Spring straps revisited

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pipedope

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Rest in Peace
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Here are a couple of pics of my Avanti Quatros with spring straps. The first pic shows the spring attached with a 3/16" stainless shackle from Home Depot (be careful to get the stainless one).
As you can see the pin is sticking out and likely to grab things.
 
I squeezed the shackle to make it secure on the fin post and that is why the pin is sticking way out.

I then replaced the pin with a screw. The screw is stainless 10-32 x 3/4" also from Home Depot.

Ahh, that is much better.:)
 
I will peen the end thread on each screw slightly to prevent them from coming unscrewed, after I am sure this is how I want them to stay.

Frequent inspections are also a good idea, as with all dive gear.
 
pipedope once bubbled...
I squeezed the shackle to make it secure on the fin post and that is why the pin is sticking way out.

I then replaced the pin with a screw. The screw is stainless 10-32 x 3/4" also from Home Depot.

Ahh, that is much better.:)

Well. I know at least 2 guys who will be heading out tomorrow to buy screws. I have 3 pairs of fins done with those shackles and it never occurred to me to swap out the long pins for screws. Duh!!

Thanks PD

John F
 
el-ninio once bubbled...
they are about 3-4$ here, in marean supplay stores - about 10-15 times more expensive then the non-stainless ones.

I pay $4.25 Cdn at home and I believe I paid just under $3 US in Ohio at Loews. I priced them at McMaster-Carr when I bought more springs and they wanted $18 for them. I didn't ask why the huge difference.

John F
 
The stainless items cost about 10x the plated steel ones.

I paid about $3.75 each for the shackles and $0.77 for a 4 pack of the 10-32 x 3/4 screws.

I am glad I don't need to fumble with those buckles anymore.:D
 
You'll never go back to crappy ABS straps ever again. Solid, secure, won't break, easy as heck to doff or don in the water...

... I broke the buckle on my Quattro's twice before I smartened up and made myself some spring straps. If you're curious, I know a guy on E-Bay who sells them for cheap. :)
 
well thanks
although i have never had any problems with the "crappy" abs straps but to each their own - what is the difference they just look like a spring with some rubber around to protect
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/teric/

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