Carbon fiber is well present in Blue Green products, starting from the Falcon Carbon speargun, already presented by AP in an x-rays analysis. Today we analyze the Advance Carbon blades.
Blue Green Advance Carbon blades challenge a rich number of competitors in the world of carbon fiber blades, but do so with top quality. We have received and analyzed the med1, the softest of the medium hardness version.
For the technical data sheet of the Blue Green Advance Carbon click here.
External aspect
Well refined, with glossy surface and a carbon 3K Aero 2/2 twill, the weave appears regular indicating good visible quality. Very nice is the “Advance Carbon” writing, with a blue that recalls the water rails, of the same colour. The latter are of reduced height (and weight), for total 1.6 cm, and are 37 cm long. The writings are not painted, but have a simpler solution with stickers with transparent base.
We notice a micro-porosity on the blades analyzed, often present on carbon fiber fins with the aim by the constructor of reducing weight to the minimum. It is in fact the resin to have the highest weight compared to pure carbon fiber. Blue Green also points out that such solution increases reactivity of the blades. We also notice a few lines on the very surface of the blade, but these do not impact the strength of the whole structure.
The coupling of the blades with the Pathos Fireblade is good, even though Blue Green underlines that fins sent to AP have been packet really quick to have them ready immediately, so some details of the matching could have been not as precise as standard Blue Green quality. The coupling with Pathos foot-poket is always very positive for its reduced weight, and the fact it does not need rubber profiles on the blades to match them with the longerons. Moreover, the bonding eliminates the holes of the screws under the foot-pocket, a possible critical area, and avoids having clips at the end of the longerons.
Stratification and hardness
The carbon fiber layers in 3K Aero material, with aeronautical qualitative standards, are made with profiles that are orthogonal to the blade length. Lamination is done in steel molds at high pressure and controlled temperature, so one of the most advanced processes for carbon fiber lamination.
The Blue Green Advance Carbon are available in 9 different stiffnesses, which are easily recognizable. An important aspect the latter, consdering that many manufacturers use codes that have no logic at all. The Advance Carbon go from the softest, soft1, soft2, soft3, for divers up to 70 kg, to med1, med2 and med3, for divers from 70 to 90 kg, to hard1, hard2 and hard3, for divers with body weight over 90 kg.
Dimensions and weight
Dimensions of the Advance Acrbon are quite standard, if we consider the modern trend of having longer blades compared to the past. Total length is 64 cm (measured from the curve under the foot-pocket) and have maximum width equal to 18.3 cm (measure internally to the water rails).
Weight is reduced to 180 grams per blade, and with the light Pathos foot-pocket, that weighs 500 grams in the 42-44 size received, total wieght measured is 680 grams.
Measuring using a Palmer Caliper at three points along the blades, thickness observed are 0.55 mm at the tip, 0.95 mm half length and 1.5 mm in front of the tiptoe.
Foot-pocket blade angle is traditional 22°, while the flap has a swallow tail like profile. Warranty si the one by law and equal to 2 years.
Flexion
Flexion is visible all along the blade, except at the very front of the foot, where the structure is stiffer. Reactivity and flexion curve can be evaluated in the video below.