Hot Tub Forum
Original => Hot Tub Forum => Topic started by: Stemay on April 30, 2006, 10:41:25 am
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First, let me say THANKS to all for your postings on this forum. I discovered it just the other day and we have just begun our quest for a hot tub. I did not realize how much we had to learn until we talked with someone and also when I visited this site.
There was a Master Spas show in my area this weekend and we went, as it was billed as a "Spa Show". We were disappointed that they were the only dealer there. We listened to their shpeel and were impressed....if you believe all that they say of course. They pressured us to "buy now", but of course, we have only just begun our search and never buy that way anyway. They invited us back for a wet test. We came home, did so much more research and then went back for our wet test.
We began to lose faith when we found other dealers do indeed use Microban and it is not "exclusive" to Master Spas as we were told. Other spas do have the shoulder jets too. Hmmm, I wonder what else they told us that was untrue. We also began to realize the importance of having a local dealer that you liked. The "local" dealer is 90 minutes away for one thing and we know nothing about him and whether we feel good about him. Why would he care about us when we didn't buy the tub from him? With gas prices, why would he be encouraged to travel so far to service us? And, the guys at the show said they were not cutting out the dealer, that he was making money from the show......yet nobody from the dealer was there representing them.
We almost didn't go back for the wet test, but decided to for comparability reasons. We were a bit disappointed. I'm still trying to convince my husband that he may not fit perfectly into EVERY seat...if they all fit him perfectly, I may be uncomfortable. But.....we were both quite disappointed in the power of the jets. To get anything close to what we were looking for, you couldn't have more than 2 people in the tub, as it stole the power from other seats. And even that, wasn't strong enough for what we would like from time to time. We don't want blasting all the time of course....maybe for a few minutes when we have "that spot". And then, when they gave all seats equal power......which we'd want if we had a bunch of people in the tub......it was basically like sitting in a big bathtub. If i'm going to entertain and have people over to go into the hot tub, I want there to be more therapeutic effect. I understand that with all seats getting equal power, it will be less than if some seats are turned off........but I would like it to feel like more than just sitting in a big bath.
So.....here is the real reason for my post.....to ask those of you who have experience wet testing......which tubs have the most POWER? And which ones are still good when all seats are getting equal power?
Thanks a million.
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Try the Artesian Piper Glen (or any of the Artesian spas in their platinum line). Each seat has it's own pump and plumbing. No diverter valves and no power sharing.
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the HS Grandee has a bunch of power, the only thing is this...there are 2 diverter valves....one for each pump. Turned one way, the water goes to certain jets, turned the other way, to other jets.....it's not meant to have every jet blasting at the same time, however, even with 3 people with very different tastes in it, we're very happy with one seat blasting (air valve turned on FULL), one seat with a firm massage (air valve turned OFF), and maybe one quiet seat that gets just the passing water. At any rate, with what we've got, it's simply WAY more than "just a bath tub"...
Best of luck in your search!!
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Gee.......thanks for the QUICK responses! GREAT BOARD here!!!!!
My husband was researching Artesian and getting excited as I was writing this post. He is on the phone making a wet test appointment as I type! THANKS!
I will let you know how it goes!!!!!
HS will be later in the week I hope.
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Stemay,
Not sure what part of the country you are from but the most powerfull jets I have seen was from a company called "Coast" I dont sell them but they have these big red pumps that pust 320 g.p.m. each. I thought it was to much. It might be just what your looking for.
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If you are looking for lots of power you will find Artesian and L.A. Spas offer alot of choices.
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Caldera Geneva,Niagra,Tahitian Utopia has a lot of power. I'm a Caldera dealer so I can't speak as intelligently about other brands wet tests, but our spas have great power when all seats are in use.
Also try a Sundance Optima or Altamar
Hot Spring Vista, Envoy, Grandee are good ones
What size spa are you looking for?
Also make sure you check out and see what dealer in your area has the best reputation for service and that you feel comfortable with. All spas I mentioned are good spas, but WHO you buy from is just as important as the brand you buy
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We wet tested the Artesian Piper Glen today. We are IN LOVE!!!!! Loved the pressure! Loved the individual controls! I don't even think we are going to do anymore looking!
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Oh yes.......and Loved the dealer too!
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Sounds like you figured out Mspas. As for power try a Sundance.
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I would try the Marquis Destiny. Marquis has a patented jet called the HK40 that puts out up to 40 gallons per minute. It's an awesome feel when you have 5 of those hitting one section of your back!
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We wet tested the Artesian Piper Glen today. Â We are IN LOVE!!!!! Â Loved the pressure! Â Loved the individual controls! Â I don't even think we are going to do anymore looking! Â
Check your messages. I sent you some information on the Artesian Piper Glen.
