Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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Joined: 07/22/2007
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We made a take it for a drive run down to Paris Landing State Park yesterday and just 5 miles from the house there was a hot tub sitting on the side of the road.
Having used them at hotels I know they really help with the pain so we stopped on the way back. It is a 300 gallon SOFTUB brand. No one was home but I called and the guy said it was three years old but the first owner of (two years) never used it and he only used it some last fall and is asking $1300.
Research last night was mixed to the brand. Chemicals about $300 a year and parts are high. Just a pump is over $500.
Has anyone one had experience with this brand or any hot tub?
It seems over time most all fall into disuse even if they do not break. My bones say yes and my research states NO. 
Thanks for any experiences. We planned a place on the deck 18 years ago so that is not an issue. We just do not need to junk up the deck with something that will fall into disuse. The work to keep on up and the expense is not small. They are cheap for some reason on Craig's list.
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trails2004
Wyoming
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Joined: 07/19/2007
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I have had one and you are correct expensive to repair. If you are in the market for a hot tub- look at the "conventional" type.
Soft tubs are made for portability-not for long term stationary use.
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lzasitko
Regina, SK Canada
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Joined: 11/30/2005
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We had a hot tube for many years and not many problems. Chemicals were not that bad and we used ours all the time, wish I still had it but when we moved to our current house there was no space for it and it sat in the garage for a while, then a friend bought it. Ours was always an indoor one, never could see the interest in going out in -35 temperatures to get in and then to get back in the house. In our old house we had an addition with a family room, space for the hot tube (extra, extra wide walkway) and stairs up to our bedroom loft. In the winter here it is very dry and we did not have problems with moisture. Used to get up in the morning and soak for 20 minutes then get ready for work. After a long day it was great to relax in. Kids all liked it too. We have talked about getting another but my wife is now in a wheelchair so would have to make some way to get her in and out, preferably something she could use on her own as I do spend time away.
I would get another in a heartbeat. Um, I have space downstairs that would be large enough for one but getting it down would be a problem..... but then I would have to figure out how to get the wife downstairs....
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George H
Washington
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Joined: 06/27/2006
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Ours sits just outside of our bedroom door, first 5 years it was trouble free should have replaced it instead of doing first major repair (circuit board was followed by pump followed by jets....). Have not found it much help for arthritis, but definetly relaxing and relief for tired muscle aches and pains.
George, Juanita and Mandie (boss Shar-Pei)
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Rollincool
Always Rollin
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Joined: 08/10/2007
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Gale,
The "Soft Tubs" are ok. We looked at them 3 years ago when deciding what to get. We didn't want to shell out $5000 plus for a "conventional",(fiberglass monsters) hot tub when we weren't even sure if we would use it much. That's a lot of greenbacks to dump if you're unsure.
The thing I personally didn't care for with the Soft Tub is that it is soft on the outside. It's made of vinyl. The inside is lined like a swimming pool. I also didn't care for the spot they mount the filter. It sticks out inside the tub taking up room.
We purchased this hot tub called Spa n a Box, and have it for 3 years now. The price was right as you can see in the add. We have seen them for $1500 plus shipping. That tub has been on non-stop for 3 years, summer and winter and is always warm.
I figure what we paid for it, it paid for itself 100 times over with all the hot relaxing times the DW and I have in it. Hot tubs are very good therapy, and theres nothing better than sitting in one out in the middle of a snowstorm with a nice drink.
-Joe
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Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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Joined: 07/22/2007
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Thanks guys. Joe the one you mentioned is interesting for the price and that I could pick it up from WM. On all of them the reviews range from 1 to 10. Since both companies have been around for a while they must have more happy than sad customers.
The more I read the more confused I get.
Joe do you not have an issue with the air bubble system cooling down the tub quickly in cool weather as many reported?
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Rollincool
Always Rollin
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Gale Hawkins wrote:Joe do you not have an issue with the air bubble system cooling down the tub quickly in cool weather as many reported?
Gale,
The Soft Tubs aren't really that bad, we just didn't like the filter sticking out inside the tub, and the vinyl exterior. (damage from sun) And they are much more pricey than what we bought.
The Spa n a box bubble system is not as bad as everyone states. What we do, is just turn the heat up about 3 hours before we go in it, to about 102, and turn the air system on. You really don't feel the cold air that bad at all. Most of the time the air is off anyway.
We just enjoy sitting in thier quietly enjoying a beverage.
The only complaint we have is that it takes a good time to heat up if you start with cold water. If you fill it with hot water from your faucet, it warms up quicker. I bought the adapter for the end of the faucet to accept a garden hose.
We love it. You really can't go wrong for the money.
-Joe
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Bumpyroad
Virginia
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Joined: 12/01/2005
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I have had one for about 4 years and really like it. the tub is heated with the heat from the pump motor and they say it warms up about 2 degrees/hour. I bought a fitted cover with mine along with a protective slip cover that goes over tub and pump. $300 a year for chemicals seems awfully high to me. I bought a very large bottle of stuff at Wal-Mart that had the same active ingredient and it goes a long ways.
Offer him $500 and it probably will be yours and it will be a steal.
since the bubbler draws in outside air, yes it will cool it down if you are in mid winter. conversely, mine warms up a lot quicker when it is 90 degrees outside. When I first got mine it was early spring and cold. I plugged it in and had the air on. took forever to get warm. Finally figured out why.
the first one I saw was bubbling away on the rear deck of that $1.3 million dollar Motorhome/boat jobby that was at the Chantily show.
bumpy
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CA POPPY
Santa Clarita, CA, USA
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Joined: 07/07/2003
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We have a nice, three person redwood/fiberglass hot tub. The novelty wears off and the light bill is obscene these days. That's probably why there are so many of them available. We keep it turned off most of the time, unless company is coming and we know they'd like to use it. Also, the aerosolized chlorine gives both of us sinus problems. All that being said, we would have LOVED to have had it back when we worked and came home dog tired. We didn't get it until after we retired. Sometimes, life is all upside down, you know?
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Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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Joined: 07/22/2007
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Guys I went with the SOFTUB that was 5 miles down the road over in the edge of TN. I gave him another $20 and he and a friend delivered it to our deck this evening. I have to admit the Spa In A Box for under $800 and being able to pick it up from the local WM after ordering it off of their web site was VERY interesting.
Prior to learning about the one off of the WM website I had decided to offer $700 for the SOFTUB the guy was asking $1300 for. We had when last night and got the cash together to take with me when we went to look at in day light.
After reading a lot of reviews from one star to five star on both units I was really confused. The SOFTUB looked nice and had most of the initial chemical kit, matching hard lid cover and the full circle bench/step up and showed no external damage plus I liked the hunter green color. Where it is going it will be about 2/3's under roof in a nice corner pocket that will be out of the wind this winter. We also have an out in the open deck option but I am planning for winter already. It is out in the open as we fill and play with it a few days.
Actually we have the jets covered and would get in since the water is not bad because we used hot water to fill it over the past 3 hours but it is raining hard for the first time in a couple months but that is OK.
Kill-A-Watt states in heat mode (as noted it makes heat from the motor) on low jet speed the draw is 215 watts and high jet mode (the speed it seems to run until set temperture is reached) draw is 900 watts.
Well a short RV road cost me $700 more than the gas. The MH did run well and since it was just my son and I it was special for both of us plus his sister was at a slumber party. We picked up a few shells on the beach at Paris Landing and ate at his favor place in Paris, TOM's Steak and Pizza.
In the morning I will check the temp and make sure it is still working. So far so good. Thanks for all of the input. I think I stressed more over buying the hot tub than the MH.
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