question for coleman dealers???

[jcmsrv]

Hi! we wet tested the coleman model 480 which we liked. The collars kept my wife from floating out of seat. This is the first tub that we wet tested that we both liked, also local dealer, (been around at least 25 yrs.), great price, (6700 with best pkge, cover, lifter, steps, lights, stereo), .....but... it is also the only tub that we feel cramped in. I consider this to be a full size tub, about 8 x 8, but seems that interior is smaller than other tubs. It something that we can live with, but I do not understand why this tub would have less interior space?? any answers? thanks
john

[Zoo]

HI jcmsrv,

  Could it be due to the fact that it is a TP design and needs a thicker shell to support the water etc? I found this to be true with the Artic spas I have looked at as well (smaller interior).

  Any takers on this one???

    Zoo

[TubbinSoon, now we be tubbin]

Could it be a shallow design?

[jcmsrv]

Hi Zoo!

We tried the Arctic Tundra and that has a lot of interior room, but at a large price. We price the top of the line tub at about 11,000.00. A little steep! I would think that a TP tub would have more interior space than a Full form?

[spahappy]

Hi John,

It would help to know which models your comparing it with.

I can think of several reasons you felt it wasn't as roomy. The cooler takes up some room as well as the molded comfort collars on the two seats beside the cooler.  The two comfort collar seats are located further into the spa to allow for the extra plumbing to the neck jets.

The size is 92 x 92 but the corners on a Coleman are quite rounded. Some other brands may have been longer one way and not square.

The great thing about the cooler is where it's located. It makes a great table for drinks, towels, snacks, and of course it keeps beverages cold.

The seats in a Coleman are not errect but are slightly reclined, which helps against floating and divides them from the next seat. The curves between the seats take up a small amount of space, but add to the overall comfort of the spa.

The 480 is rated for seven but I would consider it to be a very roomy six person spa..

The price you mentioned is very resonable, especially with the options included.  Good Luck!

Spahappy

[Tman122]

The shell is thicker.....oh boy!

[jcmsrv]

good morning to all!
spahappy, we have tried jacuzzi 365, (small, wife floating out of seats), 385, large lot of room didn't want lounger, 375 not in stock, sundance optima, OK, nothing great, one dealer good, another with attitude, Di Naultis, again only OK, pricy with another attitude, Arctic tundra SE, we both loved tub, dealer helpful, but I feel it's over-priced, but I'm am thinking about it.
Wet testing two Artesian tubs this thru. night (piper glen and emerald). I like Artesian thinking on the Piper Glen, pump per seat, and another pump for footwell. This makes a lot of sense to me. We'll see how much room there is in these tubs then
john

[Cgar]

Hey John.  While I haven't tested the 480 that we have in the showroom, by appearance I would consider it a very comfortable 6 person tub (as was mentioned above).  In the end though, it's your impression that you will have to live with once you own your chosen spa.

I do believe that you'll enjoy testing the Piper Glen.  The seating is more open and there's actually a 'cheater' lounge where you can kick your legs up.  All in all, much less contoured than the 480.  Let us know what you think once you've tested the Artesians.

[jcmsrv]

Hi Cgar
The only thing about Artesian's that I don't like is the full foam. I have been in the service/repair end of the heating/air conditioning busines for over 30 yrs. I would rather support piping that I can get to than look for leaks that I cannot get to. (I'm not trying to start anything here!!!!!!!!!). I read to many horor stories about full foam leak repairs. I hopping that Artesian's quailty workmenship keep the plumbing leak-tight. The only draw-back to TP is over-heating in mild/warm weather, and I have my own ideas about correcting that. I'll let you know how the wet test goes
john

[Chas]

Hi Cgar
The only thing about Artesian's that I don't like is the full foam. I have been in the service/repair end of the heating/air conditioning busines for over 30 yrs. I would rather support piping that I can get to than look for leaks that I cannot get to. (I'm not trying to start anything here!!!!!!!!!). I read to many horor stories about full foam leak repairs. I hopping that Artesian's quailty workmenship keep the plumbing leak-tight. The only draw-back to TP is over-heating in mild/warm weather, and I have my own ideas about correcting that. I'll let you know how the wet test goes
john

HotSpring uses full foam, and they come with a five year warranty on the plumbing.

