Apollo Bio fin quality issue

[deepdiver47]

Late last year I purchased from ST a set of Apollo Bio fins with the SS spring straps. Last week I had week long dive trip to Palau last week and at the end of the trip I had rust on the screws that attach the straps to the fins (see attached). This was new to Joe at ST as he had not heard anything about it.

I am working with Joe at ST to replace these out with a new set (you guys are great). So I am going to be taken care of long term. I would be interested if anyone is seeing what I am seeing.

Let me be clear, these fins are awesome and I would not hesitate to buy them again. My purpose is not to disuade people from buying them as I see this is as an isolated quality issue.

Let me know if you are seeing what I am seeing

[jeepbrew]

I have had mine since Aug 29, 2006 (also purchased from ST!), and I have done about 150 dives with them... the majority of those dives in salt water... and have NO rust on my screws/straps. I guess this is just one of those things that happens from time to time, but definitely not the norm.

[CompuDude]

I've had mine for about 2 years, although they don't get used much anymore. They have a little rust showing, similar to yours in placement, but a lot less... perhaps a quarter of that? They're holding up fine, so I'm not especially worried about it.

[bullzi]

I just got a set of XT's with the spring straps. I am thinking it would be a good idea to take the straps off from time to time and soak the mounting hardware in hot water to remove the salt. The problem with any connection like that is that the water cant move through and flush out the salt. Just my .02 worth.

[deepdiver47]

Originally Posted by bullzi

I just got a set of XT's with the spring straps. I am thinking it would be a good idea to take the straps off from time to time and soak the mounting hardware in hot water to remove the salt. The problem with any connection like that is that the water cant move through and flush out the salt. Just my .02 worth.

I am a mechanical engineer and what I am seeing is a material corrosion issue based on using carbon steel instead of 1/4 or 1/2 hard stainless. We have conducted numerous salt bath tests on our products and this is what carbon steel looks like when it is exposed to elements. No amount of flushing would prevent this. They need to use a higher grade metal.

[CompuDude]

Originally Posted by bullzi

I just got a set of XT's with the spring straps. I am thinking it would be a good idea to take the straps off from time to time and soak the mounting hardware in hot water to remove the salt. The problem with any connection like that is that the water cant move through and flush out the salt. Just my .02 worth.

Regularly loosening and re-tightening this type of hardware could cause it to no longer be attached as securely. I wouldn't. Just give the whole back end of the fin a good rinsing in fresh water... that's really all that's needed.

If there's a real problem with rust that continues to get worse, well, Apollo does have a warranty, and should be willing to take care of it. I think it's only a 1yr warranty, so give them a call before too much time passes if you're really worried.

These fins have been out for a few years now, however, and I have yet to hear of anyone's C-Straps failing, so I'm not sure it's worth worrying about.

[MagnaBoxer]

Mine and the wifes are rusting and actually look a little worse than the pics you posted. They get a good rinsing when we're through diving but with lower grade stainless it's not going to make much difference. Not worried about it much. Before it gets too bad I'll go by the local fasterer place and pic up a set of higher grade screws that won't have this issue.

[deepdiver47]

agreed, Joe at ST has offered to send me a new pair if I send in these. I am on the fence with it. I do not believe that it will cause a failure. The thing that kills me is that this is after 1 week of diving that is what I do not like.

Another point on those screws. They might have locktite on them (these did, look for a red or blue dot on the side of threads). That will tell you that it designed to be installed once and not removed.

[Puffer Fish]

Originally Posted by MagnaBoxer

Mine and the wifes are rusting and actually look a little worse than the pics you posted. They get a good rinsing when we're through diving but with lower grade stainless it's not going to make much difference. Not worried about it much. Before it gets too bad I'll go by the local fasterer place and pic up a set of higher grade screws that won't have this issue.

Mine have done the same, which was fine until you want to change the spring length. You will find that is a odd metric size. I could not find any local place that has any that size (regardless of the head)

To remove mine, I had to cut the screw heads off, and get replacement parts from Joe.

Look at the amount and type of rust, my conclusion is that the screws are made of something other than 304 or 316, and rust away. Given how fast and how much they rusted, I would suspect they are actually not any normal stainless, maybe something in the 400 series... but even that is a stretch.

My guess is that they are buying cheap screws... thinking they are 304 when they are not.

[Puffer Fish]

Originally Posted by CompuDude

Regularly loosening and re-tightening this type of hardware could cause it to no longer be attached as securely. I wouldn't. Just give the whole back end of the fin a good rinsing in fresh water... that's really all that's needed.

If there's a real problem with rust that continues to get worse, well, Apollo does have a warranty, and should be willing to take care of it. I think it's only a 1yr warranty, so give them a call before too much time passes if you're really worried.

These fins have been out for a few years now, however, and I have yet to hear of anyone's C-Straps failing, so I'm not sure it's worth worrying about.

I don't think it is a failure issue.. at least in the short run, but it is an issue if you need to change anything... I have two vastly different size boots I wear (winter versus summer), and have to change the spring length...which was impossible in less than a year. Surprizing, becuase the cost of good screws is penny's for them...