How to Repair Scuba Fins

Scuba diving is a gear-intensive sport. Between the tanks, regulators, wetsuits and face equipment it can be expensive. If you scuba dive and have fins in need of repair, consider doing some basic repairs yourself to save money from replacing the fins or bringing them to the dive shop for repair. Splits and tears are easily remedied in the home workshop.

Things You'll Need

  • Utility knife
  • Sandpaper
  • Liquid super adhesive
  • Scrap rubber patches -- use discarded bicycle inner tubes
  • Duct tape
Show More

Instructions

    • 1

      Isolate the area of the tear on the fin. Push the two sections of the tear apart and sand down the edges of the rips and tears. This makes the rubber porous and ready to hold liquid adhesive better than when smooth.

    • 2

      Apply a generous amount of the liquid super adhesive to both sides of the tear and push the two pieces together. Hold them together for five minutes to let the glue set. Apply a coat of the adhesive above and under the rip or tear and let the glue dry.

    • 3

      Cut a piece of the scrap rubber if the tear is over 2 inches or if a chunk is ripped out from the tear area. Sand down the back side of the rubber patch and the surface of the fin to make the rubber porous and ready for the adhesive.

    • 4

      Apply a generous coating of the adhesive to the fin and back of the patch. Push the patch onto the tear or rip and hold for five minutes to let the glue set. Place a piece of duct tape over the patch to hold it in position. Let it hold overnight then remove the tape.