DIY Spring Fin Strap Kits

Instructions- IMPORTANT- read the whole thing through before starting. I know you won't- but really- please do as it will save you lots of hassle.

Additional instructions for Scubapro Jetfins/Twinjets

Additional instructions for Mares/Cressi mushroom fitting

Please be careful when using tools- get a grown up to help if you're not confident with any of these steps.

The tools you will need:
Hammer
Scissors
Lighter
Pliers X 2
Tape measure
Sharp knife
Hacksaw
Sand paper / file
Screwdriver
Marker pen

Crappy straps before modification

First take the rubber straps off

Then pull the clip off the fin using pliers

Next bend the end of the loose bars up and remove them

To give you a nice bare clip, slightly bent

Top tip from DanE: use a Dremel to cut the spring in half.

Bend the spring to insert the saw blade halfway down the spring

Then saw it in half

And take the sharp edges off using sandpaper or a file

Cut off some tube (I used 7" but you may need less) and push it onto the spring. You may need to warm the tube in some water first and smear the spring with washing up liquid. Also a handy hint is not to grip the tube but push on the cut end.

Push a screwdriver in 2 spring coils down

Then bend them up to form a loop

Hold the end of the spring with another pair of pliers while doing this

Thread the spring loop onto the clip and refit to the fin

Put your leg in your diving suit exactly as you would wear it and put the fin on your foot. Stretch the spring around you ankle so it's as tight as you want it and make a note of how much spring you need to cut off.

Then cut off the excess spring as above, deburr and make a second spring loop on the other end, as above.

Cut off some string so that you have 2-3 inches at each end, melting the frayed end together with a lighter. Thread it thorough the spring.

Tie a loop in the end round the fin clip. I used a bowline 'cos it's compact and secure. Melt the knot with the lighter to stop it from coming undone.

Pull the string tight through the spring

Tie another loop into the other end, melting as before.

Put a screwdriver through this loop and stretch
the spring so the knot goes down the centre of the
spring, leaving the loop exposed

Thread the clip through the spring and string loops

And refit the clip to the fin

The try them on. You may need to shorten the spring or adjust the string length but they are pretty forgiving

Finally, when you are happy with the size, bend the clips back to their original shape

If you have bought the ferrules, these need to be pushed over the spring and string loops before threading the clip through the whole lot

And they should finally look like this

Additional fitting instructions for Scubapro Jetfins, Twinjets etc

The instructions are pretty much as above but instead of using the C clip, the large shackle is used instead.

You will need to use pliers to push the pin through the rubber

You may want to use a hammer and nail to bend over the final thread on the pin to prevent it from coming unscrewed (see Mares pic below) or alternatively use a very small tiewrap through the pin hole.

Then they should look like this when complete

Additional fitting instructions for Mares-type mushroom mounting

The main hassle with this is fitting the bow shackle to the post- it needs to be bent first.
Follow these instructions and it's easy.

Remove the pin from the bow shackle and open the jaws of the shackle using this simple method- put the jaws on a round piece of steel (I'm using a chair here) and tap with a hammer

If you don't have a suitable piece of steel then you can use the shaft of a hammer, broom handle... or as a last resort, it is possible to bend it with pliers (Hulk twist, Hulk bend, grrrrrrr)

The bent shackle should look like this (the one on the right)

The push the shackle onto the post (it takes a little fiddling with the pliers but does go on)

Then squeeze the shackle back to its original shape

Finally install the spring and cord as above

You may want to use a hammer and nail to bend over the final thread on the shackle pin to prevent it from coming unscrewed. Alternatively use a very small tiewrap through the pin hole.