They have removable side panels, and digging through foam is not the nightmare some TP retailers would like you to believe.

[stuart]

Hi Cgar
The only thing about Artesian's that I don't like is the full foam. I have been in the service/repair end of the heating/air conditioning busines for over 30 yrs. I would rather support piping that I can get to than look for leaks that I cannot get to. (I'm not trying to start anything here!!!!!!!!!). I read to many horor stories about full foam leak repairs. I hopping that Artesian's quailty workmenship keep the plumbing leak-tight. The only draw-back to TP is over-heating in mild/warm weather, and I have my own ideas about correcting that. I'll let you know how the wet test goes
john

How can you say your not trying to start anything!? Here let me throw a plug in for how we do it and then take a jab at the other guys(like that's not starting anything?)!

I sell both types of insulation and have to tell you that the worst leaking situations we've dealt with to date are from TP spas! This was mostly due to one brand that we were carrying and dropped but we have had little to no leaks in the FF, then again we only sell about 400 spas a year so maybe I don't have enough out there.

BTW, I would run from the Arctic spa as fast as I could. Their marketing alone should be a reason to not buy! There are many things that Arctic does that are concerning and I would be very happy to get into them if you would like.

There is no comparison between Arctic and Coleman, including the way they insulate. Coleman is one of the few companies out there that do TP right!

[HotTubMan]

I hate it when I come in late! Everyone has made solid comments above.

Cgar mentioned cheater lounge in the Artesian. That is one the selling points of the 480 also. The tub has barrier free seating allowing you to lounge with your feet pointed towards the intense therapy seats and cooler. Now theres a foot massage!

I also refer to this a rarity in that it is a six seater that can fit six, even six my size (6'2"+ 225lbs) although six opf me would sure displace alot of water!

HTM

[Cgar]

Hi Cgar
The only thing about Artesian's that I don't like is the full foam. I have been in the service/repair end of the heating/air conditioning busines for over 30 yrs. I would rather support piping that I can get to than look for leaks that I cannot get to. (I'm not trying to start anything here!!!!!!!!!). I read to many horor stories about full foam leak repairs. I hopping that Artesian's quailty workmenship keep the plumbing leak-tight. The only draw-back to TP is over-heating in mild/warm weather, and I have my own ideas about correcting that. I'll let you know how the wet test goes
john

You've opened up a can of worms now, haven't you?    Honestly though, I wouldn't make a decision on a spa based on the insulation type.  Our store is now in it's 4th year and until we recently picked up the Colemans, everything has been full foam.  To date we've had 0 leaks that required the removal of any foam.  I won't get into the cracked union leaks that we have experienced with one particular brand (that we no longer carry).

Also, with the Piper Glen, I find it intriguing that due to the individual pumps there is far less hose running through the foam (if that means anything).  Just short runs from the pump below the seat right into that particular seat.  

Disclaimer:  I'm not trying to plug the Artesian over the Coleman here.  Just pointing out some of the differences.  

[jcmsrv]

I just knew I shouldn't have said that!!!, But now everyones in the game!  LET THE GAMES BEGIN!

Stuart, I would like to know the difference between the quality  insulation jobs between companies like arctic/coleman. As an outsider, still learning, I have not talked to reps. about how they insulate. Good point.

Also, everything I have heard/read about leaks HAS BEEN on lesser quality brands, but that can happen to anyone machines. One of the things I do, is new start-up of very large pkge. heating/cooling equipment, such as Malls, office bldge, schools, and we have what we call monday or friday machines, Machines that the factory claims were test ran and were OK. But I find different.

[Spatech_tuo]

I read to many horor stories about full foam leak repairs.

These "horror stories" often are fabricated by non-full foam people trying to sell their insulating version based on scare tactics (especially a nutcase in Colorado who sells over the net and strectches the truth beyond its limits). Servicing a full foam spa is not that difficult and many will argue that the frequency of having issues in the first place is greatly lessened by the fact that it is full foamed in the first place. Move on from the foam insulating issue as there is not end to the argument.