Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: mapesa33 on March 04, 2005, 01:25:37 pm
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Hubby and I just at the beginning phase. First I got the sticker shock over with. :-[ Now I have been all over the internet looking at every different manufactors, reviews, etc. That is how I found this website. So, here is the first of many questions to come. One of the few dealers in my area sells Saratoga. I am not finding much info on this site about them. I was given rough est. on two. They are both "04 floor models.
The first is Pavilion for about 9000 and the other is Victoria for 8000. That inc cover, cover lifter, chem and delivery and set up. Don't know if we can even go that high. Question 2 - What we are looking for is a large, affordable quality tub. Any suggestions???
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I have not heard much about Saratoga myself. A few people I have spoke with said that they heard they were a pretty nice spa but can get pretty spendy. What are the other brands in your area?
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WET TEST Hot-Springs,Caldera,Jacuzzi,Sundance,Marquis,D-1. Compare etc.
That's the short,condensed version :)
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For $8000 to $9000 you can get into a much higher rated spa with a lot more feature! Like Autoplay said, in that price range try out the D1, Marquis, HotSpring, Ect...
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Thanks for everyone that has responded. I am feeling completely overwhelemed with all the choices. I just need to take the time and do more showroom shopping. I don't like looking online, and not having a clue of price ranges. Anyway... I found a dealer that sells hot springs, caldera. Tiger,hot spot and solana. I still have to find dealers for D1, jacuzzi and some others mentioned on this site. We did not plan to spend this amount, but I have to say I rather get a quality tub with good service/support. Thanks for all the info on this site.
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Hi mapesa33,
I am a newbie also. The only advice that I can add is:
1. Don't buy on impulse. For us, it has been hard to do.
2. Shop around, take your time.
3. Keep reading this forum. It is a GREAT site for knowledge and advice.
We have only had time to actually look at a few left over '04 Marquis (we're going back next week when the '05's arrive) and Hot Springs. Hopefully get to check out D1 tomorrow.
drprwnap
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FYI, saratoga makes a very nice spa. They have a lot of similar features to those of the larger spa companies in the industry. They are a good, quality manufacturer.
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http://www.saratogaspas.com/
A FRAME IMPERIAL POOLS
615 Loudonville Road
Latham, NY 12110
518 785-4171
Company Store & Home of Saratoga Spas
RR 9, Latham, NY 12110
518 785-4171
Saratoga Spa & Bath CO
33 Wade Road, Latham, NY 12110
518 786-1111
518 786-1200
???
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ISLANDER POOLS & SPAS, INC.
1967-73 Central Avenue
Albany, NY 12205
Phone: 518-456-0958
Islander (http://www.islanderpools.com/spas/spas.htm)
Their web site isn't very exciting, but you might want to go give these guys a shot?
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I'm a newbie myself. Still looking at different spas and wet testing a few of them.
Here's my experience with Saratoga Spa. Last week, my family and I went to their store in Latham, NY and tried out the Victoria, intending to try out others of theirs, too. At one point, we turned off all the jets just to get the feel of it with no moving water. That's when we spotted flakes of whitish material throughout the water. Ugh! It looked like dead flakes of skin and we knew it wasn't ours since we just took showers that morning.
I asked the salesman about it and their filtering system but he really didn't have anything to say except how great their system is. Not very convincing once you looked in the water. We got outta there quick and didn't bother trying out any of their other spas. We went home and took another shower!
Fortunately, there are other spa dealers in the area so we have others to choose from.
Phil
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The last post summed up perfectly why I still don't understand why someone would want to buy a used hot tub?!
The white flakes were likely calcification, like the white persistent scale from boiling hard water that sticks to the pan. But, you never know...
...corn flakes, anyone? ;)
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That's when we spotted flakes of whitish material throughout the water. Ugh! It looked like dead flakes of skin and we knew it wasn't ours since we just took showers that morning.
Not having seen it, I can only guess, but I would certainly say it was just water mold. Water mold can happen to any spa of any brand, with or without a good filtration system. It gets into the water from an outside source, and is easily prevented (chlorine) but hard to eradicate (lots and lots of chlorine and several filter cleanings). It is harmless to humans, but obviously disasterous to the sale of spas...
As awful as your experience was, did you like the shape and jetting of the tub?
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Chas,
Shape & jetting were OK and would have made a fine choice until we tried some other brands. We realized how important knowing the gallons per minute really is once we tried others. The whole family enjoyed spas with more powerful jets than the Victorian.
