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High prices I think you are in line around the country with HS. I would imagine there are plenty of other dealers around the area? Since you are looking at top end? Check out Bullfrog, Sundance and Jacuzzi brand. As well as Marquis and Beach Comber or Artesian. All very nice spas that fit a wide array of people and budgets.
Sitting in a tub without water will tell you very little except if maybe you will fit. Therapeutic tubs are designed to hold you in place against the water jet pressure and without water will feel like the seating is too deep and angled too much. If a seat or a tub feels good empty it is more of a social seating and if you put on strong jets you will fight to stay on the seat. We live on the other end of the state and get some very cold winters and you can get equally as low of temps, and being tall and your wife average
Quote from: bud16415 on March 06, 2017, 08:09:37 amSitting in a tub without water will tell you very little except if maybe you will fit. Therapeutic tubs are designed to hold you in place against the water jet pressure and without water will feel like the seating is too deep and angled too much. If a seat or a tub feels good empty it is more of a social seating and if you put on strong jets you will fight to stay on the seat. We live on the other end of the state and get some very cold winters and you can get equally as low of temps, and being tall and your wife average WOW. Thank you very much for great tips. What do you mean for the cover to be removable? The ones I saw, both had covers that were attached to the tub. Also, how often do you use your tub after sunset? Trying to understand if I will actually use it or if it will just sit there on the patio. Do you use the tub when its windy as well?Again thank you for your comments.
I think you should first decide on a budget, which it seems you have, and then start wet testing tubs in your budget. First thing to get confirmation on is the lounge seat. Many people who are looking to buy their first hot tub (including us) feel they must have a lounge seat because lounging in the bath tub or recliner is so comfortable.Lounge seats in a hot tub are a completely different beast - we have the Sundance Cameo (purchased used). My wife said she really liked the lounge seat when we were wet testing new tubs. Now that we have it, she's in my preferred corner seat more than I am, so my advise, decide on lounge or no lounge first then narrow the decision down to what you each like. Lounge seats eat up nearly one half of your tub so be sure you really want one.Another thing to consider, my wife will not run any of the Cameo seats wide open, she says they hurt but I like full force with no air. She likes very little water and lots of air. On some tubs, the diverter valves offer lots of flexibility, others may not be to your liking. Wet testing is the only way to determine if the pressure is good enough for you, if the seat(s) are deep enough or too deep, if you float out of a seat, if there is enough pump power when all seats are running...etc.We use our hot tub at night 90% of the time, the colder it is outside the better we enjoy it. A clear, cold, starry night is perfect hot tub weather! Windy nights are not bad either. We get hot in our tub (runs at 102-104) and by raising out of the water and into the wind cools you down quickly for another 20 minute pump cycle.
Before the 40 months zero interest Hotspring has now, it was $1,000 off the tub and 25% off the ACE system, steps, cover lifter, etc. 40% off would have saved me more money over 40 months but I'd budgeted to buy outright and not chew up my credit score even with the zero percent. Either way, I suspect it's hard to decide everything you need to decide until you're living with the thing for awhile. I've never had a hot tub before so this is going to be a learning experience.