Venams Posted April 14, 2014 Report Share Posted April 14, 2014 I'm wondering what everyone uses to protect their hot tub cover? I've used Armor All but that product does not last that long out in the elements. Seems to wash away very quickly with the rain/snows Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Loopcity Posted April 14, 2014 Report Share Posted April 14, 2014 303 aerospace protectant is the best stuff available. I also use it on my car dashboard and control panel. I know multiple cover manufacturers that recommend it as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Spa Posted April 14, 2014 Report Share Posted April 14, 2014 Armor All is the absolute worst thing you can use. It pulls out and removes the natural protective propertied of the vinyl, replacing them with it's own. If you don't CONTINUALLY and frequently use it, the vinyl will quickly deteriorate. Do not use anything that is petroleum based (such as Armor All). 303 Protectant is the best, followed by Son-of-a-Gun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Venams Posted April 15, 2014 Author Report Share Posted April 15, 2014 Great. Thanks guys! Off to order me some 303 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
north_of_boston Posted June 27, 2014 Report Share Posted June 27, 2014 I use 303. The best. Available at West Marine. If you call the company, they would prefer that you buy from a dealer than from them directly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sc5.4 Posted June 28, 2014 Report Share Posted June 28, 2014 I just re-stained the cedar wood sides and getting a new cover soon. Good info. THANKS! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PreservedSwine Posted June 28, 2014 Report Share Posted June 28, 2014 Plant a tree. Nothing beats shade Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
north_of_boston Posted July 2, 2014 Report Share Posted July 2, 2014 sc5.4 - make sure that if you buy a cover - custom fit it -- measure it, all hot tubs are slightly different. Made that mistake on my last hot tub , had a cover that was essentially worthless. Not with my Arctic, though... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sc5.4 Posted July 8, 2014 Report Share Posted July 8, 2014 sc5.4 - make sure that if you buy a cover - custom fit it -- measure it, all hot tubs are slightly different. Made that mistake on my last hot tub , had a cover that was essentially worthless. Not with my Arctic, though... I ordered the cover from the store where I bought it. They had a form to fill out all the measurements (which I did). They seemed to only really need the model of spa and what color I wanted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
north_of_boston Posted July 15, 2014 Report Share Posted July 15, 2014 Yeah but even every hot tub is a little different. Again 303 Aerospace Protectant -- and, if you live in a snow area, use the SNO-BRUM. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sc5.4 Posted July 16, 2014 Report Share Posted July 16, 2014 Yeah but even every hot tub is a little different. Again 303 Aerospace Protectant -- and, if you live in a snow area, use the SNO-BRUM. Picked up the new cover and it fits perfect. No snow here in San Diego. We do have a West Marine...so I can get some 303 Protectant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sc5.4 Posted July 23, 2014 Report Share Posted July 23, 2014 Got the 303 protectant. Good stuff! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RicoTubbs11 Posted July 24, 2014 Report Share Posted July 24, 2014 For those looking for 303 Protectant, it is stocked at Camping World stores and often sold at RV/marine parts dealer. Very easy stuff to use and lasts a long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ne_skier Posted July 25, 2014 Report Share Posted July 25, 2014 This thread is timely for me, as it looks like I'm buying a new cover soon, per my other recent posts. Question. Is it basically a given that you have to "maintain" a tub cover to keep the outer surface healthy? Or does anyone make a cover whose outer surface is so stout that it will hold up for say, 10 years through summer sun and winter freezes with no maintenance. My tub & cover are currently 4.5 years old. I stupidly ruined my cover last winter trying to scrape ice off of it with a shovel, but it occurs to me it may have already been ruined. The outer surface is very dried out and brittle. It feels ready to crack. There are no trees directly over my tub; the sun hits the cover pretty hard and I've done zero maintenance on the cover. Won't make that mistake again! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ne_skier Posted July 25, 2014 Report Share Posted July 25, 2014 Yeah but even every hot tub is a little different. Again 303 Aerospace Protectant -- and, if you live in a snow area, use the SNO-BRUM. How frequently do you re-treat? I live in eastern Mass also. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Spa Posted July 25, 2014 Report Share Posted July 25, 2014 There are a number of very different qualities of vinyl used in spa covers. Just looking at them, you'd never be able to tell the difference. There's two ratings you want to look at and compare. The UV rating, and the pigment ratings. The highest UV rating is 1500 hours (the lowest I've seen is 500 hours). Pigment rating runs up to 500. There's also the thickness, or weight of the vinyl. Weight is measured by the lineal yard (36" x 54"). It can run anywhere from 23oz up to about 32oz. The vast majority used by most cover manufacturers is 28oz - 29oz (anyone that does say they're using something higher, ASK for documentation to back it up) If you can apply 303 every other month, you'll be doing better than most. Once a month would be preferred. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ne_skier Posted July 25, 2014 Report Share Posted July 25, 2014 Dr Spa thanks for the info here and your reply to the other thread! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
north_of_boston Posted August 5, 2014 Report Share Posted August 5, 2014 Two or three times a year, ne_skier, but I should probably do it five-six times a year. The Sno-brum is available at some stores - hardware stores, etc. I bought mine at Kittery Trading Post. Clears the snow off non-abrasively. Depending on where you buy it it's $20-25 US. 303 Aerospace Protectant is readily available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
north_of_boston Posted August 5, 2014 Report Share Posted August 5, 2014 Oh yeah nothing tops a good hot tub apres-ski. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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