Hot Springs Prodigy vs. Jacuzzi J-325

[drewstar]

Honda's european div can kick out 800 cars a day.
Keep in mind that's extreme high production, automation, QA  everthing.


So how spas a year are made?

Watkins is kicking out 50k,. Jaqzzi another 50, that's 100,000,

Haven hot tubs brings it iup to 100,002

Add in all the others and I bet there's several hundred thousand a year being made.I didn't think the market was that big???

[Gary]

There was roughly 350,000 spas sold in North American in 2006.

[104 degrees]

Haven hot tubs brings it iup to 100,002

thats 100,000 Delivered he is still working on the two tubs

[LtDan]

Honda's european div can kick out 800 cars a day.
Keep in mind that's extreme high production, automation, QA  everthing.


So how spas a year are made?

Watkins is kicking out 50k,. Jaqzzi another 50, that's 100,000,

Haven hot tubs brings it iup to 100,002

Add in all the others and I bet there's several hundred thousand a year being made.I didn't think the market was that big???

[Mendocino101]

I just started reading this.....it is entertaining... but what is the point of it  ?....From what I know is that all makers have been down for the past few years and that as Chris pointed plant/production capacity usually means max and thats 24 hour a day production and from what I again I understand is happening with most dare I say all makers is that they are running at far less than max production. I would put a wager down that Jacuzzi brands/Watkins brands numbers combined are "about" 100,000 units annually.

[drewstar]

The point?

I dunno.  IT started with some funny numbers a shopper heard, we questioned it, and it rolled into a discuion on how many tubs a facotry can spit out.

Just shooting the breeze  as they say.... It's been quiet in here lately.

[Steve]

They make 200 hot tubs a day?  Not stamping out "spa shells" (which could be anything and any size) but complete full sized plumbed  spas?  Assuming round the clock shifts that's  a complete hot tub every 7 minutes or so.

That's ALOT.   I find it hard to belive??

Anyone ever watch a tub being plumbed at the factory? I don't think you could plumb 3 jets in 7 minutes... The reality is that it can take hours!

[drewstar]

Anyone ever watch a tub being plumbed at the factory? I don't think you could plumb 3 jets in 7 minutes... The reality is that it can take hours!

Not 7 minutes to make a tub, but every 7 minutes a tub is completed. But those are just averages.

It's more like 300 new tubs could be put into production each day, while 300 are completed.  what type of facility and manpower would you need to do that? and how loaded would the line need to be (fully ramped).

I have a feeling the stats are more like

"We have the CAPACITY to ASSEMBLE 300 tubs a day."   which is quite different than

Each day we make 300 tubs (from shell to being wrapped on a truck).

[Steve]

Not 7 minutes to make a tub, but every 7 minutes a tub is completed. But those are just averages.

It was just a weak attempt at humor....  

[Mendocino101]

The point?

I dunno.  IT started with some funny numbers a shopper heard, we questioned it, and it rolled into a discuion on how many tubs a facotry can spit out.

Just shooting the breeze  as they say.... It's been quiet in here lately.

lol...I did not mean to sound like it was not enjoyable, I was just trying to figure out if I was missing something, ( no comments needed... ....)But again I will say that the Industry as a whole has been down. We do a weekly radio show here in so cal and we had a guest on today who mentioned that a spa is still a mighty fine addition to someones life with all of the benefits that they offer. I am just sadden by some of the ways some do business and I think that this is something that hurts all in the industry.

[guyplayeur]

This thread went on an interesting side trip, but let me see if I can divert it back to its original intent...or in other words, can we talk about me again?  

After reading all the threads on this forum, I really wish I had the space for a J-345!  Lots of good love on this forum for that one.

So to recap, I've got 3 deals I'm considering:  A Hot Springs Prodigy for $7895, a Jacuzzi J-325 for $7295, and a Jacuzzi J-460 for $9395.  All prices include steps, cover, ozone, lifter, chemicals.

I'm going to wet test the Prodigy this weekend, and the Jacuzzis a little later.

The Jacuzzi has a 10-year warranty for shell, vs. a 7-year warranty for the Hot Spring.  Should I consider that in my choice?  Or after that many years is that basically a wash?

After reading these posts it looks like even living in the SF Bay Area, I could be doing better on price for the Jacuzzi's.  Jacuzzi Jim, would you back that up?

I think I'm leaning toward the Prodigy, based on the silence of the heaters when not in use compared to the louder Jacuzzi, even with the custom timing options of the Jacuzzi.

The worst part of this whole thing is that I'm probably at least 2 months away from soaking considering the yard prep work I've got to schedule, and after reading all of the spatopia stories up here, it's killing me to wait!

Anyway, thanks for whatever additional advice anyone out there can offer, and thanks for keeping up this forum.  It's great!  Hopefully I'll have pics worthy of posting here someday.

-sam

[hottubdan]

One thing to consider is you can run the Prodigy on 110v.  Saves you money.

[Chad]

Guy as you know I'm a very happy J-345 owner. I visited my dealer today to get some chems and my buddy who sold me my tub was working the floor. He showed me all the prices for their '07s. There's some wiggle room on that 325 but the 460 price is good. $8K is high for the Prodigy as well. I'm sorry if I missed it, but why can you not get a larger tub. When spending that kind of money($8k+), I'd want a bigger tub or one that is better equiped. Are you limited to just HS and Jacuzzi?

You mention that you can hear a difference when the heaters are on between the 325 and Prodigy.  :-? I can not hear a thing when my is on. There's only a click when it turns on and that's it.

[drewstar]

I doubt he ment "heaters" but rather the pumps.


The FF tubs are quieter.   That's not to say the TP tubs are unbearably noisely,  but it's  a slight difference and advantage to the FF.  If the tub was going on a deck, I'd put a little more stock in the FF to dampen the sound and viabration than TP.  

[leaky]

Guyplayuer,

Not to muddy the water, but you could also check out Beachcomber at:

The Backyard Factory
280 Arthur Rd.
Martinez CA 94553
 
Tel:  925-551-4171

They're a little smaller and made in Canada, and don't have all the flash or bells & whistles.  But I've had my 700 series for close to two years, and love it.  They're ROCK solid, and with a family all over 5' 9" and growing, I appreciate the 38" depth.