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Stemay
Keep looking, most of the tubs have powerful jets.
Take at least a week or two to look around before you decide. Â You will have many years to enjoy and won't want to second guess it down the road.
Steve
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In love is good! ;) If it's priced in your range, has the feel you crave, and the dealer and product are both quality, go for it, IMHO. I hear the Piper Glen is an awesome tub...personally, I dunno, as I never saw one but in pictures.
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Sounds like you figured out Mspas. As for power try a Sundance.
Though you've missed the best of MS so far, you've seen their travelling road show that doesn't enhance their image or win friends. For hymbaw to say you've "figured out Mspas" is a mistake. I've seen the best that MS offers and I can tell you that, IMO, the therapy offered by my 2004 LSX rivals the therapy of any tub. I'm sorry that you were mislead by the salesperson but all manufacturers are capable of hiring salespeople that may not represent reality correctly. To answer your question, if you want my opinion of the best therapy, MS is tops. With that said, find the therapy that's right for you by extensive wet testing, find a dealer that gives you a great comfort level and find a tub in your budget. Good luck! 8)
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I did not try the artesian piper glen, so I cannot compare that tub to my expereince, but between HS, D1, Caldera, LA, and a couple others I've forgotten now, I found Arctic to be the most poweful and therapeutic. LA and HS were close, but the smaller jets on both of those were itchy to me. My tub does have diverters, but the three main seats can all be on at once (each has its own pump) and then those pumps can be diverted to the "other seats." Especially adding in the air, it is very nice on sore muscles.
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Lots and lots of opinions here.
Here is mine. Don't buy the first one you test. Test at least two more, maybe three. You will find differences in most spas. You will find some not powerful enough and some too powerful. The only way to know is to try it.
I love my spa and it was the third I tried. I liked the other two as well, but like the one I got the best. I'm glad I kept looking.
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I went against the grain, I guess.....I didn't wet test at all.....I sat in the empty tub, making ducky noises, and pretending to blow bubbles. ;)
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Be sure and wet test, and take the time to spend 20 or 30 minutes in the spas you test. What feels good in the showroom on the palm of your hand won't necessarily feel good for an extended soak on your lower back, shoulders, bottoms of your feet, etc. Jets that "blow hard" may look impressive in a showroom, but the pressure (psi) may be high and the volume (gpm) low.
With sustained therapy use you may get that uncomfortable, itchy feeling.
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(http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b206/EastTexasSpa/c1d09617.jpg)
Noah Middleman sez:
"If'n it's power yore lookin' fer, den look no furder dan a SeaMonkey Spa! Specially our owned patented jet we call de "Pig Squeeler". It'll blast about fitty gallon a second right up yore possum hole so fast dat der won't be no buttcheeze left twixt yore cheeks. 'Course, water may be shootin' out yore ears, but den you got yerself a water fountain dat most spa cumpnees charge extree fer. Wif SeaMonkey, you get dat FREE! How dat sound?"
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"Powerful jets" are a relative thing...Like I love the power and configuration of the jets in the deep therapy seat of my Marquis Epic. They are more than enough power for me but I love the tri zone concept that allows me to direct the power where I want it. My husband loves the therapy pillar turned on high with air added....NO way would I like that...it is just too strong and powerful for me. It is actually painful to me...so I think that you have to try different tubs and jet configurations to see exactly how you want to define powerful.
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I went against the grain, I guess.....I didn't wet test at all.....I sat in the empty tub, making ducky noises, and pretending to blow bubbles. ;)
Wow, I can't belive you didn't wet test TL with all the research you conducted. :) I'm assuming your dealer didn't have a wet Grandee? I'm glad it worked out for you.
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You may also consider the Jacuzzi 385 if you're looking for lots of balanced power. I recently bought a 2006 model 385 after wet testing HS, Marquis Epic, Sundance Optima and Maxxus, and Coleman. I was specifically looking for lots of power around my feet while trying to get an upper body massage at the same time. Both the Sundance Maxxus and the J385 were over 500 gallons and had 3 pumps. One pump in the J385 is dedicated to the feet area and met my specific needs. You may have other specific needs, but I definitely felt that the J385 had great balanced power.
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Wow, I can't belive you didn't wet test TL with all the research you conducted. :) Â I'm assuming your dealer didn't have a wet Grandee? I'm glad it worked out for you.
Yep, I'm just a rebel at heart, I guess. ;) No wet Grandee, and I was a hair from testing/buying the demo '04 J375...all we could do is sit in all the tubs they had (empty, of course), and do a bunch of mental exercises....."if I sit here, is there enough legroom? Can the hubby sit here comfortably? If anyone farts, can the others still find a safe exit?" you know, the IMPORTANT stuff.