I’ve seen a few places - like the home page on sways - where people take UDTs and then cut them down and and grind down the center longitudinal. Even seen Greenough does/did it – but if the new Prof. Deet UDTs have been modified so that the pockets are stiffer and the blades flexier, why do it at all? And if yr gonna cut down UDTs, then why not buy the shorter (and cheaper) Duckfeet?
Easy one there…
You think it’s peachy perfect when you buy it, then find some small quirk you need to work out, so you modify.
Length diff between reg Duck and UDT, same size, might be close to 3.5", so there’s a world of diff IN BETWEEN.
So you demo some warm spot, go home to 15 degree colder waters, and it ain’t the same…
even though the new fins are more flexy, they are still a little stiff compared to bodyboarding fins. so if you grind them down its all about adding more flex to the blade. your cut down ,grinded down UDT is still well above the performance of the average bodyboarding fin. i just use a pair of stocko udt;s which do me fine. i dont think george greenough would ever use a stock design of anything, be if fins, camera gear or whatever else. the guy knows his shit so there must be some good reason to cut them down.
i cut mine down to decrease weight slightly, increase flex, and the shorter length makes it a bit easier to get in and out of the water. and compared to the full fin(unmodified) i don’t feel like i lost any power/thrust.
they are by far the most powerful fin i have used, and i have tried nearly everything on the market except the Laguna Fin co.
If you really want power, the most powerful I tried were the old US Diver’s Aqualung Professionals.
Similar to a UDT, but curved blade, same heel strap, and tons stiffer.
what are your thoughts on effeciency/power vs. comfort?
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If you really want power, the most powerful I tried were the old US Diver’s Aqualung Professionals.
Similar to a UDT, but curved blade, same heel strap, and tons stiffer.
Well, the full-foot version of those had a soft rubber foot pocket ( what was it they called those, Lee?), and I am here to tell ya that it was like kicking with two 2x8s roughly strapped to your feet. Gave up on 'em after a day.
doc…
Yeah, BambooReef up here on 4th street had the earlier two versions, and my brother, being the tech head he was, bought one of each. Was like '64 or '65.
I went UDT because, who’d know better?
He lost his full foot version at MonasteryBeach in 8’ shorepound, so switched to the strap version. We both retrieved about 15 masks, easily that many weight belts, some regulators, some backpacs with and without tanks, and a bunch of mismatched fins.
Funny thing, neither of us lost the strap on type fins, and every fin we found were full on scuba diver flexi full foots.
I couldn’t use the Pros, because then I was about 5’ tall and 90 lbs.
Actually I was also wondering why Mr. Deets decided to modify his udt,s after putting so much effort into redesigning them. I have been reluctant to try them after hearing so many comments on how uncomfortable they are. When I was a diver in the Navy I remember how all the older guys were so glad to get rid of their udt’s after US divers came out with the jet fin. I never saw any one use the udt’s. I have been pretty happy with my DaFin fins. They are comfortable and seem to have plenty of power for me.
They’re not that uncomfortable. For the power I gain using these over Vipers, Duck Feet, and one other brand i dont remember (orange and black, shaped like churchills), it is well worth the pain. Also, I’ve never had a comfortable fin really, so it was nothing new. The orange and black fins (Redley maybe??) were the most comfortable pair I’ve had, but the UDT’s will kick me into anything. I love em.
Found this while googling…interesting concept…any one tried these?
(chuckling ) Lee, I must have gotten some old stock, as the full-foot fins I got were bought when I was all of 5’11" and 170 or so and I think I am a wee bit younger than you are. Shrunk a bit since, I have, though alas the weight has stayed pretty much the same.
I held off on strap fins unil I got hold of a pair of duck feet a few years ago, then a buddy of mine was kind enough to skate me some UDTs from the older stock, including a pair with real similar composition to what they are now. The churchills ( great fins for people who don’t use fins ) were nothing I wanted to bother with after the one time I tried a pair.
Now, to straighten out a few things in other answers/posts on this thread-
Greg Deets ( Ph.D or ‘Professor’, not Mister ) didnt modify the fins, others have. For fins for use for diving, well, the UDTs prolly ain’t it. I lean towards the Sporasub Dessaults, myself, for free-diving. Being old, fat and out of shape, at least by my standards, I’ll take all the help I can get.
For kneeboard use ( my personal perversity ) I am very happy with my stock Deets UDTs, in blue speckles.
Though being old, fat, out of shape and either walking several miles a day or biking well more than that, the old legs can’t really take a smaller fin seriously. If I want a wave and it’s humanly possible to get into it, the UDTs do it for me. Let alone my preferred half-a-kick takeoffs.