I believe the Saratog Spa salesman said total gpm is 210 on the Victorian or maybe 240. We found Marquis & D1 were more powerful. So we're deciding between the Marquis Reward & D1 Chaiman II.
I'm learning a lot from this forum. Tips, suggestions, pitfalls, humor - it has it all.
Phil
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180GPM.........the rate that each pump in a D-1 spa moves water.
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180GPM.........the rate that each pump in a D-1 spa moves water.
So anyone know what the GPM is for a Reward? It certainly was much stronger that the Victorian.
Phil
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Who cares what the GPM is. It's all about feel.
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So anyone know what the GPM is for a Reward? It certainly was much stronger that the Victorian.
Phil
The Reward has 2 pumps and puts out 320 GPM
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Who cares what the GPM is. It's all about feel.
While in the end feel is what really matters most.. GPM is going to play a big part in getting there and is far more important than whatever the supposed horse power is...
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Reward=320 GPM
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I think it might be pertinent to add that when we were first shopping for our spa jet pressure was pretty important.
Having said that, after 6 months of use, we (wife and I) generally turn down the jets after 10 mins or so of use.
I believe there are others who also end up reducing the pressure after some interval.
Just a thought
Jc
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And you represent about 98% of spa owners JC! Good point. :)
Steve
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And you represent about 98% of spa owners JC! Good point. :)
Steve
Steve is 100% correct. Most, if not all of the folks who shop based on horsepower or waterflow numbers end up with a spa that costs a bit more to run, and yet they end up mellowing the jets out as soon as the 'newness' wears off.
It is rare - not saying it never happens - for people to enjoy massive, blasting jets long term. HotSpring - and others - have built quite a large number of sales based on tubs with less massive pumps and a larger variety of jets.
If I know somebody is worried that our tubs 'won't have enough power,' or that they have stuck a hand in front of a jet and told me it doesn't feel as strong as brand x down the street, I ask them to take an extended wet test of 20 minutes or so. I can watch them reaching over and centering the diverter valves after about five minute, often less. Doing this cuts the jet pressure but turns on all jets at once.
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We must be the oddballs. We've had our SA Reward since last July and we still use full power. I know it uses more energy but we both like the deep tissue massage that the full power gives us. My husband suffers from severe low back pain and I suffer upper back/ shoulder pain as a result from a car accident. Sometimes I wish it would be an even stronger massage. Not to say that we NEVER turn them down but I'd say 80 percent of the time we have it maxed.
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Who cares what the GPM is. It's all about feel.
JTJ23BA,
GPM is important to me. I'm an aging karate student, in class usually 3 times a week for a couple of hours each session. That extra pressure on overworked muscles really helps. I've borrowed my neighbor's spa after testing or occasionally when the workout is extra hard or we've been sparring and 40 minutes or so with plenty of water pushing against those muscles makes a world of difference.
The difference being whether or not I can roll out of bed the next morning. javascript:grin()
Grin
Phil
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I would have (and am having) a very tough time deciding between the Reward and the D1 Aurora II. The Reward is really cool but the Aurora is one of the best performing spas I have ever sat in plus it has the only lounger that I have ever really liked!!
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I would have (and am having) a very tough time deciding between the Reward and the D1 Aurora II. The Reward is really cool but the Aurora is one of the best performing spas I have ever sat in plus it has the only lounger that I have ever really liked!!
My goodness stuart, you've been shopping for a spa longer than DC... buy one already ;)
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We must be the oddballs. We've had our SA Reward since last July and we still use full power. I know it uses more energy but we both like the deep tissue massage that the full power gives us. My husband suffers from severe low back pain and I suffer upper back/ shoulder pain as a result from a car accident. Sometimes I wish it would be an even stronger massage. Not to say that we NEVER turn them down but I'd say 80 percent of the time we have it maxed.
To me that is the beauty of the Reward and Marquis in general... their "full power" is not a blow you out of the seat pressure but rather good solid therapy that you can enjoy for an extended period of time (and in many cases you can customize a seat for more "power" when needed).
I find GPM important as well though it is also important to note that GPM is not neccessarily a measurement of how powerful the jet experience is as there are other factors that contribute to that (# of jets, jet design, etc...) but as pointed out it does give you more info than HP.
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My goodness stuart, you've been shopping for a spa longer than DC... buy one already ;)
You know, that has a ring of truth to it. The differance for me is that I love my Marquis Journey that I have now, Marquis is saying send it back and they will send me whatever I want but I gotta tell you....It was a great spa in it's day!
Oh and I also have yet to complain about what they are selling them to me for. I thought the 05 Reward was going to be "the tub" but it still just isn't my Journey!