The box from my most recent Duck Feet purchase
Duck Feet have remained essentially unchanged since they were first sold by the Spearfisherman Co. They are made of rubber that is sourced in either Malaysia or Indonesia. I remember having Duck Feet that had "Made in Malaysia" printed on them, but I haven't seen that on recent pairs. The rubber undergoes a vulcanizing process which uses heat, pressure, and chemicals (usually sulfur) to cure the elastomers, resulting in a harder, more durable rubber. Duck Feet are made with dual density rubber. They have stiffer rubber in the blade for increased thrust and softer rubber for the foot pocket and heel strap for increased comfort. This rubber blend makes them non-marking which means that they won't leave marks on your boat or pool deck. This blend also means that they will float to the surface if you lose one. I have managed to have one of my Duck Feet torn from my foot by strong surf on a couple of occasions. It can happen surprisingly fast while you are getting tumbled. It seems pretty unlikely that you'd be able to spot your lost fin on a rough surface unless you are high above it. You are better off exiting the water and watching for it to wash up on shore.
How swim fins work by tidetrek.com
Swim fins essentially work by increasing the surface area of your feet. As you move your foot through the water, you are displacing water to the rear. According to Newton's third Law, For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction. This means that by displacing water to the rear, you are thrust forward with roughly equal force. Stiffer blades allow you to displace more water, yielding greater thrust, but also requiring greater effort on your part. Duck Feet use relatively thick side rails and a central spine to stiffen the blade and increase thrust. The side rails also channel water to the rear, reducing inefficiency caused by water spilling off the side of the blade.
Military Specifications diagram for early UDT Duck Feet
Drawing of Duck Feet submitted by Surfbyrd with the following description:
"Pencil drawing for an Architecture school assignment: draw an object in your room. I chose my Duck Feet because I was lifeguarding at the time and my fins were a tool that use used regularly for work and play. I used the same pair for 5 summers."
Thank you Surfbyrd for your submission to Duck Feet Digest, keep them coming.
So long and thanks for all the fish.... This image has nothing to do with this topic but this blog was too monochrome and needed some color.
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