My next hot tub.

[Zep]

re: Hope you guys are lining your pockets with gold!  
That would cost a fortune to repair

"pockets of gold"?.....LOL.

If an in-ground is done properly it is not normally
going to be a problem servicing it.

My brother has had his in-ground Sundance for ten years in
a very, very cold...almost extreme environment and has never
had any problem with repairs or servicing access.

You just design the hole correctly and it's not
going to be a big deal servicing it.

Hey, but like I said it's not for everybody....like most
unique special things in life they can possibly be at
times higher maintenance....beautiful women are
many times "higher maitenance" but that doesn't
mean I am gonna go chase ugly ones!....LOL

[drewstar]

Access isn't just for warrenty work and tubs several years out from purchase.  I've had to hit my tiger river reset switch on the pump a few times, I can't imagine that pain in the butt it would be on some of thew above installs.   Or change the lightbulb, or clean the 03 lines.   I like some of the inground installs, but they must have access to the equipment area.

[Zep]

hey drewstar.....

you know alot more about this stuff than I do....

but why would an in-ground spa like the one shown below
if it had access pull-out panels on all four sides
be so "unbelievably difficult" to access or service?

[tony]

Many inground spas have remote pumps.  A portable spa sunk in the ground would need direct access to the equipment area and some kind of access to the other sides.

[Spatech_tuo]

hey drewstar.....

you know alot more about this stuff than I do....

but why would an in-ground spa like the one shown below
if it had access pull-out panels on all four sides
be so "unbelievably difficult" to access or service?

That is different from the other pictures,

a) They didn't sink it all the way in so it'll be easier to enter/exit (though I'd have had it another half foot higher).

b) They designed accessibility around the spa.

That is well done.

[drewstar]

hey drewstar.....

you know alot more about this stuff than I do....

but why would an in-ground spa like the one shown below
if it had access pull-out panels on all four sides
be so "unbelievably difficult" to access or service?

Zep, I doubt I know more than you, but thanks.  

That spa is set up for access. however, the ones in your original set of pics you posted,  I didn't see any that allowed for access, no?

[Zep]

Guys....I am not sure how the first set of pics allow for
access, but I presume there is access.....unless the people
are idiots....no?

Like a great toupee...you don't know it's there.....
a great in-ground hides the access so well
you don't notice it.

If the access is screaming out at ya.."here I am".
then IMO....thats a poorly designed in-ground.

As far as the second picture, I actually would sink it down
further where it is almost flush.....if you have full access on
all four sides why only go half way?

I suppose some ingrounds with the step/lip look pretty cool
and have some functional purpose for seating.

I just don't see a problem with in-grounds if it is done
correctly with removable panels on all four sides.

Of course I realize 99% of tubs are going to be above
ground....but in my mind there is just no comparison
as far as looks and elegance.

[Zep]

WhyNot....

I am more of a fan of the flush in-ground, but here are some
additional pics of semi-in-grounds that look pretty cool:

[dunerunner25]

Nice pics!

[hotubinn]

Nice pics!

I agree, those are nice pics.  However, none of them look easily accessible, even the one with wood around the four sides.  There still needs to be wood supports that run right next to the cabinet in order to hold up the wood.  This makes access tough.  Now, most of the time you will only need access to the equipment panel.  Sometimes pumps are mounted on the side panels and heaven forbid you ever have a leak.  To each his own, I have just dealt with these problems too many times for me to ever reccomend this style of install.

[Dr. Spa™ Ret.]

I've always been more inclined to go with what you're calling "semi-in-grounds". The full ingrounds are difficult to get into and out of. You pretty much have to first sit on the deck and swing your legs into the spa...... Or, from standing, take a "blind" step into the spa with nothing to hold onto.

With the semi-in-grounds, you walk up, sit on the edge of the deck and swing your legs over. Or, if really done right, the lower part of the deck is exactly the same height at the entrance step/seat and from a standing position you swing your leg over the side and your standing on something that's in the same plane as the deck. Either way, there's still the edge of the spa to hold onto...

(I was going to say, the last thing I want is for some drunken girl I bring home from the bar and convince to get nekid with me in my spa to do is slip and crack open her head, before we even get wet..... But then I thought some here might think it uncool and not find that comment as funny as I did when I thought it up)

And, the first pic Zep posted looks like all 4 wood deck panels left out for access. The semi-in-grounds may, or should, be constructed that same.