Moreover, for the 95% of the time I am not going for a wave, just getting out or cruising the lineup, a slow kick gets me there, minimum effort and none of it wasted. About one kick every five seconds from each leg, fins under the water all the time.
Instead of the fast flutters I see from Churchill users who want to get to the peak and can’t, no matter how they thrash.
Which I usually see while motoring right by them with that slow stealthy kick, smiling evilly. And you can guess who winds up on the peak.
hope that’s of use
doc… aka the old, bald, fat kneeboard guy… you know, that %#@& on the peak…
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Which I usually see while motoring right by them with that slow stealthy kick, smiling evilly.
Ha! too good!
Some mat surfers in Santa Barbara say their Voit UDT fins are “oversize rubber blanks. Modified UDTs are best for guys who weight less than about 170 lbs. Mods are tapering, thinning, cupping the blades for more power. Also to reduce stress on ankles, changing fin leverage. Grinding shaped curves around the straight heel straps for custom fit around ankle joints. Grinding and/or gluing neoprene pads inside foot pockets for custom fit. Minor shortening of blade length to make kicking strokes quicker. These fins are more powerful than Voit Duckfeet, but more comfortable and quicker than Voit UDTs. George Greenough is the master at modifying swim fins to increase their performance and comfort.”
At 220, I probably need the extra power. So maybe for the smaller guys modification works. I actually do need to cut up an old wetsuit that i use for neoprone scrap and glue some on to stop getting nasty ankle cuts. Any suggestions on what glue is best for rubber-neoprene application?
The answer to your inquiry as told to me by Dale Solomonson when i asked the same a while back…
Best grades of Super Glue and industrial contact cement (like
“Formica” glue), wetsuit contact cement… or “Barge All Purpose”
(very flexible, strong, fast dry - used in shoe making and repair)
work very well on fin rubber, especially if llightly abraded. It’s
not uncommon to adhere various neoprene pads inside foot pockets,
around heel straps, etc.
Hi Jamie, Here are some links that may be helpful to you… The best Super Glue is called “Zap”: http://www.zapglue.com/ Commercial grade contact cement: http://www.heavydutystore.com/DAP_Weldwood_00273_Original_Contact_Cement_1_Gal_p_19915.html Barge All Purpose contact cement: http://www.campingsurvival.com/baceinstcoce.html Aquaseal (clear) urethane repair adhesive & sealant: http://www.mcnett.com/ *** Dale Hope these help, Jamie
just got my UDTs and although no chance to ride waves with them, I did do a bit of swimming with them. up until now i’ve been using blue/black duckfeet. BIG DIFFERENCE - yes more more power and speed – the extra flex also makes the kicking easier for me - i’m even gonna use as a freedive fin. (the all black ones)
got them online at www.marine-rescue.com - $64.00 – i’m pretty happy with that, and the service was excellent. A lot of places I checked had run out of L and XL sizes.
got my pair last spring—got a pair for my son, the duckfeet, and the UDT’s for me. duckfeet are the best ever lifeguard fins–easy on and lots of power out and back in the surf zone—i used them guarding in calif.hawaii and herre on the east coast for over 20 years----BUT, the UDT’s are unreal bodysurfing fins----i used them in a pool first , we took a bunch of fins there to compare—ducks—more comfort, UDT-lots more power----OLD churchhill—fun and comfort----new churchills–JUNK
the UDT fins were a joke in the pool,, five kicks and you hit the other end! i took them to Panama last summer and they were unreal bodysurf this point break down there.
I took a bit of stiffness out by grinding the center rib down by about half---this made a big difference in comfort but still major power
funny, I find the udt fins more comfortable. with the udts, cuz of the harder pockets and softer blades , the foot pocket doesn’t bend like the blue ducks do, and that’s what would give me the sores on my toes. everyone’s feet are different - so that could be it. feels like the blades are giving me more fwd propulsion, whereas stiffer blue ducks could feel like you had to bend the knees to propel the water straight back.
what point did you body surf while here?
what point did you body surf while here?------we were staying up north at Morro Nigito …a couple of days my arms were toasted from paddleing so i body surfed the point out fromt (emilys) and the bigger beach break…in early and down the line with speed…great place , going back this summer again…
just got my UDTs and although no chance to ride waves with them, I did do a bit of swimming with them. up until now i’ve been using blue/black duckfeet. BIG DIFFERENCE - yes more more power and speed – the extra flex also makes the kicking easier for me - i’m even gonna use as a freedive fin. (the all black ones)
got them online at www.marine-rescue.com - $64.00 – i’m pretty happy with that, and the service was excellent. A lot of places I checked had run out of L and XL sizes.