Inventor's fin a stroke of ingenuity

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Marcus Lee migrated to Australia in 1988 from England, and within hours of arriving in the country had the idea of creating the "shinfin".

After 19 years of research, the Middle Cove resident and his shinfin will appear on ABC-TV's The New Inventors on April 25.

Mr Lee said the premise behind the invention was to develop a swimming flipper that strapped on above the ankle rather than over the foot.

"I was at the beach watching bodyboarders walking backwards, struggling through the water because they had these flippers stuck on their feet," Mr Lee said

"When swimming [with the shinfin], it takes the load off the foot, decreasing cramping and blisters, while taking stress and pressure off the ankle joint... You can walk around in them, climb ladders, or anything really."

After making about 50 prototypes, Mr Lee was awarded a research and development grant from the Federal Government, which paid for half the expenses. He also received a $25,000 grant from the Australian Technology Showcase.

"The New Inventors were able to contact me from there as the [Australian] Technology Showcase has a website listing who they have given grants to," he said.

The former Cambridge University engineering student has put his career as a mechanics and design engineer on hold to focus on selling the shinfin. "Through my website the business has been funding itself. I've sold a few thousand of them worldwide to the US, Canada, Europe and Asia as well as in Australia."

With sales picking up, Mr Lee said additional types of flippers, such as a smaller version for kids, had been put on the drawing board.

A former competitive swimmer, Mr Lee said he also hoped to market the fins as a swimming aid for the disabled.

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