Info on these fins - Power Plana

[Ed Palma]

I was looking through a second hand store when I came across these guys:

they're a bit worse for wear, but look servicable. What was written on them was:

AMF Mares Power Plana​

Now I did a search, and most of the hits here keep coming up with Mares Avantis, Quattros, Vectras, etc, but I only encountered one mention of Power Planas stating that they needed brute force to use, but also gave brute force thrust
I'd like more info from people who used these fins before - what are they made of? and how do they compare with other fins like jets? (at the very least I can say they ARE lighter than jets...)
Thanks!

 

[tlawler]

I don't know a lot about them, but I have owned a pair since about '81 and used them a lot back then. They were the latest and greatest back in the day, kind of like the split fin fad of today. I still break them out occasionally for snorkeling trips. They pack much lighter than my rockets or cressi-subs.

 

[fdog]

If Mares re-opened the production line on Power Planas, I would buy a new pair in a heartbeat.

Especially if they were Power Plana Graphites. I treat mine like they are made from gold, they're that good, and I worry about the day they die. Better than Jets anyday.

All the best, James

 

[Footslogger]

I was looking through a second hand store when I came across these guys:

they're a bit worse for wear, but look servicable. What was written on them was:

AMF Mares Power Plana​

Now I did a search, and most of the hits here keep coming up with Mares Avantis, Quattros, Vectras, etc, but I only encountered one mention of Power Planas stating that they needed brute force to use, but also gave brute force thrust
I'd like more info from people who used these fins before - what are they made of? and how do they compare with other fins like jets? (at the very least I can say they ARE lighter than jets...)
Thanks!

=================================================

I own a pair of them. Have had them since the late 80's. One of the heel strap buckle snaps (that attach to the side of the fin next to the foot pocket) broke and I found that the snap/buckles for the USD Blades is compatible. Mine are in storage right now, as I have switched to Force Fins, but I did take them with me last year on a liveaboard trip and used them for several dives. Still a solid performer.

P.S. ...mine are in much better shape than the ones in the original post. Plue, mine must be the next generation of the Power Plana because the ones pictured above have heel straps/attachments like the USD Rockets and mine have the snap on buckles.

 

[Ed Palma]

Thanks guys!

So, these are okay fins?

what's the difference between these fins and Power plana graphites?

 

[CompuDude]

Not sure. I have a pair of Power Plana Graphites that I used for decades. Good fins... but I prefer my Jets now.

Fdog, if you want to make me an offer...

 

[John C. Ratliff]

Thanks guys!

So, these are okay fins?

what's the difference between these fins and Power plana graphites?

Color and stiffness. The graphites are supposed to be a bit stiffer, with more thrust.

If you want to do a bit of study on fins, you may find them here:

http://www.ndsu.edu/instruct/grier/fins.html

Actually, after looking over the site, I don't think the Power Plana are included. If you get a good price on them, though, I would get them and use them. I have had a pair, and they were pretty good. Here is a photo of me in the 1980s in Clear Lake, Oregon using a pair of Power Planas.

If you don't like them, you can PM me and I'll show you how to make them into a really nice fin, using the "scoop fin" design I developed in the 1970s:

John

 

[Ed Palma]

Well, I got them for around ten bucks... (which is relatively decent around here). I actually went to that second had store to look for jets, but this is all they had (well, they had others, but were more of the composite type with rubber inserts into the blade).

In terms of fit, what's the proper size? The fins i bought reach up to just over half the top part of my foot, and my heel is exposed - somewhat like what you have in the second picture. Is this correct?

That's an interesting fin there, John. How does your mod perform against a stock fin? It looks like it'll do swell for flutter kicks, but how were they for other styles of finning?

Oh, and I wish that one day my trim in the water could be as great as yours in the picture

 

[Marek K]

My wife got a pair in 1986, right after we finished our OW and AOW... exact same kind as yours, with the older-style buckles. She's still using them now, after taking up scuba again a few years ago... she won't buy new stuff if old stuff is perfectly serviceable!

And they are perfectly serviceable. She can do a decent frog kick with them when she needs to. Scuffed up, but hey... The black rubber on the foot pockets is squashed down just like yours is, but it doesn't seem to make any difference in comfort. Had to replace the straps, of course; and I've ordered her a set of spring straps now.

The fit sounds right... the foot pockets should reach about half-way up your instep; and like with any open-foot fins, your bootie heel will be sticking out.

Oh... in your photo, the buckles should be locked by rotating them back so they pop into the u-shaped cut-outs at the rear of the buckle attachment points on the fins.

The fins do seem pretty light, for their size... I'd say they were on the positive side of neutral. Hmmm... that probably doesn't hurt good trim! And they seem stiff, with no flexy bells and whistles. But my wife seems to handle them just fine, with no complaints of sore muscles. While I use wimp Mares Avanti X3's...

Photo attached from our trip to Dahab in July... wife (with these fins) and daughter off the wall at Bells.

 

[Ed Palma]

I was wondering about the buckles Given the thickness of the rubber strap, they still seemed to lock into place.

Wow, from the photos, it seems like people who wear them have good trim. Maybe it'll rub off on me

Was going to go to my LDS to test them out in the pool (as well as the reg I just serviced), but it started raining, and I'll just leave later. Didn't want to get wet in the rain