force Fins are efficient Open toe pocket is a solution to preventing cramps from fins Open foot pocket design promotes powerful kick from strongest kicking muscles Snappy Force Fin blades are curved upward for a naturally efficient kick Force Fin blades channel and accelerate water without turbulence" Does anyone have a pair they's like to part with?
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Post by SeaRat on Oct 20, 2019 21:45:33 GMT -8
CJ,
I have a pair and a half of Force Fins. My original Force Fins were sent to me for evaluation by Bob Evans in the 1980s. I have had them ever since. I'll talk about my early experience with them, a comparison with my Scoop Fin design, and then my recent experiences with Force Fins.
When Bob Evans sent me a pair years ago, I originally did not like them, at all. With Force Fins, the only part of the flutter kick which is propulsive is the down kick. The Fins "give" on the up kick, providing almost no thrust. And, I told Bob this. During use I initially found that my feet actually came out of the water on the upstroke. So while I had them for decades, I rarely used them.
I ran tests with them, and found that in comparison to my design for the Scoop Fins, my design beat the Force Fins. I got more distance per stroke with the Scoop Fins.
A couple of years ago, I loaned them to a swimming instructor, then thought I had lost them. But one day at the pool she recognized me, and told me that she had saved them, hoping to return them to me. I picked them back up later that week.
Then, I decided to give them another try. This is over three decades later, and these Fins showed almost no deterioration. There was a soft neoprene strap guard that had worn away, but everything else was still almost like new. I used them with a bootie, as otherwise they are too large and uncomfortable skin-on-fin. But with use I modified my kick so as to emphasize the down-stroke, and relax on the upstroke. I also increased the frequency, and decreased the depth, on my stroke. This helped a lot. I now actually prefer the Force Fins over almost all the other Fins, except my Scoop design. I then used them Scuba diving, and found the quite acceptable for my river diving.
Last early summer, I decided to take my Force Fins to Maui as my only Fins. I used them on three separate snorkel swims while at Maui, and the performed well. Force Fins are very easy to don and doff, in contrast to my Scoop Fins, based upon Mares Avanti designs, which are not easy to get on or off. Performance-wise, I still like my Scoop Fins, but the Force Fins do pretty well. While on a boat and on the beach, getting into the Force Fins and out of them was very eas.y, and because of their design the won't come off your feet inadvertently.
Because the "give" on the upstroke, according to Bob Evans the diver does not suffer cramps. The foot pocket is very well-designed, and place no Force on the toes at all. It is the top of the foot, over the arch, which generates the thrust. I'll post a couple of photos here a bit later (can't do it with my iPad).
John
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Post by SeaRat on Oct 23, 2019 10:53:55 GMT -8
CJ, Here's the photo I promised of the Force Fin on the downstroke. Note the force vortex produced by the fin on the downstroke. I purposely broke the surface to get this photo (actually off a video) of the fin's action, allowing the bubbles to show the water motion. Force Fin Vortex Creation--flutter kick by John Ratliff, on Flickr John
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Post by crabbyjim on Oct 27, 2019 8:13:54 GMT -8
My wife is getting antsy about the proposed spring meet up at Clear Lake, OR. Since no one has responded with a date, I have chosen the weekend of June 13/14. As always, your input is appreciated.
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Post by SeaRat on Oct 27, 2019 12:45:13 GMT -8
That date will probably work. We don't wasn't to be too early, as sometimes there is a late snowstorm up there. Altitude is about 4000 feet.
John
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Post by technidiver on Oct 27, 2019 14:10:03 GMT -8
That’s a good date. I might actually be able to come out for a day. I’d probably just need a tank or two since I’d be flying in.
TD
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Post by SeaRat on Oct 27, 2019 17:26:42 GMT -8
That’s a good date. I might actually be able to come out for a day. I’d probably just need a tank or two since I’d be flying in. TD Fly in to Eugene, if you can, asClear Lake in in the Cascades east of Eugene. It's closer than trying to fly in to Portland, although if you do, perhaps I could pick you up and we could get there together. I have spare tanks. John
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Post by technidiver on Oct 27, 2019 18:31:52 GMT -8
That’s a good date. I might actually be able to come out for a day. I’d probably just need a tank or two since I’d be flying in. TD Fly in to Eugene, if you can, asClear Lake in in the Cascades east of Eugene. It's closer than trying to fly in to Portland, although if you do, perhaps I could pick you up and we could get there together. I have spare tanks. John John, I’ll search for flights to Eugene, but Portland is looking more probable. I’ll let you know as the date gets closer. The price to book now isn’t too bad. It just means fewer coffees and donuts in the coming months TD
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Post by crabbyjim on Oct 28, 2019 6:16:37 GMT -8
Speaking of tanks, where is the nearest air station should anyone need a refill?
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Post by crabbyjim on Oct 28, 2019 6:34:14 GMT -8
Sometimes people ask if they can sell things at our gatherings. The answer is YES. Bring gear, pieces and parts and your tools. Since we will be away from the bright lights of the big city, perhaps we can have demonstrations of rebuilding techniques for old equipment.
I would like to find a 38 cf tank. I can use it for 2 or 3 dives with Phil before I have to refill it and it's much lighter than a 72.
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Post by SeaRat on Oct 28, 2019 7:29:37 GMT -8
Speaking of tanks, where is the nearest air station should anyone need a refill? The closest would probably be Eugene Skin Divers Supp/y, in Eugene, Oregon. But that would be about an hour and a half drive one-way. That is a guestiment, so I'll have to work on that to get an accurate drive distance. John
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