Newbie in AZ rolling the dice!

[mooveebuff]

Hi all,

First, I'd like to thank all of you for all the good info on here.  I decided recently that I want to purchase a hot tub (probably within the next year or so), and I've been doing a lot of research.  Reading through the posts on here has helped more than I can tell you.

In any case, I've been putting away a little at a time as I've been looking at different manufacturers and models.  I was talking about it with a friend of mine a few weeks ago, and it turns out that a friend of a friend of hers (I know, I know....one of those deals) is looking to get rid of a hot tub.  She said she'd pass my info on to them, and that was the last I heard of it, so I figured maybe nothing would come of it.

So last night I get a text from the guy, seeing if I'm still interested.  I tell him yeah, and then I pelted him with about 100 questions.  There was a long pause, and then I get a reply back that it has a leak (unknown from where) and it's free if I take it away.  I figured it can't hurt to take a look, so I drove out and got a quick look at it.  He doesn't know much of anything about it (he's a renter, and the homeowner lives out of state and wants the tub gone, so he's handling it for her), so I'm really just gambling on this one.

This is what I know about it:

It's a Sundance Spa

The shell looks to be in good shape.

It looks to seat 4-5, with a lounge.

It has a leak with unknown origin.

The control panel is cracked.

The cabinet needs some work.

It was last up and running in November and has been sitting drained since.

It comes with steps, a railing, a cover, and a cover lifter.

It's free!


Okay, not totally free, as I'm going to have to hire someone to disconnect it and move it from his place to mine, but that's only going to cost about $200-$300.  Once I get it here I can get a real good look at it and see how much of a mess it is.  I figure even if I have to put 2-3K into it, I'm still way ahead of the curve. 

That's how I feel about it anyway.  Does this sound like a good opportunity, or am I being a fool?  I may have felt differently if it was some off-brand, but with it being a Sundance (one of the brands I've been looking at), I might have scored a great deal.  Even if it ends up not being worth putting effort/money into, I'm only out a few hundred bucks.  I've gambled more than that at the casino in a night, so why not?  I'll post some good pictures of it when I get it over here, but I was curious to hear what others on here thought.  Thanks for reading!

<a href="http://s1121.photobucket.com/user/mooveebuff/media/Spa%20Stuff/Spa%20a1_zpswb2xtklt.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1121.photobucket.com/albums/l518/mooveebuff/Spa%20Stuff/Spa%20a1_zpswb2xtklt.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo Spa a1_zpswb2xtklt.jpg"/></a>

<a href="http://s1121.photobucket.com/user/mooveebuff/media/Spa%20Stuff/Spa%20a2_zpsulyvgmt9.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1121.photobucket.com/albums/l518/mooveebuff/Spa%20Stuff/Spa%20a2_zpsulyvgmt9.jpg" border="0" alt=" photo Spa a2_zpsulyvgmt9.jpg"/></a>

[d00nut]

I figure even if I have to put 2-3K into it, I'm still way ahead of the curve. 

This.  Doesn't look like it's been taken care of, but that's just how it looks.  Are you in the Phoenix area, or Northern Arizona?  Freeze damage (it being empty since November) is always a scary thing, especially if it had a leak before.

Knowing you could shell out $3k up front and you being okay with it is half the battle!

[bud16415]

Make sure you get the GFCI breaker panel that is outside also if they want it gone, gone. 

If it was me I would do the disconnect and everything except the move unless it was easy access and I had a trailer to use. I would get it home and place it in the driveway or the garage to test it and work on it. If you are going to DIY fix it then I would say go for it great reward small risk gamble. If you are going to hire all the repairs then still a nice reward but a much larger gamble.

The way to find the leak is let it leak till it stops and then you know how high up the leak is. Look for where the water is leaking and what jets are at that height. Then start looking for wet insulation and dig in. of course check the equipment bay for the obvious. 

Sounds like fun I think you should go for it.

[Jacuzzi Jim]

  That is a really old Sundance, wood siding gotta date it to about 2002/2003.     Leaking is one thing, but might having to replace pumps, heater and topside, not to mention what else could be wrong with it your looking at some bucks, put into a spa that is going to leak again over time.    Personally and knowing what I know about fixing a spa, I wouldn't waste the time on it, but that's me.    If your into projects like that then sure go for it, I wish ya luck!     

[Spatech_tuo]

I'd be patient and wait for someone who has a working spa that they want to get rid of cheaply rather than take on a project that could be anything from straight-forward to a bottomless pit. The unknown would make me suggest you take a pass.

[mooveebuff]

Yeah, now that I've had time to think about it and price things out a bit, I've decided to pass on it.  If I'm going to drop 2-3K, I can get a newer used model in that range that's up and working with no leaks.  I'll keep my eyes open.